Cupra Ateca review

If you’re looking at the picture of the Cupra Ateca above and wondering why it looks like a Seat Ateca wearing a badge that resembles some sort of superhero logo, we can explain. In the same manner that Fiat and Citroën have sub-brands for special models and derivatives that don’t actually bear their parent companies' names (under the skin, an Abarth 595 is actually a Fiat 500, for example), Seat decided a few years ago to create a dedicated sub-brand – Cupra – for its performance models. 

The Ateca was the first model to wear a Cupra badge and it made an impact right out of the gate. With a 296bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine under the bonnet, a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, it was capable of a 0-62mph time of just 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 153mph. Overnight, it redefined the kind of performance we expected from an ‘affordable’ sports SUV.

Of course, since then, various manufacturers have responded with even sharper and more focused sports SUVs. The VW Group alone has the Audi SQ2, Volkswagen T-Roc R and Volkswagen Tiguan R; all three using the same engine and gearbox as the Cupra Ateca. And then there’s the Cupra Formentor – Cupra’s second sports SUV. It’s smaller and a little more expensive than its older brother, but it counters all that with bespoke looks, a plusher interior and supposedly sharper handling. There’s also the extra cachet that comes with owning a vehicle which isn’t based on an existing Seat product. 

To keep the Ateca fresh in the face of these upstarts, Cupra has given it a facelift for the 2021 model year. There are no truly performance-enhancing alterations, sadly, but it does benefit from a bunch of eyecatching cosmetic improvements, including a more aggressive rear diffuser, full LED headlights, a new front bumper, a sportier honeycomb grille, and some copper-coloured exterior highlights as standard.

So, what else does the new-look Cupra Ateca get? And does it make the best use of all these upgrades? Read on to find out the answers along with everything else you could possibly want to know.

And if you decide you’d like to buy a Cupra Ateca, or any other new car for that matter, remember that our New Car Buying service could help save a small fortune.