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
The new Peugeot 5008 departs from the MPV styling of the old model, instead, it’s chosen the SUV look that’s proven so irresistible to buyers, while inside you get the latest incarnation of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit design language.
Pros Looks interesting Interior is impressive for class Generous standard equipment
Cons Not that exciting to drive So-so practicality Top-spec models are
The new Peugeot 5008 represents an oh-so-Gallic salvo in the fight for buyers in the medium-to-large SUV segment. With its sharp design, sharper pricing and extensive equipment list, is it enough to lure buyers away from more mainstream models?
Pros Gorgeous interior that oozes premium Extensive array of included features Sharp styling Comfortable ride Spacious boot Oodles of torque from the 2.0-litre diesel
Cons Third row is best saved for short trips 1.6-litre petrol is not the punchiest unit Brand perception
