At first that may seem faintly ridiculous, but when you look at the Venn diagram of price, proportions and performance, the Ateca lives in a little world of its own. To get vaguely comparable speed and power from any other medium-sized SUV, you’re looking at spending around £50k+ on a Porsche Macan S or an Audi SQ5. But although it may be marooned in its own micro-sector, that doesn’t mean it has a free pass. A £40,000-ish Seat – sorry, Cupra – has a lot to prove, starting with how it drives
Pros Hot hatch performance with SUV styling and practicality
Cons £40k for a Seat with somewhat unconvincing branding
The Cupra Ateca SUV is a brilliant family car that’s fast and great to drive, but you’ll have to accept its gloomy interior and boy racer exterior complete with tuner-esque branding.
Pros Surprisingly nimble Fizzing performance Still practical
Cons Boy racer looks Dark, gloomy interior A VW Golf R costs less
PROS Striking styling means it stands out Ample interior room and luggage space
CONS Disappointing battery range If you want a sporty car, look elsewhere Doesn't feel as nippy as its rivals
PROS Mainly cushy ride Good quality interior Hushed at motorway speeds
CONS Relatively slow acceleration Not as roomy as some rivals Competent handling but not particularly fun to drive
Pros Distinctive looks 100kW charging is standard Same space inside as regular C4
Cons Modest real-world range Not that affordable Lots of body roll in the bends
