Used Cupra Ateca (Mk1, 2018-date): sporty SUV is practical, stylish and fun

Verdict

There has been a spate of upmarket subsidiary brands launched in recent years. We’ve had DS and Genesis, which have struggled, while Nissan gave up on Infiniti altogether in Europe. But Cupra has bucked this trend. In 2024, the company sold almost as many cars in the UK as SEAT (30,398 vs 36,782), and the brand is on a roll, which shows that the product must be pretty good. And indeed it is, because although the Cupra Ateca is now seven years old, it’s still good to drive, practical, stylish and easy to live with, and most importantly of all, the Cupra genuinely does offer something over and above what the SEAT version brings to the table.

In January 2018, the Volkswagen Group announced its latest brand: a SEAT spin-off called Cupra. Within months, Cupra had unveiled its first model, the Ateca, which was nothing more than a warmed-over SEAT Ateca.

But was that really such a bad thing? After all, the Ateca provided a pretty good starting point for something that put the sports into sports utility vehicle. Dynamically capable and with all of the latest comfort and safety tech, the Ateca helped Cupra on its way to becoming an established brand, with several standalone products.

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As a result it would be easy to think that the Ateca has been rather left behind, and while it isn’t as easy to recommend as a new model, if you’re looking for a used one, there’s still plenty to like about the brand’s sharp-looking SUV.

History

Sales of the Cupra Ateca began in October 2018, when it was offered with a 296bhp 2.0 TSI petrol engine, four-wheel drive and a seven-speed DSG transmission.

A facelifted model went on sale in September 2020, with Alcantara sports seats, a new four-pipe exhaust system and a bigger infotainment system.

At this point, there was still only that 296bhp 2.0 TSI engine option, but from June 2023 there was also a 187bhp version offered, with 4Drive four-wheel drive. At the same time, a 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol unit was added to the range, in front-wheel-drive form only.

Prices

The market isn’t flooded with second-hand Cupra Atecas, but we still found almost 200 for sale around the UK. There was a 50:50 split between 1.5 and 2.0-litre engines, with V2 trim accounting for half of the cars for sale. The next most popular trim was VZ2.

Cupra Ateca sales clearly got off to a slow start, because although the first cars were delivered in late 2018, very few of those available were registered before 2021, so facelifted Atecas are the norm. You can buy a used Cupra Ateca for just over £21,000 through our Buy a Car service.

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On the road

When it was launched, we reckoned the Ateca was one of the best cars in its class to drive in Cupra form. It’s still impressive, but some newer rivals have taken away the shine. Glossing over the 1.5-litre car, which doesn’t offer performance worthy of the badge, the 2.0-litre engines are much better, especially in 296bhp form.

This provides blistering in-gear acceleration times and the ability to do 0-62mph in just 5.2 seconds. There’s a choice of driving modes so you can set the steering weight, throttle response, gearshifts and exhaust note, to get just the set-up that’s perfect for you.

10

Which one should I buy?

The 1.5-litre engine doesn’t feel special enough, so we’d opt for a 2.0-litre unit, and ideally the full-fat 296bhp edition, because it has the zest that a Cupra deserves.

Initially, the Ateca came in standard trim only, but with optional Design, and Comfort & Sound packs (either or both could be specified). The 2020 facelift brought three new trim levels (VZ1, VZ2, VZ3), then there were fresh line-up changes when the new engine range arrived in June 2023.

These were offered only in V1 and V2 forms; the 296bhp engine stuck with VZ1, VZ2 and VZ3. V1 trim brings 19-inch wheels, privacy glass, self-parking, LED headlights, a 9.2-inch touchscreen, navigation and a heated steering wheel.

V2 adds electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, leather trim, an electric tailgate and a rear-view camera. The VZ1 has pretty much the same features as the V1, while the VZ2 mirrors the V2’s equipment list, with the added bonus of heated front seats. Meanwhile, the range-topping VZ3 also comes with a different design of 19-inch alloys, a unique multi-function steering wheel and Brembo brakes.

Alternatives to the Cupra Ateca

The mid-sized SUV segment is packed with talent, so you’re spoiled for choice. The SEAT Ateca is a more modest alternative to the Cupra, but we’d be more inclined to look at the Volkswagen T-Roc R or Audi SQ2 if you want to buy a Volkswagen Group car.

If great dynamics are important to you, then home in on the BMW X1 and BMW X2, while the Ford Kuga is also good to drive, but lacks badge appeal – the higher-powered models in the Kuga range are also either diesel, hybrid or plug-in hybrid editions. Or how about a Porsche Macan? You’ll have to buy something older, but it’s the best car in the class to drive, followed by the more affordable Mazda CX-5.

What to look for

Peace of mind

Until April 2024, all Atecas came with a three-year warranty with a 60,000-mile limit (extendable to five years/90,000 miles, but from this point on it was extended to five years or 90,000 miles as standard.

On the pull

The Ateca makes a great towcar, with the 296bhp edition able to pull up to 2,100kg. Buy a 187bhp edition and you’re limited to 1,900kg, whereas the 1.5 TSI can tow no more than anything weighing 1,600kg.

Software bugs

As with so many VW Group products, early Atecas could suffer from an array of software glitches, with infotainment problems especially common. Keeping the software up to date makes all the difference.

All the gear

All versions of the Atecas came with a DSG automatic gearbox and no manual option. Regular maintenance of these transmissions is key if costly problems aren’t to crop up.

Interior

10

There's only so much that Cupra’s designers could do to distance their Ateca from SEAT’s. The result is an even better level of fit and finish, but the driving position doesn’t feel at all sporty. Cabin space is okay, but there isn’t a massive amount of room for three adults in the back. Boot capacity is 510 litres, or 1,604 litres with the seats down.

Running costs

A Cupra Ateca will be dearer to run than its SEAT equivalent, but the costs are still sensible. The service interval is 12 months or 10,000 miles, alternating between minor and major. These cost £292 and £350, with the former just an oil and filter change. Fresh brake fluid is required every two years at £55, while 4WD models need an axle oil change every fourth service at £133. All engines are chain-driven, so don’t need cambelt changes.

While 1.5 TSI editions are in insurance groups 17 or 18, the 2.0-litre models are in groups 24-33, with VZ variants at the top of the range. Most Atecas cost less than £40,000 when new, so they aren’t liable for the £425 expensive car supplement with the road tax, but beware that if you buy towards the top of the range, you could be paying as much as £620 per year until the car’s sixth birthday.

Recalls

There are 11 recalls listed in the DVSA database for the SEAT Ateca, but none for the Cupra.

However, five of those recalls also apply to the Cupra Ateca; six pre-dated its release. A few cars were affected by two recalls that were issued in November 2018, one because of incorrectly adjusted headlights and the other due to a faulty electronic parking brake. Both were fixed with a software update. Sub-standard seat frames led to recall three, in July 2019, while another software update was needed for recall four, in September 2019 – this time because the engine’s idle speed was set too low.

The latest recall was in March 2022, because the engine covers could come away; the solution was to fit replacement ones.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

No Cupras have ever appeared in our Driver Power surveys, but there are normally one or two SEATs in there, and the Ateca, launched in 2016, has appeared pretty much every year since 2018.

In that year, and in 2019, it came 60th out of 75, dropping to 61st in 2020. It came tenth in 2021 and 2022, 63rd in 2023, then 14th in 2024 before dropping out.

In 2024, owners liked its practicality, value and the driving experience, while very few areas were scored below average.