Pros Punchy engine, 4WD grip, smooth DSG gearbox
Cons Is a fast crossover, scratchy interior plastics, droney noise
The Volkswagen T-Roc R blends the decent practicality of the regular T-Roc with bombastic performance and stunning agility. It’s a lot more fun than similarly priced rivals, so one of the best sports SUVs on sale.
Pros Thrilling handling Strong and flexible engine Well equipped
Cons Cheap-feeling interior Some road noise Not the roomiest
If you like the Golf R and don’t mind SUVs, you’ll probably like the Volkswagen T-Roc R too.
Pros Very similar in most ways to the Golf R
Cons No end in sight to the SUV craze
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
