► Cupra's first model facelifted
► It's now got more rivals than ever
► Worth getting one over all others like it?
Cupra's now built a foundation for itself as a standalone brand, to the point it's even developing bespoke models now. But let's not forget where it all started: with the Cupra Ateca.
First launched in 2018, the Cupra Ateca has since been facelifted and updated to keep up with a whole new number of rivals. Hot SUVs are where the money's at (even if there's still a debate as to whether they're worth it) so, along with Cupra, Group compadres Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi even have multiple performance crossovers to choose from. Hyundai's at it with the Kona N, too.
So what's changed with the facelift?
The Ateca is already one of the sharper-looking SUVs out there, but we're not quite sure what happened in the switch to becoming a Cupra model. Someone seems to have gone a little bit mad adding bits all over the car. Some may love it, whereas others will find it overly fussy.
The facelift brings a mild tweak to the Ateca's face (that's also applied to the Seat version), new wheel designs and a plethora of copper bits are all accounted for. Inside, the changes are more distinct – there's a widescreen centre display with a new infotainment system, revised seats with new upholstery choices and a new steering wheel with drive mode and starter buttons. The engine hasn't changed, so it still makes 296bhp sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.
It's, of course, still an Ateca though. While we might sneer about it being a rebadged car, the donor Cupra's tweaked has always been a solid family motor. So there are loads of storage cubbies, the driving position is tall but you're not perched on the car and space in the rear seats is plentiful.
But does the drive match the styling?
The reality is the Cupra Ateca performs exactly how you'd expect a powerful SUV with all-wheel drive to. That's to say that it's very capable, but not especially thrilling.
It's secure and composed, but in a non-threatening kind of way. Whether that's down to the wild looks promising a lot more danger than you actually get is one thing, but it may well be that it's just a very capable and predictable machine. Interestingly, the very similar Tiguan R seems to have a bit of additional sharpness and aggression that Cupra seems to have tuned out of the Ateca – some may like that, others less so.
There's no faulting the way this thing builds pace – sometimes quicker than you realise – but the lack of aural drama (apart from fairly ferocious upchanges from the seven-speed DSG and exhaust parps and bangs), but it feels like the car just does it all for you.
That may well be how a potential buyer wants it – fast in a straight line and without feeling like it's going to throw you into a ditch at the next bend, but there are few occasions on a twisty road that this feels genuinely thrilling.
Body control is good and it manages its size well. Let's not forget this is a high-riding crossover, so it's impressive that you don't fall out of the seats more often than you do.
Obviously, there's more movement in the body compared with an equivalent hot hatch or estate, but traction and grip levels are very impressive and optional Brembo brakes reassuringly effective. But all of this capability means it feels like it's lacking something. That fizz. That buzz.
Cupra Ateca: verdict
Cupra had to start somewhere three years ago, huh? Even a few years and a facelift on, the Ateca's still a solid performance SUV. Loads of grip, quick and practical and it's a good few grand cheaper than a Tiguan R which is about 95 per cent the same car.
But that other five per cent matters – the Cupra has plenty of performance on tap but doesn't exactly wow you. Cupra's own Formentor makes even less of a case for picking the Ateca, too – it's not much more expensive, looks wilder and manages to make the same ingredients feel more exciting.