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Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Seat Tarraco I: the buying guide

SUV · 2018–2024 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

✓ 23 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.5/5
Estimated monthly cost
€599/month
Indicative prices
€20,500 – €32,500

4 known faults

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Seat Tarraco I, front three-quarter view

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Good choice, check first

Large SUV with 5 or 7 seats, rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP in 2019 and offered with a 760-litre boot in the 5-seat version. What Car? judges its reliability poor (faults mainly electronic and infotainment), the DSG7 gearbox gives rise to testimonies of jerks, and two safety recalls (head airbag, fuel tank) affected the early years: check them by serial number before buying.

Reliability
4.5/5
Indicative prices
€20,500 – €32,500
Monthly cost
€599
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 1.5 TSI 150, 2.0 TDI 150.

  • 1.5 TSI 150

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 150 hp · 7.7 L/100 km · Crit'Air 1

    1.5 TSI with 150 hp, front-wheel drive, 6-speed manual gearbox: the entry level in France, without 4Drive.

    Engine: Volkswagen 1.5 TSI / eTSI (EA211 evo)

    Verdict on this engine: Excellent choice

  • 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7

    Petrol · Automatic · 150 hp · Crit'Air 1

    The same 1.5 TSI with 150 hp and DSG7 gearbox, offered in the French range in 2021.

    Engine: Volkswagen 1.5 TSI / eTSI (EA211 evo)

    Verdict on this engine: Excellent choice

  • 2.0 TDI 150

    ✓ Recommended

    Diesel · Manual · 150 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 TDI with 150 hp, 6-speed manual gearbox.

    Engine: Volkswagen 2.0 TDI (EA288 and EA288 evo)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7

    Diesel · Automatic · 150 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 TDI with 150 hp and DSG7 gearbox.

    Engine: Volkswagen 2.0 TDI (EA288 and EA288 evo)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 2.0 TDI 190 4Drive DSG7

    Diesel · Automatic · 190 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 TDI with 190 hp, only with DSG7 gearbox and 4Drive transmission at the French launch.

    Engine: Volkswagen 2.0 TDI (EA288 and EA288 evo)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 2.0 TSI 190 4Drive DSG7

    Petrol · Automatic · 190 hp · Crit'Air 1

    2.0 TSI with 190 hp, only with DSG7 gearbox and 4Drive transmission at the French launch.

  • e-Hybrid 245

    Hybrid · Automatic · 245 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Plug-in hybrid: 1.4 TSI with 150 hp and an electric motor of 115 hp, 13 kWh battery, around 49 km of electric range (WLTP). Boot of 610 litres instead of 760, the battery replacing the third row.

Market prices

€20,500 – €32,500

Indicative range: 2019 to 2024, yearly medians of 82 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

DSG7 gearbox: jerks and delayed engagement

Severity 2/3 · Costly

Several sources report on the Tarraco's DSG7 jerks when pulling away, delayed gear changes and sometimes a refusal to change gear. One owner cited by Fiches-Auto experienced severe jerks at around 50,000 km and had the mechatronics replaced under warranty; a specialist repairer lists the Tarraco among the models fitted with the DQ380/DQ381 mechatronics. Autodoc and CarVerif recommend regular servicing of the gearbox. Another owner of a TDI 150 DSG 4Drive reports no faults at all.

Versions
1.5 TSI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 4Drive DSG7, 2.0 TSI 190 4Drive DSG7
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Electronics, driver assistance and multimedia

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

What Car? notes poor reliability for the Tarraco, with faults mainly in the engine, electrics and infotainment. Fiches-Auto reports testimonies of a faulty SOS button, and of faulty Front Assist sensors and adaptive cruise control (ACC); Autodoc reports touchscreens that freeze and CarPlay/Android Auto problems that updates do not always fix. SEAT publishes over-the-air updates for the Tarraco.

Versions
1.5 TSI 150, 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 150, 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 4Drive DSG7, 2.0 TSI 190 4Drive DSG7, e-Hybrid 245
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Recall: head airbag inflator mounting

Manufacturer recall

A recall concerns Tarraco vehicles produced from 24 January 2019 to 2 March 2020: parts of the airbag inflator can come loose when the head airbag deploys, risking injury to the occupants. Check with a Seat dealer, using the serial number, that the recall has been carried out.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
1.5 TSI 150, 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 150, 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 4Drive DSG7, 2.0 TSI 190 4Drive DSG7, e-Hybrid 245
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Recall: fuel tank wall too thin

Manufacturer recall

A recall registered on 28 February 2020 (RappelConso) concerns a fuel tank wall that is not thick enough, which increases the risk of fire in an accident. According to RappelConso, vehicles built in 2020 are affected; CarNews France indicates 2020 and 2021. Only the serial number shows whether a given car is targeted.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
1.5 TSI 150, 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 150, 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 4Drive DSG7, 2.0 TSI 190 4Drive DSG7, e-Hybrid 245
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

  • 28 February 2020 — Fuel tank wall not thick enough, increased risk of fire in an accident (vehicles built in 2020 according to RappelConso). Recall notice (new tab)

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€189
Insurance€122
Maintenance€38
Depreciation€250
Total per month€599

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Consumption taken from a published range (depends on trim and tyres).
  • Insurance: brand average, as no average is published for this model.
  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€189

1.5 TSI 150 version: combined consumption of 7.7 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

7.7 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €189

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€122

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€38

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€250

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Ask a Seat dealer, using the serial number, whether the head airbag and fuel tank recalls have been carried out.
  • DSG test: pull-aways on a slope, low-speed manoeuvres and gear changes when cold; ask for the gearbox service invoices.
  • Test the SOS button, Front Assist, the adaptive cruise control (ACC), the touchscreen and CarPlay/Android Auto.
  • Ask whether the software updates from the Seat network have been carried out.
  • If it has 7 seats: check the operation and condition of the third row.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Have the manufacturer's recalls (head airbag, fuel tank) been carried out? Do you have the proof?
  • Has the DSG gearbox already been oil-changed or repaired (mechatronics, clutches)?
  • Have electronic or driver-assistance faults been dealt with under warranty?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

I · 2017–2024

Good choice, check first
Price
€22,600 – €37,500
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Peugeot 5008

II · 2017–2024

Extra caution
Price
€13,100 – €27,000
Reliability
2/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Volkswagen Tiguan

II · 2016–2024

Good choice, check first
Price
€16,000 – €36,000
Reliability
4/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Harvey Bold, CC0

Ford Kuga

III · since 2019

Buy with care
Price
€13,400 – €30,500
Reliability
not rated
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Seat Tarraco I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Seat Tarraco reliable?

Moderately. What Car? speaks of poor reliability, with faults mainly in the engine, electrics and infotainment; testimonies also point to jerks from the DSG7 gearbox. Opinions remain few (9 testimonies on Fiches-Auto).

What is the boot capacity of the Seat Tarraco?

The manufacturer gives 760 to 1,920 litres in the 5-seat version, and 700 to 1,775 litres in the 7-seat version. The plug-in hybrid offers 610 litres.

Is the Seat Tarraco safe?

It obtained 5 stars at Euro NCAP in 2019 (97% adults, 84% children, 79% vulnerable road users, 79% assist). Two safety recalls (head airbag, fuel tank) nevertheless affected the early production years.

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