Cupra is set to launch updated versions of its Leon hatchback and Formentor crossover soon, but it has also introduced a new entry-level version of the oldest model it currently offers in Australia, the Cupra Ateca mid-sized SUV.
The Ateca helped launch the sporty Volkswagen Group-owned brand Down Under in 2022, pre-dating other nameplates in the current range such as the Formentor and Born.
The Ateca V was released locally late last year and it’s the Spanish counterpart to the likes of the Audi Q2 40 TFSI, Skoda Karoq Sportline 4×4 and Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line.
All of these vehicles are powered by the same Volkswagen Group 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol EA888 engine, producing 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque.
While the Ateca V launched at $49,888 drive-away, this pricing offer lapsed on December 31, 2024, and it’s now priced from $51,990 drive-away.
Cupra Australia has confirmed the Ateca, which dates back to 2016 in SEAT form and 2018 in Cupra form, will be indirectly replaced by the Volkswagen Tiguan-sized Terramar, which is set to arrive in Australia later in 2025. But the Ateca will continue to be available alongside Terramar until at least the end of this year.
In the meantime, does this new entry-level Ateca V have enough Spanish flair to make it stand out from the crowd? Read along to find out.
How much does the Cupra Ateca cost?
The base Cupra Ateca V now costs $2102 more than it did when it was released here in late 2024.
There’s no current deal on this model, but the top-spec Ateca VZx can be had for $61,750 drive-away until March 31. This is a discount of $7240.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2025 Cupra Ateca V | $51,990 |
| 2025 Cupra Ateca VZx | $68,990 ($61,750 until March 31) |
To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What is the Cupra Ateca like on the inside?
The Ateca’s cabin is refreshingly old-school with plenty of physical hardware, especially in an age when numerous other carmakers, including Cupra itself, are integrating more functions into the touchscreen.
Like virtually all crossover SUVs, the Ateca is an easy vehicle to get in and out of thanks to its higher ride height. You can see why people with poor mobility are attracted to these kinds of vehicles because you don’t need to climb up or down, and can instead slide across into the seats.
Once you’re in the driver’s seat, you sit up high and have a great view at the road ahead. It’s a commanding place to be and it brings a king-of-the-road feeling that’s common in a number of high-riding crossover SUVs.
As standard, the base Ateca V comes with black leather upholstered seats that don’t look as cool or unique as the Petrol Blue ones in the top-spec VZx. Thankfully, they retain the sporty bucket-like design, so you have plenty of support.
Something that always surprises me with Cupra seats is that although they look sporty, they’re also comfortable. The head restraint in particular, even though it’s fixed to the backrest and can’t be adjusted, is super-soft, almost like a Kia Carnival’s.
The driver’s seat comes with electric adjustment as standard, which is a rarity in an entry-level vehicle, along with position memory. It adjusts in many different ways, and in particular I appreciate how much thigh support you can dial in.
Ahead of the driver is one of my favourite steering wheels in a mainstream vehicle. It has a thin rim that fits nicely in hand, plus the leather wrapping feels sumptuous.
The main reason I like this steering wheel, however, is the number of physical buttons it incorporates. They’re clearly labelled and have a squishy yet satisfying click when pressed.
A strange omission, however, is the lack of a dedicated phone call answer and hang-up button, especially given there are buttons for virtually every other function, including the voice assist. What you have to do instead when you get a call is use in the right-hand side scroll wheel, which can sometimes be a faff because you need to scroll before pushing it in.
Behind the steering wheel is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that’ll look familiar if you’ve driven any other Cupra vehicle before. Like many other Volkswagen Group vehicles, it’s top-notch for the segment.
The display itself is crisp and bright, plus there are numerous layouts to choose from. One looks eerily similar to the Audi R8’s, which is my personal favourite.
Moving across, the 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system is good, but it doesn’t look nearly as current as the larger, more tablet-like 12-inch touchscreen in the Formentor and Leon.
Thankfully, it appears the Ateca and both those aforementioned Cupras share the same infotainment software, so despite the differing screen sizes, their menu interfaces look the same.
Navigating around this system isn’t immediately clear and can take a bit of time to learn. For example, something that took me ages to find was the menu for adjusting the sound system’s equaliser.
Unlike in the Formentor and Leon, there are touch-sensitive buttons beside the touchscreen for changing the volume, which is arguably a lot easier than using the touch slider in those cars.
Another major difference is the Ateca comes with a proper physical climate control setup with dials and buttons, unlike other Cupras that have this integrated into the touchscreen, bar a couple of touch-sensitive sliders.
This particular layout dates back to the Mk7 Golf, but that’s not a bad thing because it works perfectly and is incredibly easy to use and understand.
As standard, the Ateca V comes with both wired and wireless forms of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With my iPhone 15 Pro Max connected wirelessly, I didn’t experience any major issues, though on one particular trip the infotainment system refused to connect with my phone.
There’s a wireless phone charger at the front of the centre console area, which is handy to have, but it’s not ventilated and tended to overheat my phone. If you need to keep your phone battery topped on longer trips, thankfully there are two USB-C ports, plus a 12V socket in the same location.
Looking around the cabin, there are disappointingly a lot of hard, scratchy plastics. It’s clear Cupra has cut costs in certain areas so it can retain the fancy seats and steering wheel. Thankfully, the main areas that you touch, including the armrests, are soft and spongey.
Speaking of the armrests, the centre unit both extends and ratchets up so you can find your perfect position. This is one of my favourite features in a number of Volkswagen Group cars, and I’m glad it’s present in the Ateca V.
Unlike the top-spec VZx, the V’s interior is a little drab and dark given everything is finished in black. There is the odd copper lashing on the steering wheel and air vents, but they’re only minor highlights.
Our tester was equipped with the optional glass panoramic sunroof, which thankfully makes the cabin a much airier space to be. It doesn’t feel quite as claustrophobic as some cars with all-black interiors do.
The centre console area in this car is traditional, and includes a large gear selector and a round dial for the drive modes. It’s a refreshing change from the unsatisfying gear shift nubs other Volkswagen Group vehicles have.
In terms of storage up front there are two cupholders on the centre console, which are different sizes, plus decently sized door pockets that are unfortunately not felt-lined like they are in other Volkswagen Group vehicles.
Hopping into the second row is just as easy as getting into the front. Once you’re back there, there’s a decent amount of room for adults to sit behind adults.
It’s actually a nice place to be, though frontward visibility is impeded slightly by the sporty bucket front seats. This may be a red flag for kiddies who are prone to carsickness.
Two people will able to fit fine, though pushing it to three abreast gets squishy. The middle passenger will also have to contend with the chunky transmission tunnel hump, which is never fun.
In terms of second-row amenities, there are air vents and USB-C ports on the back of the centre console, map pockets on both front seat backs, smallish door pockets, plus a fold-down armrest with cupholders.
There are also the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the two outboard seats, plus top-tether points on all three rear seats.
Around the back, the Ateca V comes standard with a power tailgate that opens quickly and quietly, just like any power tailgate should. It also has a hands-free function, which is handy if you’ve got your hands full.
Once it’s open, the boot space on offer is generous. Cupra claims there’s 485L of boot space with the rear seats upright, which is a lot for the small SUV segment.
In the boot is where you see the full effects of cost-cutting. There are barely any amenities apart from small nooks off to the side and tabs to fold down the 60/40-split rear seats.
When you do fold the rear seats the cargo floor is disappointingly not flat. The difference between the boot height and seat height isn’t overly large, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you frequent IKEA.
Lastly, the Ateca V comes with a space-saver spare wheel as standard. While this isn’t as handy as a proper full-size spare, it’s more reliable than a can of goo if you ever have a puncture and still need to make your way home.
| Dimensions | Cupra Ateca V |
|---|---|
| Length | 4381mm |
| Width | 1841mm |
| Height | 1625mm |
| Wheelbase | 2630mm |
| Cargo capacity | 485L |
To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The Cupra Ateca V is powered by a version of the Volkswagen Group’s venerable EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder. This exact engine and tune is also offered in the Audi Q2 40 TFSI, Cupra Formentor V, Skoda Karoq Sportline 4×4, and Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line, among others.
| Specifications | Cupra Ateca V |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Power | 140kW (4200-6000rpm) |
| Torque | 320Nm (1500-4100rpm) |
| Transmission | 7-speed DSG |
| Driven wheels | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1614kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 7.1L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 8.0L/100km (200km) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 55L |
| Fuel requirement | 95 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 160g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capacity | 1900kg |
To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How does the Cupra Ateca drive?
To start up the Cupra Ateca V, you press a button on the centre console, which isn’t revolutionary but it doesn’t feel quite as special as the VZx’s steering wheel-mounted starter.
When the turbo-petrol engine fires up there’s a sweet rev blip, which sounds nice inside the cabin. Once this subsides the engine settles into a quiet idle.
Setting off, there’s decent acceleration that won’t blow your socks off unless you plant your foot hard. It’ll keep up with other traffic with no problems at all, and pull ahead from a standstill if you partake in traffic-light grands prix.
While Cupra is a sporty brand, you sometimes need to force this engine to bring out its best performance characteristics. In normal ‘Comfort’ mode it prefers docile throttle inputs, resulting in easy, effortless driving. It also allows you to lean into the wealth of torque available from just above idle.
As standard, there’s a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which is up there as one of my favourites because it doesn’t hesitate or lurch like some others can. Volkswagen Group vehicles have been the benchmark for silky smooth dual-clutches for years now.
In practice, the dual-clutch auto likes to shift up to second gear as quickly as possible to reduce fuel consumption. The car will even try to set off in second gear if possible, because first gear is very short.
Slotting into the ‘Sport’ drive mode is easy thanks to the tactile rotary dial. When you do this, the car’s character changes, hunkering down and preparing to attack – it’s no longer a house cat capable of catching a mouse, but now a feral cat that could rip your face off.
The turbo-four feels more potent and, thanks to the all-wheel drive system, you can slingshot away from the lights and tight turns. It feels quick in isolation, but compared to the more powerful Ateca VZx it’s nowhere near as rapid.
The Ateca V misses out the hi-po ‘Cupra’ drive mode that turns everything up to 11. This isn’t surprising, however, given it’s a base model.
Around town the suspension is fantastically comfortable, which is surprising given the large 19-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tyres. It’s made better thanks to the adaptive dampers (aka Dynamic Chassis Control), which is a part of the $2950 Tech Pack, as they soak up almost all pimply urban road imperfections.
Regardless of the drive mode there’s light and direct steering at low speeds, making the car feel more manoeuvrable, especially in tight carparks.
As standard there are front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. You have to pay extra for a surround-view camera with decent quality, as part of the aforementioned Tech Pack.
There’s also a standard parking assistant that, like in other Volkswagen Group vehicles, isn’t the most intelligent. To work properly, it requires two vehicles so the car can park between them. Disappointingly, the system isn’t capable of detecting parking spot lines.
Building up pace in the Ateca V is easy and effortless. It’ll happily cruise along at highways speeds in top gear, and only drop down gears if really needed.
It doesn’t feel like you need more power, though what the Ateca VZx offers is very appealing if you desire that extra punch. It’s certainly a want and not a need though.
Regardless, this car stretches its legs on the highway, where it becomes a comfortable open-road tourer and fuel consumption also drops considerably.
At higher speeds the progressive steering system gains more weight, making it more rewarding to link up apexes on B-roads. In fact, this car is a super fun, dynamic car to drive on twisty roads. Its stellar chassis tuning makes it feel nimble not only in the bends, but even in your normal daily commute.
You can tell this car wants to be driven hard at speed and is capable of doing so, but one of the few things holding it back is outright engine power when compared to the VZx.
Like many European cars, there’s a lot of road and tyre noise at higher speeds, though this can be drowned out by turning up the cracking sound system. The optional nine-speaker Beats sound system in this car thankfully is a banger.
On the safety front, the adaptive cruise control system is good at managing the distance between you and the car ahead. It also doesn’t slam on the brakes when a car travelling slightly faster cuts in front of you.
An annoyance is the undertaking prevention feature of the adaptive cruise control system, as lane etiquette is occasionally forgotten in Australia. Thankfully, to override this all you need to is briefly prod the accelerator.
The lane-keep assist system is largely pretty good, though it can get confused on poorly marked roads and even freeway exits. In these moments the steering wheel vibrates and can sometimes jerk in the wrong direction.
I appreciated the Travel Assist system, which pairs both adaptive cruise control and lane centring. It’s a handy feature on clearly marked highways and freeways as it reduces driver fatigue.
Lastly, the Ateca V comes with bright LED headlights as standard, which are great when driving along dimly lit rural and outer-urban roads. It also offers automatic high-beam, which is nice to have, but it’s not quite as handy as proper adaptive or matrix high-beam.
To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What do you get?
Quite a bit for a base model.
2025 Cupra Ateca V equipment highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels in black and silver
- 18-inch temporary spare
- Hidden exhaust
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Automatic LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- Fog lights with cornering lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Rear privacy glass
- Heated, power-folding side mirrors with memory
- 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit
- 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Digital DAB+ radio
- Wireless phone charging
- 4 x USB-C outlets (2x front, 2x rear)
- 8-speaker sound system
- Keyless entry and start
- Dual-zone climate control
- Ambient lighting
- Paddle shifters
- Progressive steering
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Heated steering wheel
- Illuminated sill plates
- Aluminium pedals
- Black leather upholstery
- Power driver’s seat with memory
- Heated front seats
Options
The Cupra Ateca V is available with a suite of optional extras, and our tester was equipped with all of them.
Tech Pack: $2950
- Surround-view camera
- Beats 9-speaker sound system
- Dynamic Chassis control
Other single options include:
- Electric panoramic sunroof: $1850
- Premium metallic paint: $490
To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
Is the Cupra Ateca safe?
The Cupra Ateca is currently unrated by both ANCAP and its European counterpart, Euro NCAP.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian, cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Travel Assist
- Front assist
- Park assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane keep assist
- Driver fatigue detection
- Safe exit warning
- Reversing camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- 7 airbags
VZx adds:
- Surround-view camera (also in Ateca V w/ Tech Pack)
To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How much does the Cupra Ateca cost to run?
The Cupra Ateca is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Servicing and Warranty | Cupra Ateca |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 3 or 5 years |
| Total capped-price service cost | $990 – 3 years $1990 – 5 years |
To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Cupra Ateca V
In isolation, the Cupra Ateca V is a fantastic medium SUV. It offers enough pep to feel sporty, plus you can tell it wants to be driven hard, even if the engine does have to be coaxed at times.
This is the perfect option for those wanting a warm SUV that has the character of a hot hatch, but the seating position of a larger SUV.
The issue, however, is the existence of the more powerful Ateca VZx. It produces considerably more power, which certainly isn’t a need, but for many buyers it’s a want and it can be had without breaking the bank.
Although the cabin is starting to look its age, I appreciate how old-school the interior feels, even if the large amount of harder plastic screams cost-cutting. In particular, I like how much physical switchgear there is for functions like the climate controls, among others.
The interior doesn’t look as flash when compared to newer Cupras, especially with the bland black leather upholstery in this entry-level variant, but it’s very functional. You just can’t beat physical buttons, knobs and switches.
Lastly, the Ateca V has a lot of competition in Australia, and a considerable number of them are from competing Volkswagen Group brands.
The Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line currently costs the same as the Ateca V, and with the options fitted to this tester it’s virtually like-for-like with the Skoda Karoq Sportline 4×4.
Sure, there are plenty of options to choose from, but if a sporty character is high on the list for you, this car definitely shouldn’t be overlooked because once you take it for a spin you’ll be charmed.
Interested in buying a Cupra Ateca? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
Click the images for the full gallery
MORE: Everything Cupra Ateca
