Cupra Ateca guide

What’s it like?

Cupra, a portmanteau of ‘Cup’ and ‘Racing’, was for more than two decades a performance badge for hot SEAT cars – in much the same way GTI and R signify a go-faster Volkswagen Golf, for instance. However, in 2018, the Spanish parent company decided to hive Cupra off and make it into a standalone brand all of its own, still with an emphasis on high performance but now also encompassing electric vehicles, and while there have been plenty of standalone models in the interim (i.e., they only exist as Cupras, not as SEATs as well), in the initial stages Cupra still made sharper versions of SEAT models in order to get itself off the ground. And the very first model launched by Cupra, at the end of 2018, was this one: the Ateca. A muscular and sporty version of the midsized SEAT Ateca SUV which had first appeared back in 2016, the Cupra example paved the way for this fledgling marque to expand into the desirable car brand it is to this day. For that reason, the Cupra Ateca makes for an intriguing used buy, seeing as it was a pioneering model for a ‘new’ company.

Which model to go for?

Ever since launch, the Cupra Ateca has been fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, developing a healthy 300hp, which drives all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Initially capable of 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds and later trimmed back to 4.9 seconds due to changes in gearing, it’s a very quick car – but a very expensive one to run, too.

As a result, later in its life a less-potent Cupra Ateca joined the ranks, stripped of its all-wheel drive and equipped with a more modest 1.5-litre engine, generating just 150hp and powering the front wheels only, again through the same seven-speed DSG. This version takes 9.3 seconds to run from 0-100km/h.

The 2.0 TSI model really does deliver on the expected Cupra driving experience, because it’s great fun on the corners, and yet smooth, practical, quiet and refined when you’re travelling along more sensibly. However, its CO2 output – sometimes exceeding 200g/km, depending on its spec – can put people off due to higher motor tax bills, so the most common derivative on the second-hand market is the 150hp TSI. This is perfectly OK, but it doesn’t feel very Cupra-like when you’re behind the wheel; you might as well buy a 1.5-litre or even a 1.0-litre SEAT Ateca instead, in all fairness.

Does anything go wrong?

There aren’t any major problems with the SEAT Ateca source material, and the Cupra version hasn’t developed its own specific faults either, so you’re therefore checking for the general condition of the vehicle, outside and in, and looking out for electronic niggles and warning lights on the dash, or possible shift issues with the DSG transmission.

There has been only one recall for the Cupra Ateca, pertaining to the 2.0-litre TSI variant in particular, in which the engine design cover could potentially come loose from its attachments. This could possibly lead to a fire if the cover comes into contact with the hot turbocharger.