For the first time, the best-selling car in the Spanish market is an SUV. This type of vehicle has conquered 56% of total registrations in 2021 and continues to gain ground. Why are they attractive? SEAT tells us.
In 2021 the SEAT Arona became the best-selling car in Spain and achieved a historic milestone: for the first time the Spanish market crowned an SUV as the most popular model of the year and made it clear that this type of models are not just a fashion but a trend that does not stop gaining followers.
A good example of this is that the Spanish model was not alone at the top of the sales table because nothing less than five of the eight cars with the most registrations last year were SUVs. In addition to the Arona, the Hyundai Tucson, the Peugeot 2008, the Peugeot 3008 and the Volkswagen T-Roc also appeared in the ranking.
In Spain, SUVs accounted for 19% of registrations in 2012 and the figure has increased to 56% in 2021. This growing predilection for SUVs is not something exclusive to our country but can be seen in most world markets. Why has the type of car that customers are looking for changed?
SUVs have been stealing buyers from minivans, a vehicle category that is going through its lowest hours, and hatchbacks from segments B and C. From SEAT they explain that the features customers look for in minivans and hatchbacks are also found in SUVs and in addition others are added that make the cocktail perfect.
According to the studies of the Spanish manufacturer, the user of a minivan he primarily seeks space, versatility and a high riding position. The user of a compact puts design, safety and comfort technology and sporty driving first.
For their part, users of an SUV value space, versatility, high driving position, technology, design and, to a slightly lesser extent, sporty driving. Sound familiar? Yes, the characteristics of the other two in a single modelthere is no need to give up anything because what they were looking for in a minivan or a hatchback is also here.
Another key aspect is that SUVs are no longer associated only with young customers with an active lifestyle. As well have been gaining popularity among the more mature clientele. In recent years, the buyer of an SUV has gone from having a profile between 35 and 40 years old to being between 45 and 50 years old. Customers around that age account for the bulk of sales in the market in general and their interest in these cars continues to fuel demand.
SEAT SUVs
As an example of the evolution of this type of vehicle, the case of SEAT is interesting for being the best-selling brand and having the best-selling car in our country. A structured range with the Arona, the Ateca and the Tarraco. With this trio SEAT conquers 53% of its sales in Spain (38,530 units in 2021) and 49% globally (192,100 units in 2021)
Half of the sales of the Martorell brand are already SUVs despite the fact that SEAT got on the SUV bandwagon somewhat later than other brands since it was not until 2016 when it arrived at dealerships its first SUV, the SEAT Ateca. But that does not mean that he did not move until that moment.
The Spanish brand has been presenting several concepts in the last two decades such as the Salsa Emoción (2000), the Tribu (2007), the IBX (2011), the 20v20 (2015) and the León Cross Sport (2015). In addition, it also brought some crossover features to dealers in versions such as the Altea Freetrack (2007) and Leon Xperience (2014). Preparing the ground.
Although other manufacturers have chosen to fill their catalog with SUVs of all kinds, perhaps one of the keys to SEAT’s success has been simplicity. SEAT’s SUV range is simple but effective. With just three models, the Spanish brand controls three key segments of the sales pie: the Arona among urbanites, the Ateca as a versatile and compact bet, and the seven-seater Tarraco for large families.
All three boast space, versatility, a high driving position, extensive technological endowment, interesting design and good driving pleasure. That is, the keys that users are looking for. In these five years of operation, SEAT has sold more than 430,000 units of the Arona, 400,000 units of the Ateca and 140,000 units of the Tarraco throughout the world. SEAT’s SUV proposal will exceed one million units sold in 2022.
In addition to leading the Spanish market, the SEAT Arona It was the best-selling model of the Spanish brand in the world with 106,900 units. This model, designed, developed and manufactured at the Martorell plant, is available from 16,200 euros with gasoline and CNG mechanics. In total, the range exhibits four finishes and four engines with 12 possible combinations and the 1.0 EcoTSI 110 CV MT version is the best-selling.
The SEAT Ateca It is the pioneering model of the Spanish manufacturer in the C-SUV category and is for sale from 20,700 euros. It has both gasoline and diesel versions and even has 4Drive all-wheel drive variants to maximize its versatility. The range has five engines and four finishes for a total of 177 available combinations, with the 1.5 EcoTSI 150 CV DSG version receiving the highest sales volume.
The largest model the brand has ever made is the SEAT Tarraco which is available with diesel, gasoline and plug-in hybrid powertrains priced from 27,990 euros. Its proposal includes seven engines and three finishes to offer 19 different combinations, with the TDI 150 CV MT being the best-selling version.