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 All-wheel drive is standard, actually capable when the blacktop ends, finally an EV option for Subie fans.
Cons Not a lot of cargo space, charging capability isn't particularly quick, rivals offer more driving range.
Pros Solid off-road capabilities Comfortable, quiet ride
Cons Shorter driving range than many rivals Bland interior
Pros More ground clearance than most EVs Quiet and comfortable Good feature content even on base models
Cons Higher MSRP than base Forester or Ascent No frunk Elevated floor can be uncomfortable in the rear seat
