Cupra Ateca: All you need to know

Cupra used to be the performance division of SEAT – acting as a label for the most extreme models from the VW-owned Spanish brand.

But last year, Cupra announced it was divorcing from SEAT to become its own standalone brand and we’re on the edge of seeing the debut model from the newly separated car maker.

The Cupra Ateca is – as you’d expect – a cranked-up version of SEAT’s Ateca SUV. The standard model is brilliant in its own right, but gifting it more power and aggressive styling can only be a good thing.

We now know that this car will cost £35,900 on the road, and it comes packed with a generous amount of equipment.

For instance, every Cupra Ateca will come with some slick styling touches, such as exclusive 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, black brake callipers, glossy black exterior details, a sporty rear bumper and four exhaust pipes.

At the centre of the interior is an eight-inch touchscreen navigation system, while around the rest of the cabin, you’ll find a wireless charger, leather sports steering wheel and black alcantara seats with copper stitching, as well as alcantara door panels.

Down in the footwell are pedals finished in aluminium, while the climate control air vent frames and the central console get a gloss black finish.

But what’s powering it? A two-litre petrol engine with 295bhp and 400NM of torque is the answer to that. This peppy unit comes linked to a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox to blast the Ateca to 60mph in 5.2 seconds. Keep the throttle floored and it’ll pick up speed until it hits 153mph.

Exterior body colour options include energy blue, velvet red, brilliant silver, rodium grey, magic black and Nevada white, and there are a small number of extras buyers can add to their Ateca too.

The comfort and sound pack adds a BeatsAudio sound system and advanced driving assistance, while the design pack bumps the alloy wheels up to 20 inches and chucks in Brembo brakes, a panoramic roof and a tow bar.

Cupra may be its own brand, but you’ll still have to go to a SEAT dealership to get one.

What do you reckon to the Cupra Ateca? Does the price premium justify the performance payoff? Let us know what you think down in the comments…

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