The Cupra Ateca was the first car that Seat’s new sporting sub-brand launched back in 2018. It was an easy enough job, which just involved prising off the Seat badges from the firm’s small crossover and glueing on some sporty bits.
These days it’s not alone. There’s a bespoke model – the Formentor – plus the Cupra Born electric hot (okay, warm) hatch and Cupra Leon. More are on the way, but just be wary of the badge engineering going on here.
So what changed on the Ateca?
The Seat version is the company’s best-selling model, so Cupra has clearly been hoping that some of the magic would rub off. The donor car is a decent little family all-rounder, if a little bland. Cupra added a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine – you know the one from literally every other fast VW Group thing – making 296bhp and 295lb ft. All-wheel drive and a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox mean it does 0–62mph in an amusing 4.9 seconds and it tops out at 153mph.
Any other tech upgrades?
The chassis was beefed up to cope with the expected walloping it would get from enthusiastic drivers, adaptive damping comes as standard to help the ride, and you can even spec mighty 18in Brembo brakes for £3k. They come as standard on the top spec VZ3 car.
What about rivals?
This is what has set the Cupra Ateca apart for so long. To get vaguely comparable speed and power from any other medium-sized SUV, you have to spend almost £60k on a Porsche Macan S or an Audi SQ5.
Of course, the Ateca is now positioned firmly in the mid £40k bracket and that opens it up so more competition: the spicy versions of the Volkswagen T-Roc and Tiguan, or the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, BMW X2 M35i and Mini Countryman JCW. Plus there’s the elephant in the room – the Cupra Formentor – which has the same basic underpinnings but a more athletic profile.
So how does the Ateca drive?
It’s fairly impressive to drive considering what it is and where it came from: the ride is firm – which we’ll accept for a performance oriented car – but ultimately well damped and kept under control.
The performance numbers feel as perky as they look on paper, but it’s the sort of acceleration that’s best enjoyed when you don’t have passengers onboard… they might not appreciate it so much.
Our choice from the range
Cupra
2.0 TSI VZ1 5dr DSG 4Drive
£38,125
What's the verdict?
“Neatly engineered and competent, the Cupra Ateca is a practical and swift family car”
The Cupra Ateca is a quick and capable crossover in the oversized mould of a hot hatch. Neatly engineered and competent, it’s a practical and swift family car. Not the most engaging, but fun enough to pedal along a B-road once you’ve dropped the kids off at school. We like it.
It’s pretty subtle, too, with few clues beyond the big wheels, quad exhausts and badge (which the British public still seem to struggle with) that it has almost 300bhp and will do 0–62mph in under five seconds.
But that subtlety could prove problematic. Unlike the Ateca there is no Seat version of the newer Formentor, so its silhouette will be a rarer sight on Britain’s roads. Plus it’s sleeker, feels more modern inside, is still plenty practical and costs less.
Volkswagen T-Roc R
Ford Puma ST
Cupra Formentor
£37,390
Continue reading: Driving
Driving
What is it like to drive?
However you look at it, the Ateca is basically a hoiked-up hot hatch, which is exactly what it’s like to drive. A Mk7 Golf R with a little more roll and a touch more weight (at 1,626kg it’s actually only around 50kg heavier than the Audi S3). Yet it pelts around happily and sounds mildly interesting, even managing a few crackles when you really snap off the throttle.
Contrast that with the Cupra Formentor, which goes entirely too far with the fake noise.
Is it a good day-to-day car?
While it always feels front-wheel drive (the rears are only called into action when they’re needed), the Ateca is sure-footed, undemanding of its driver and thus terrifically brisk point-to-point. But, as is the way with these kinds of cars, hardly the most involving.
Either way, the Ateca does the everyday fairly well. The gearbox is quick-shifting, the ride firm yet placid, and it sits quite happily on the motorway returning more than 30mpg.
What’s the engine like?
The Ateca makes do with the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol that’s used extensively across all of Volkswagen Group’s many brands, and adds adaptive suspension, all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with wheel-mounted paddles. It’s a known quantity and well proven, with its 296bhp and 295lb ft.
No plug-in hybrid option?
The Cupra Formentor and Leon are available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but the 2.0 petrol is your lot with the Ateca. To be fair to the Cupra, it feels just as rapid as most of the hot hatches that use this motor despite its extra size and weight. Maybe we’ve been a bit spoiled with the influx of high-performing EVs around, because 0–62mph in under five seconds is not bad at all.
What's the 296bhp Cupra Ateca 4×4 like to live with?
£35,330
Previous: Overview
Continue reading: Interior
Interior
What is it like on the inside?
There isn’t a great deal wrong with the Cupra Ateca’s interior per se: it’s laid out well and solidly built, if a bit cheap-feeling. Though you could argue it’s boring, dark and maybe a tad old fashioned.
But that does at least bring better usability. Answer us this: would you rather have the touch sensitive climate controls in the Tiguan, Golf and Leon, or the physical knobs and buttons in this? Thought so.
What about the infotainment?
All trims get a big 9.2-inch touchscreen allied to a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which you manipulate with buttons on the steering wheel. The driver’s display isn’t as thoughtfully presented or as useful as Audi’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’, but it looks the part and there are a few different display modes to choose from.
Much the same can be said for the main display. Looks great, with crisp graphics and colourful menus, but the user interface can be confusing. Wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay are both standard; the sockets are all USB-Cs.
What’s different to the Seat version?
On top of the normal Ateca, the Cupra adds a pair of smart, comfortable and supportive sport seats trimmed in Alcantara (upgraded to leather in the VZ2 and VZ3 cars) plus a smattering of copper detailing.
Otherwise everything is more or less as you’ll find in the Seat version of the Ateca. There’s a decent amount of space in the back of the cabin and a reasonably sized boot, although it is a touch less spacious than the related Volkswagen Tiguan.
Considering this is billed as an overtly sporting brand, it is a little disappointing to be faced with such a conventional dashboard and interior set-up. Other than the fancier seats, there’s not a great deal to suggest that you’re in something a bit more special.
Previous: Driving
Continue reading: Buying
Buying
What should I be paying?
There are three trims available in the Ateca line-up: VZ1, VZ2 and VZ3. They all get the same 296bhp, 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, four-wheel drive and an eight-speed DSG auto transmission. The price starts at £42,725 for the VZ1, £45,680 for the middle trim and £48,530 for the range-topping VZ3 model.
What are the trims like?
The VZ1 is the entry trim, but don’t let that fool you into thinking you’re getting some sort of poverty-spec model. The car comes with 19in alloys, twin exhaust pipes, digital instrument panel and sports seats up front, as well as a rear view parking camera. You also get ambient interior lighting, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, wireless phone charging, dual zone climate and keyless entry. Phew.
The VZ2 swaps the 19in alloys for different 19in alloys (sportier ones, presumably), heated front seats (these bucket seats come in black leather rather than Alcantara), adaptive cruise control and electric tailgate, while the VZ3 nabs you 19in alloys (but in fetching copper), a sportier steering wheel and performance brakes.
Tell me some numbers. Practical ones.
The three trim levels are in insurance groups 30, 31 and 32 respectively, so there’s not going to be too much difference in premiums. Each version is rated at 29.7mpg WLTP and 202g/km CO2 emissions, placing them in the 37 per cent BIK company-car tax bracket and a hefty first year VED rate of £1,565 because of the double whammy of sizeable emissions and a list price over £40k.
White is the only free colour, it’ll cost you £600 for metallic white (or grey), or £895 for ‘premium metallic’ in black, or what Cupra calls ‘dark camouflage’. Let’s say green-ish.
Which one should I go for?
Equipment levels are the only differences in the Ateca range – we would probably keep it simple, save the cash and go for the VZ1 because it already comes fairly fully loaded.
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