Cupra Ateca | PH Fleet
The Ateca took to Spa weekend like a bronzed Labrador to muddy pond water
We're now a couple of months into our time with the Cupra Ateca - the slightly controversial, performance sub-division of SEAT's ordinary Ateca. And how are we getting on, I hear you ask? In short, very well, with a few niggles slightly blocking our path to entirely content pseudo-ownership...
Let's start with the performance. If you'd humour me for a moment, I'd like to compare it to our previous long-term Skoda Superb 280. Yes, yes, I know, they're different cars in different segments - but they are comparable by audience and by the architecture they share. The Skoda was fantastic; it was fast, super comfortable and spacious, reasonably economical, and looked great.
The Cupra though honestly feels a fair bit faster, which is surprising given the fact that it weighs about 70kg more. Of course the Spanish-brewed model does enjoy a 20-ish horsepower advantage over the Superb and has an additional gear ratio and (in the right mode) sports a far more aggressively tuned throttle pedal. Naturally the right-est mode is 'Cupra' where it rockets to 62mph in 5.2 seconds and stays incredibly persistent as it pulls through the gears; the gurgle pop on the overrun is appreciated, too.
Cornering ability, somehow, pips the Skoda, too. Again, the Skoda was clearly set up with a comfort bias, whereas the Cupra is a bit tauter and in-your-face, which helps massively with body roll and stability through bends. The result is a fairly firm ride, although never to the point of it being harsh. Personally I like firm, but if you're looking to wallow over bumps and humps as if they aren't there, the Cupra won't be the car for you. The grip though feels insurmountable on the road, and the big Brembo brakes seem very strong, even if they're a tad over servoed.
We put all this properly to the test recently by taking it along to Spa Classic; a seven-hour journey from my flat in London, down through Kent to pick up Ben, then on to Folkestone, Belgium and its lovely country roads. It gave the Cupra a good all-round going over on a variety of different roads and I must say it performed faultlessly. The roof length panoramic sunroof helps it feel open and airy in the cabin, so even if you are in the back trying to stop boxes of merchandise falling on you, it's not completely claustrophobic. The interior is familiar from other SEATs, which is no bad thing as it feels high quality and well located.
Exterior looks are obviously subjective. I'm a fan of the bronze wheels that are part of the Design Pack, for example, where some others aren't. I think it's a handsome looking car in general but, like many, I'm not a fan of the badges. It may just take a while to get used to them - change is big and scary, after all.
That leads us onto the not so good... Firstly is a small quality issue; the exhausts on the Cupra are experiencing a little surface corrosion. Has anyone with a Golf R experienced this on their tail pipes? Secondly, there's an odd, squeaky noise during low speed manoeuvres and going slowly over speed bumps; it's very strange, but we're told there is nothing wrong with it, and it isn't affecting the driving in any way. It just sounds weird. The third is that the Beats sound system that came as part of the Comfort and Sound Pack; quite simply, it doesn't live up to its £1930 option price. We've experienced superior sound in much cheaper systems.
With those smallish niggles aside though, we're really enjoying our time with the Cupra. We'll keep you abreast of the its toing and froing as the event season properly warms up (it'll be at Le Mans in a couple of weeks). And with any luck, we might squeeze a little more talent from it after that...
FACT SHEET
Car: 2018 Cupra Ateca
On fleet since: March 2019
Run by: Dafydd, or Jack when he needs it
Mileage: 5,125
List price new: £35,900 (as standard; £41,175 as tested comprising Comfort and Sound Pack - £1,930 and Design Pack - £3,345)
Last month at a glance: Predictably decent, unexpectedly likeable
Previous report:
SEAT's Cup Racing sub-brand goes it alone - is the Ateca good enough?
Almost £10k for 2 years’ rental. You decide if that’s worth it to you.
1. The logo. It’s literally a tramp stamp. Looks better poking out the bottom of a crop top than a car bonnet.
2. It feels rushed/unfinished. The headlights carry Seat branding, the brakes iirc have Audi rings...just a mess.
3. They didn’t even remove the square for the Seat ‘S’ on the tailgate and just smashed the tramp stamp on top of it.
4. It always felt like it was hunting for a gear. Mash pedal and wait a few seconds while it figures out what I’m trying to do. Like old school turbo lag.
Really wanted to like it more but it felt unfinished
I’d wager in 2-3 years Cupra will be a deceased brand.
I’d wager in 2-3 years Cupra will be a deceased brand.
Our mk3 leon has been excellent, and residuals have been strong for what is a white goods vehicle. It's our first Seat and we would happily have another.
As for the Cupra ateca, I agree the badge is a bit gash and a regular Seat badge would be far better, but otherwise this is a Golf R (which is universally praised by most) jacked up slightly. Why the hate?
Considering one of these in the next 6 months or so as a kind of fun to drive for 25k a year + able to do trips into the woods down tracks to feed the birds + tow a couple of tons of trailer + boat launch on the beach and be smart for work car.
Wonder if a set of 16 inch steels with General Grabber's would fit over the brakes for winter??
Reading about it seems 30mpg is the norm? would be great if the article could talk about the running costs a little more mpg,tyres etc??
Considering one of these in the next 6 months or so as a kind of fun to drive for 25k a year + able to do trips into the woods down tracks to feed the birds + tow a couple of tons of trailer + boat launch on the beach and be smart for work car.
Wonder if a set of 16 inch steels with General Grabber's would fit over the brakes for winter??
Reading about it seems 30mpg is the norm? would be great if the article could talk about the running costs a little more mpg,tyres etc??
Off the top of my head, on our trip to Spa we averaged about 27/28mpg, but bare in mind we wanted to get to our destination, were 3 up in the car plus our luggage and some event gear...
On a trip from London, down to Ashford then up to Essex I did a couple of weeks ago I managed to average about 36mpg but I was being reasonably frugal. Plus the M20 has a s
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