2022 Cupra Ateca review: UK drive

The Cupra Ateca will soon land in Australia along with two other models to kickstart the launch of VW’s Spanish brand.

Awareness will be the name of the game, which is primarily why I found myself in the Ateca SUV on a recent holiday trip to England.

Our UK press car was a VZ3, which is almost the same specification as the single-variant Ateca ‘VZx’ being offered here.

Priced from $65,990 driveaway ($60,990 RRP), the Cupra Ateca costs a bit more than its close Volkswagen relative, the T-Roc R that’s due later this year with a price of $59,300 before on-road charges.

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Both share a 2.0-litre ‘EA888’ four-cylinder turbo producing 221kW and 400Nm, plus a seven-speed dual-clutch auto and all-wheel drive.

The Ateca has the most conservative shape in the Cupra range, with the Copper alloy wheels doing the hard yards to create some visual excitement.

And of the two Cupra SUVs being offered, the Ateca is the only one based on a model sold by Cupra’s parent brand Seat (which for those with long memories may, well, be remembered when it was sold here in the 1980s).

The Formentor is exclusive to Cupra and forecast to be the brand’s most popular model.

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Both vehicles are small SUVs, with the Formentor stretching a bit beyond 4.4 metres and the Ateca just under at 4386mm.

There’s no mistaking the Volkswagen influence inside the Ateca. As with Skoda, however, Cupra brings some distinguishing elements.

Copper continues as a signature, used for the Cupra logo on the steering wheel, steering wheel button surrounds, rev-counter redline sector, and stitching for leathered parts of the interior (but also the mats).

That includes the ‘Petrol Blue’ seats that stand out.

There’s no mistaking the Volkswagen influence inside the Ateca. As with Skoda, however, Cupra brings some distinguishing elements.

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As is common at this price point, the quality of plastics recedes as you lower your gaze, with the softest materials reserved for higher sections of the interior. Switchgear tactility is patchy – with weaker areas including the heating-ventilation dials and paddleshift levers.

A full-size digital driver display is standard and, as with VW and Skoda versions, one of the best examples of the technology thanks to its genuinely customisable set-up – which includes the ability to feature a full-width nav map.

Infotainment is provided via a smartly presented central, 9.2-inch touchscreen, which also features customisable layouts – in this case for the main menu.

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A Beats audio system is standard to delight plenty of ears.

If you’re a parent, don’t be put off by the Ateca’s ‘small SUV’ status; good packaging has ensured this works convincingly as a family car for up to five.

Aside from useful storage options front and rear, the back seat offers generous space for heads and feet, while kneeroom is excellent for average-height adults.

The rear bench cushion is perhaps a tad short, though at least tilted upwards to better help under-thigh support. Forward vision isn’t helped by the chunky front headrests, though.

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There’s dedicated climate control for the rear, as well, while practicality is ticked off with door pocket bottle holders, seatback pouches, drop-down armrest with cupholders, and contemporary USB-C ports.

Opening the automatically operated tailgate reveals another family bonus: a large, 485-litre boot that can swallow a family of four’s holiday luggage. (See photos for evidence!)

Standard adaptive dampers give the driver the option to stiffen or soften the suspension. There’s still an underlying firmness to a vehicle that rolls on 19-inch wheels, and Comfort mode is more effective at bringing suppleness to the ride rather than compliance. Sharp bumps are typically felt.

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There’s still an underlying firmness to a vehicle that rolls on 19-inch wheels, and Comfort mode is more effective at bringing suppleness to the ride rather than compliance.

We need to wait to test the Ateca on Australian roads to be certain, but our feeling is that the Cupra generally won’t be as smooth as the Kodiaq RS – Skoda’s seven-seater performance SUV.

The Ateca’s lighter weight makes it a more agile SUV in corners, though as with the Skoda not all drivers will discover wholly enticing involvement.

There’s plenty of grip from the 245/40R19 Pirelli P Zero tyres and there are accurate responses from the steering, with the sporty Cupra mode bringing a desirable lift in weight for higher speeds while the lightness of Comfort mode creates a sense of effortlessness for low-speed manoeuvring.

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The Brembo brakes are reassuringly strong, though a reminder these will be a $4050 option in Australia.

Tyre noise, based our experience of similar UK roads we tried, is likely to be noticeable on Australia’s typically coarse bitumen.

The EA888 four-cylinder that powers the Ateca is not without some lag, though otherwise delivers this engine’s trademark smoothness and flexibility. It’s mated to an agreeable seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that shifts effectively regardless of the level of driving aggression.

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Push hard and Cupra says the Ateca will go from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

That’s a decent turn of speed, even if this SUV – heavier than your average hot-hatch – doesn’t necessarily feel as quick as that from behind the wheel.

There is the option to use a sport mode to improve throttle response, which also stiffens the damping; this tester’s preference was to mostly use the Individual setting and set the drivetrain to Sport while keeping the suspension in Comfort.

While the Ateca sounds far from boring under full acceleration, some performance SUV buyers may want to consider the $5950 Akrapovic exhaust system option.

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With affordable performance-focused SUVs still relatively rare, the Cupra Ateca makes for an intriguing entry into the market beyond the fact this is a brand new, well, brand vying for the attention of keen drivers.

If not the sharpest-driving SUV around, the Ateca offers a still-tempting blend of pace and practicality. We’ll find out how well the complete package performs on Australian roads in just a matter of weeks.