Scott Collie
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About the Cupra Ateca
Last updated Dec 18, 2024The 2023 Cupra Ateca is unchanged apart from the addition of standard towing pre-wiring. Orders for the MY23 Ateca will open from July/August.
The Ateca is the oldest member of the Cupra family, being a hotted-up version of the Seat Ateca that entered production in 2016.
It was launched in Australia with a run of 100 Launch Edition models, featuring the optional Akrapovic exhaust.
Its future is uncertain. Cupra teased facelifted versions of the newer Leon and Formentor at a brand event in June, ahead of a 2024 or 2025 introduction for both.
No such Ateca update was previewed, though Cupra did preview a new SUV – the Terramar – which could replace it.
The new SUV will offer a choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains and will measure 4.5m long, compared to 4.38m for the Ateca and 4.45m for the Formentor.
Pros
- Availability of Akrapovic exhaust
- Boxy profile makes for great headroom
- Not quite as out there as Formentor
Cons
- Interior space is good, but not quite as good as expected
- Interior looks and feels older than Leon, Formentor
- Not quite as out there as Formentor
Cupra Ateca Rating
Cupra Ateca News
2023 Cupra Ateca Reviews
2023 Cupra Ateca Price
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, 7 sp automatic Premium Unleaded 4x4 5d Suv | $60,990 |
*excl. on-roads
All Cupra Ateca Pricing
2023 Cupra Ateca Specs
See our comprehensive details for the Cupra Ateca
New Cupra Ateca deals
2023 Cupra Ateca Dimensions
1613mm
1841mm
4386mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model.
See all 2023 Cupra Ateca Dimensions2023 Cupra Ateca Boot Space
It has 485L of boot space.
2023 Cupra Ateca Gallery
CarExpert High Resolution Photos of the Cupra Ateca
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2023 Cupra Ateca Exterior
The Ateca looks a bit conventional alongside its Cupra counterparts.
It’s an upright, slightly boxy SUV sitting alongside the slinky Leon hatch and sporty Formentor SUV in Cupra Garages, with proportions that borrow heavily from the practical but slightly dull Skoda Karoq. It even comes pre-wired for towing.
Don’t be fooled, though. You can buy versions of the Formentor and Leon with 140kW or 180kW, but the Ateca is only available in full-fat VZx guise with 221kW. It’s the only Cupra available in Australia with an angry Akrapovic exhaust, too.
It’s an impressive alternative to the Volkswagen Tiguan R or T-Roc R, although in a few ways it doesn’t feel quite as bespoke as its Cupra counterparts.
2023 Cupra Ateca Interior
Alongside the Leon and Formentor, the Ateca looks and feels a bit old.
It doesn’t feature the same clean, modern dashboard as its siblings, and the seating position is more like that of a conventional family SUV than a wannabe sports car. You sit a bit higher, and outward visibility through the upright windows is better all around.
Although it doesn’t look as slick as the uber-modern dash in the Formentor, there are some benefits to the Ateca’s age.
It has physical dials for your temperature and fan speed, for example, so you don’t need to go deep into the menus to make minor air-conditioning adjustments. Everything falls easily to hand, and there are no touch sliders to be found.
It’s not as racy as the Formentor, but the driving position in the Ateca is still accomodating for a huge range of body shapes. Leggy drivers won’t have trouble getting comfortable, and the seats do a good job balancing bolstering when you’re in a hurry with long-haul support.
The nine-speaker sound system packs a punch, too. Although its materials don’t feel up to Volkswagen Tiguan R standards, the equipment list is generous.
The Ateca isn’t short of storage space up front, and there’s a wireless phone charger at the base of the dashboard.
2023 Cupra Ateca Safety Rating
The Cupra Ateca doesn’t yet have a rating from ANCAP, though the related Seat Ateca has a five-star Euro NCAP rating from 2016.
In European testing, it received an adult occupant protection rating of 93 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 84 per cent, a pedestrian protection rating of 71 per cent, and a safety assist rating of 60 per cent.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Driver fatigue detection
- Safe exit warning
- Surround-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Seven airbags
2023 Cupra Ateca Fuel Economy
The 2023 Cupra Ateca uses 7.8L/100km on the combined cycle. It has a 55L fuel tank and requires 98RON premium unleaded fuel
| Cupra Ateca | Fuel Type | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L, 7 sp automatic Premium Unleaded 4x4 5d Suv | Premium Unleaded | 7.8 L/100km |
Cost of ownership
What are the running and servicing costs of a Cupra Ateca?
How does the 2023 Cupra Ateca drive?
Our expert take on Cupra Ateca drivability.
The 2023 Cupra Ateca is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 221kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
It’s mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Cupra claims a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds.
2023 Cupra Ateca Colours
What colours are available for the Cupra Ateca
The only interior colourway on offer is Petrol Blue, with copper stitching found throughout the cabin.
The Ateca will be available in the following finishes:
- Nevada White
- Graphite Grey
- Magic Black
All finishes are a no-cost option, with one premium paint finish – Dark Camouflage – costing $475.
2023 Cupra Ateca Warranty
The Cupra Ateca is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Cupra also includes three years of free servicing.
Should you buy the 2023 Cupra Ateca
Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.
The Ateca is an appealing car in isolation , but it feels a bit lost alongside the Leon and Formentor.
It’s not meaningfully cheaper than the top-spec Formentor, and its space advantage isn’t quite as big as expected in the rear seats.
Even after a facelift its cabin feels a bit old alongside the latest Volkswagen Group products, although it wants for nothing given its starting price.
So, who’s going to buy one? Cupra is pitching itself as a tribe for rebels, but some buyers will be less rebellious than others.
Rather than a statement like the Formentor, the Ateca is an appealing but relatively conventional alternative to the Volkswagen Tiguan R and T-Roc R.
It slots between the two on size, and offers the affordable all-wheel drive performance formula the Volkswagen Group has perfected.
There’s a niche out there for it, but those seeking the full Cupra experience are better served elsewhere in the range.
Cupra Ateca FAQs
The cheapest Cupra Ateca is the VZx that starts from $39,400.
The most expensive Cupra Ateca is the VZx that starts from $50,000.
The best towing capacity of a Cupra Ateca is offered by the VZx which can tow 2100 kg
The largest Cupra Ateca is the VZx which measures 1841mm wide, 4386mm in length and sits 1613mm tall.
The most powerful Cupra Ateca is the VZx which has 221kW of power from its 2.0L TURBO DIRECT F/INJ engine.
The Cupra Ateca is built in Czech Republic and shipped to Australia.
The heaviest Cupra Ateca is the VZx which weighs 2140 kg (kerb weight).
The Cupra Ateca uses Premium Unleaded Petrol.