Cupra Ateca review

If you've seen photos of the Cupra Ateca and wondered why it looks like a Seat Ateca with a badge like a superhero logo, we can explain.

The Ateca was the first model to get the Cupra treatment after Seat followed the example of Fiat (with Abarth) by creating a performance sub-brand. In other words, the Cupra Ateca is the rowdier and more performance-focused twin of the Seat Ateca.

Actually, it's not always rowdier these days. When it first arrived, it was only available as a sports SUV with four-wheel drive and a hefty 296bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine, but now there are two less-powerful versions aimed at the small SUV market.

So as well as being in competition with the likes of the Cupra Formentor and Volkswagen T-Roc R, it's also up against models that are more focused on practicality than sportiness, including the Range Rover Evoque and Skoda Karoq. 

Does the Cupra Ateca have what it takes to take them all on? Let's find out...

The Cupra Ateca's entry-level 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol (called the 1.5 EcoTSI 150) has an official 0-62mph time of 9.3 seconds.

That's a perfectly respectable figure for a small SUV and a near-enough match for the mechanically-related Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI 150 (both nine seconds). Mind you, with peak power coming at 5000rpm you really have to rev it hard if you want to make decent progress.

Given that the Cupra Ateca is about sportiness, we think you’re best going for the flagship engine, the 300, which has 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque on tap.

If you select a mode called Cupra and activate the launch-control function, it will rocket to 62mph from rest in just 4.9 seconds – faster than the BMW X2 M35i and around the same as a Cupra Formentor 333 or VW T-Roc R.

That's despite the slightly laggy seven-speed automatic gearbox (unlike with the Seat Ateca you can't get a manual gearbox). There's a Sport mode that improves the auto gear changes slightly but it remains a source of frustration.

It’s also a pity that it doesn’t sound a bit more exciting. The 300’s standard quad-tailpipe exhaust produces a rather flat one-dimensional note, and there's not much in the way of popping or crackling when you lift off the accelerator. 

The 1.5 EcoTSI 150 handles almost identically to the Seat Ateca FR. That is to say, there's plenty of grip, minimal body lean and precise steering, making it easy to place the nose where you want it. We’d stop short of calling it fun but it’s more involving than a Nissan Qashqai or Peugeot 3008.

The 300 feels even sharper. It has a lower and stiffer suspension set-up that controls the car’s body even more effectively through fast corners. You can carry some serious speed on country roads, but it's worth bearing in mind that the Formentor and T-Roc R have even neater body control.

The quickest Cupra Ateca is surprisingly supple for a sports SUV. You never find yourself cursing expansion joints or avoiding roads you know to be littered with potholes.

True, the Formentor feels even plusher, but the Ateca is smoother than the firm Ford Puma ST and the jittery BMW X2 M35i and doesn’t feel much firmer than a Seat Ateca on big wheels.

There’s some road noise when you get up to motorway speeds but all the engines are pleasingly muted at a cruise and there isn’t much wind noise. In our tests, the 300 generated less road noise than a T-Roc R.

"I think it’s a shame you can no longer add the optional Akrapovic exhaust to the Cupra Ateca because that fixed many of the sound issues and added an extra level of engagement." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

If the Cupra Ateca didn't have a copper-coloured Cupra emblem on its steering wheel, anyone in the driving seat could be forgiven for mistaking it for a regular Seat Ateca. And in many ways, that’s no bad thing.

The driving position is excellent and the digital driver’s display is clear. Plus, the dashboard’s mix of digital displays and physical controls is far more user-friendly than the set-ups in the Cupra Formentor and Ford Puma ST, which force you to use the infotainment touchscreen to make simple changes.

The VZ trim’s bucket seats deserve a special mention because they hold you in place really well through tight twists and turns, while still proving comfortable on longer jaunts. Top-spec VZ3 trim – which is only available with the range-topping 300 engine – adds a bit more flair by introducing two extra circular buttons on the steering wheel for drive modes and engine start/stop.

Visibility is reasonably good in all directions, and is boosted by standard-fit front and rear parking sensors. For more assistance, V2 trim adds a rear-view camera and the three VZ trims add a 360-degree bird’s-eye view camera. The camera feed is shown on the 9.2in touchscreen.

The infotainment system features sat-nav, online traffic information and voice control as standard, but like so many new screen-based systems, its small on-screen icons can be hard to use when you're driving.

Luckily, you do get some permanent touch-sensitive shortcut buttons up the side of the screen and you can bypass Cupra’s software entirely by using Android Auto or wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.

Some might wish for a little more colour and visual flair inside. The quality of the interior, while perfectly acceptable in a regular small SUV is a little underwhelming when you factor in the 300’s much higher price. That's especially true of the VZ3 version, which isn’t far off the price of an entry-level petrol Porsche Macan and is more expensive than some Range Rover Evoques.

The Cupra Ateca's interior looks a little dated compared with the Cupra Formentor, which has a more eclectic mix of materials and, with fewer buttons, a tidier look (although you pay a price for that in terms of usability).

"While the Cupra Ateca’s interior hasn’t really changed since it was released in 2018, that has its upsides. For example, I find the controls much easier to use than many small SUVs'." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

You’ll have to be as tall as a basketball player to feel cramped in the front of the Cupra Ateca. There's loads of head room and the front seats slide a long way back. Indeed, it's much roomier than rivals including the VW T-Roc R.

There’s plenty of storage spots for all of your stuff, including large door bins, a couple of cupholders, a cubby within the central armrest and a space for your phone at the base of the centre console. The console has a wireless phone-charger as standard.

It’s a similar story in the back. While the seats don’t slide or recline, you’ll still find that two six-footers will have no trouble getting comfortable. Even if you plan on seating three people in the back, there’s plenty of space and less of a squeeze than in a T-Roc R.

With 485 litres of boot space, the Cupra Ateca has a bigger luggage area than the Ford Puma ST and the T-Roc R, and should hold enough for a family of four on a week’s holiday. We managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf, which is a match for the Puma ST and one more than the T-Roc R.

"The Cupra Ateca’s boot is big, and I had no trouble fitting in all my kit." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

You’ll have to pay a bit of a premium if you want a Cupra Ateca over the equivalent version of the Seat Ateca. What's more, there’s no doubt that if you just want something fast, fun to drive and fairly practical, you might be better off looking at our guide to the best hot hatchbacks.

If, though, you want an SUV that offers speed, acceleration and excitement, the Ateca 300 in VZ2 trim (VZ1 has been discontinued) is fairly reasonably priced, costing slightly more than a VW T-Roc R but less than a petrol Porsche Macan.

It’s worth noting that those rivals are predicted to depreciate more slowly than the Cupra Ateca over three years. That's worth noting because quicker depreciation can increase the amount you pay on PCP finance.

When it comes to running costs, the entry-level engine has an official fuel economy figure of more than 40mpg, while the more powerful 300 will struggle to hover around 30mpg if you use all that power.

Company car users will find that a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or electric SUV will cost much less in BIK tax. That could make one of the Cupra Formentor PHEVs appealing.

You have quite a few trim levels to choose from for the Cupra Ateca, starting with V1 and V2. They cover all of the basics, with 19in alloys, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry, but we’d spend more and get one of the VZ trims, which give you access to the most powerful engine.

VZ2 trim gets all the kit from V1 and adds sportier styling, a heated steering wheel, heated sports seats, a powered tailgate and adaptive suspension. It’s the one we’d go for because it keeps the cost includes all the sporty goods.

VZ3, meanwhile, adds Brembo brakes and 19in copper alloy wheels, but it’s on the pricey side.

We don’t have reliability data for the Cupra Ateca, but Cupra as a brand came 17th out of 31 car markers in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, putting it behind BMW (eighth), just ahead of VW (18th) and above Porsche (21st).

Cupra gives you a five-year, 90,000-mile warranty, which is more generous in length than what BMW and Porsche offer but doesn’t match their unlimited mileage. 

The Seat Ateca scored five stars out of five in its Euro NCAP safety testing, but that was back in 2016 and the rating has now expired. At least the Cupra Ateca comes with plenty of standard safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist, traffic-sign recognition and plenty of airbags.

Going for VZ2 trim adds the Safe and Driving pack (XL), which gives you adaptive cruise control, an upgraded lane-keeping assist system, an upgraded AEB system, side assist and exit assist.

"I think the best way to look at the Cupra Ateca's trim levels is that the V trims are similar to the Seat Ateca while VZ is much sportier and more in keeping with the Cupra’s sporty ethos." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer 

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