Cupra Ateca review

In its most powerful 296bhp 2.0-litre guise, the Ateca is basically a hoiked up hot hatch, which is exactly what it’s like to drive. A Mk7 Golf R with a little more roll and a touch more weight (1,628kg sounds positively lightweight these days).

It pelts around happily and sounds mildly interesting, even managing a few crackles when you really snap off the throttle. Contrast that with the Formentor, which goes entirely too far with the fake noise.

Is it a good day-to-day car? 

While it always feels front-wheel drive (the rears are only called into action when they’re needed), the Ateca is surefooted, undemanding of its driver and thus terrifically brisk point-to-point. But, as is the way with these kinds of cars, hardly the most involving.

Either way, the Ateca does the everyday fairly well. The gearbox is quick shifting, the ride firm yet placid, and it sits quite happily on the motorway. You get various drive modes, but you’ll likely mostly leave it in its Comfort setting because of that slightly harsh ride.

What’s the engine like?

We can only speak of the 296bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol, used extensively across all of Volkswagen Group’s many brands. Cupra adds adaptive suspension, all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with wheel-mounted paddles. It’s a known quantity and well proven, with its 296bhp and 295lb ft meaning the zero to 62mph sprint is seen off in 4.9 seconds.

Your other options include a slightly less potent 2.0-litre outputting 187bhp and 236b ft of torque, or a 1.5-litre which sends 148bhp and 184lb ft of torque to the front wheels only. Both are still paired with a seven-speed DCT gearbox, with 0-62mph seen off in 7.2 seconds and 9.3 seconds respectively.

Economy is likely not to be the biggest priority if you’re buying one of these, but in the 296bhp 2.0-litre you’re looking at up to 31.4mpg – and in our experience you’ll get 30mpg on a motorway run. The lesser powered 2.0-litre claims up to 35.8mpg, and the 1.5-litre 42.2mpg.

No plug-in hybrid option?

The Cupra Formentor, Terramar and Leon (hatch and estate) are available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but the Ateca isn't privy to that kind of tech.

To be fair to the Cupra, with the big boy 2.0-litre the Ateca feels just as rapid as most of the hot hatches that use this motor despite its extra size and weight. Maybe we’ve been a bit spoiled with the influx of high-performing EVs around.