The Cupra Ateca was the model that launched the Spanish high-performance brand as its own thing, separate from SEAT, in 2018. Up until then, Cupra was the badge for sportier cars within the SEAT line-up before bosses decided that the badge would work as its own entity.

Since then, the Cupra line-up has expanded with the Leon hot hatch and estate crossing over, while the Formentor crossover and Born electric hatch started life as Cupra models alone. Coming soon are the Tavascan and Terramar SUVs.

Before that happens, we thought we’d get behind the wheel of the fastest Cupra Ateca currently available on Irish roads to see if it still fits the high-performance family SUV brief.

A performance SUV sounds like a contradiction

There are plenty of SUVs for sale that feature sporty looks, but not many that are bona-fide performance models, unless you’re willing to pay well over six figures for one from a premium German brand. As a result, the Cupra Ateca is a relative rarity on the market.

While the Cupra Ateca was launched as a high-performance model, the line-up has evolved to include less powerful variants, although these versions have a distinctive look when compared with the SEAT-badged alternatives. The main Cupra design cues are the brand’s distinctive triangular logo and bronze-coloured details where the SEAT versions feature chrome.

As it stands, there aren’t many performance-oriented compact family SUVs at the Cupra Ateca’s price point. The Volkswagen Tiguan R disappeared when the third-generation model arrived this year, and the same fate befell the Hyundai Kona N, while the Audi SQ2 (which uses a similar powertrain to the Ateca) is getting long in the tooth and the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 is expensive. There are two alternatives in the shape of the BMW X1 M35i and its sportier looking X2 equivalent, though.

How much is the Cupra Ateca in Ireland?

The Cupra Ateca starts from €50,185, which gets you behind the wheel of the 150hp/250Nm 1.5 TSI model, which features a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox and front-wheel drive. At the top of the range, the high-performance VZ model costs €81,220 and uses the Volkswagen Group’s ‘EA888’ 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine. This features in cars such as the VW Golf GTI and R, Audi S3, Skoda Octavia RS and Cupra’s own Leon and Formentor. Here it’s tuned to make 300hp and 400Nm of torque, and like the 1.5 TSI it uses a seven-speed twin-clutch auto, but this time connected to Cupra’s ‘4Drive’ all-wheel-drive system.

The standard Cupra Ateca sits somewhere between SE Plus and Xperience trims on price when compared with the SEAT line-up, and it features a decent equipment list to help it stand out. There are 19-inch alloy wheels (which can be had with copper details for €405 extra), a Cupra-exclusive body kit, LED lights with auto main beam, heated mirrors, keyless entry and starting, ambient lighting, a multifunction steering wheel, three-zone climate control and heated front sports seats finished in suede-effect Dinamica upholstery. Safety features includes seven airbags, driver tiredness alert, traffic sign recognition, lane assist, adaptive cruise control and tyre pressure monitoring.

On top of all that there’s a 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring navigation, four USB-C sockets and wireless smartphone connectivity, an eight-speaker stereo, wifi and voice control, while the driver also benefits from a 10.25-inch digital cockpit display.

Buyers can upgrade to the Ateca Impulse for €2,790 extra. This adds leather upholstery to the sports seats, a panoramic glass roof, a powered tailgate and electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, while a different 19-inch wheel design is available, with copper detailing as a no-cost option.

The top-spec Ateca VZ has a similar level of equipment to go with its more powerful drivetrain, including a 360-degree camera system, wireless phone charging and Dynamic Chassis Control - i.e. adjustable damping.

So how sporty can an SUV be?

In the case of the Cupra Ateca VZ, very sporty indeed, yet this doesn’t come at the expense of everyday usability. The quad exhaust tips poking out of the back bumper emit a boisterous sound, while the 2.0 TSI engine delivers a healthy slug of performance.

The twin-clutch gearbox manages clean shifts, although the electronics are a bit slow to react in the Normal drive mode. You can overcome this by taking manual control via the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and there are sharper shifts available in the Sport or Cupra drive settings.

These two latter modes offer a firmer ride courtesy of the car’s adjustable dampers, but we’d go as far to say that the Cupra mode is only really suitable for newly laid roads or a racetrack - it’s just too firm for use on bumpy public roads. The Sport setting delivers a tauter and more controlled ride than the Normal setting, and the Ateca feels well controlled and a lot of fun. You can feel the car’s four-wheel-drive system dividing power between the wheels with the most grip when pressing on, and it’s good fun - even the exhaust note has a more aggressive edge in the sportier modes.

Cupra also offers a couple of off-road drive settings for slippery conditions - although you won’t be going very far off road with its performance-biased tyres - while the Individual setting lets you pick your favourite options for the steering, throttle, exhaust note, damping and gearshifts.

Take things easy, and the Ateca behaves itself. The suspension is a little firmer than you’ll find in a SEAT Ateca, but it’s far from harsh for a performance machine. We spent hundreds of kilometres at the wheel on the motorway and it performed admirably given its sporting remit.

How practical is the Cupra Ateca?

Performance SUVs are much like hot hatchbacks in that they must combine appealing driving characteristics with versatility - the Ateca strikes a good balance. The cabin is admittedly looking a little dated when compared with newer rivals - the Ateca was introduced in 2016, and the layout has only been given minor tweaks since then - but the main benefit of having an older layout is that the Ateca has physical controls for the climate system. It’s a three-zone set-up, with adjustable settings for driver, passenger and the rear seats, and it’s easy to tweak it while on the move.

Cabin space isn’t the biggest in the class these days, but it isn’t badly affected by the inclusion of sports seats. There’s a wide range of seat adjustment to get comfortable at the wheel, while the digital dials add a touch of hi-tech appeal and are highly configurable.

Access to the back seats is good, and there are two sets of ISOFIX child seat mounts in there. The middle seat is a little cramped and there’s a transmission tunnel for the middle passenger’s feet to straddle, but it’s acceptable for shorter journeys.

One area where there’s a bit of compromise is in the boot, but it’s not a deal breaker. The VZ has a cargo area measuring 485 litres in five-seat mode, but that’s less than you get in the lower-spec Ateca, which has 510 litres of space. Room is taken up by the car’s four-wheel-drive system, resulting in the smaller capacity, although it’s still a versatile space to use and large enough for most everyday uses. The rear seats split and fold down of course if you need to carry larger loads.

The reasons you’d buy a Cupra Ateca VZ

There are very few cars like the Cupra Ateca VZ still on the market. It effectively mixes attributes of a practical SUV with those of a high-performance hatchback, giving those that like driving a bit of thrill when the occasion arises. The best thing is that it does that without massively compromising on its everyday usability. And it stands out in a carpark full of ordinary cars as well. If all that sounds like your cup of tea, then get hold of one quickly while it’s still available.

Ask us anything about the Cupra Ateca

If there’s anything about the Cupra Ateca that we’ve not covered, or you’d like advice in choosing between it and other vehicles, you can avail of our (completely free) expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.