As much as the purist in me may not want to admit this, there’s certainly something to be said about the appeal of sporty SUVs and crossovers. You get to enjoy most of the sportiness and athleticism that you’d otherwise get from a hot hatch but with a lot more interior room and boot space. It’s definitely a safer and more versatile alternative if you’re looking for a family runabout, but don’t want to sacrifice the fun you’d enjoy behind the wheel. On the more attainable end of the price range, CUPRA has set a pretty high bar for itself and its rivals with the old Ateca, one of the best driver-focused sports SUVs for the money. But, can the new Ateca match its predecessor, or has CUPRA lost it with this new generation?
Well, after spending a bit of time behind the wheel of the all-new CUPRA Ateca VZ3, I’m glad to say that it’s still the same old Ateca we know and love from before. But, it’s been brought up to date, with a fresh design, new tech, and more refinement under the hood. Overall, it’s a way better vehicle in every way, and it’s since arrived on UK shores for we Brits to relish. The new CUPRA Ateca VZ3 is basically a VW Golf R on stilts, offering you the flexibility of an SUV-slash-crossover. Yet, CUPRA is able to retain much of the agility, outright pace, and smiles-per-miles that old-school hot hatchbacks bring to the table. So, is it really that good? Only one way to find out, so let’s start with its killer looks.
What Is The CUPRA Ateca VZ3 About?
That signature CUPRA design certainly makes the Ateca VZ3 look way more exciting and dramatic than what your typical SUV might commonly exude in the way of appearance. I’m certainly a big fan of CUPRA’s ethos, with those bronze-copper CUPRA badges and accents throughout the entire car. Most predominantly, you might’ve noticed those 19-inch alloy wheels and the massive Brembo callipers hiding beneath them, both of which are complemented by that bronze-copper finish. I’m sure some might find this a bit too much, but to my eyes, it hits the right balance between looking cool, and without sticking out like a sore thumb. If you like all that bronze and copper brightwork, it carries into the interior, as well.
The new Ateca VZ3 is undoubtedly a great-looking car, and equally so in the right trim. Ours here is trimmed with additional black contrasting accents, primarily on the roof rails, front grille, bumpers, front fascia, wing mirrors, and elsewhere. When paired with the sharpish and sporty lighting signature that you’ll find on most other CUPRA vehicles, as well as the muscular stance of the Ateca VZ3 as a whole, you have a practical do-it-all SUV that’ll turn heads. I’m 100% a fan of this look, and what CUPRA’s done with redesigning the Ateca. With that in mind, there’s more to the new CUPRA Ateca than merely what you see. It’s what they’ve done under the hood is what’s similarly impressive, once you get it out on the road.
How Does It Drive?
One of the more noteworthy technical features of the CUPRA Ateca VZ3 is no doubt the engine. What we have here is a 2.0-litre inline-4 block that handily cranks out 300PS and 400Nm of torque. As I noted earlier, this is basically the same engine – with a slightly different tune – as what you’d find in a Golf R. Unlike its German sibling though, the Ateca affords you all that performance in the practical and versatile form factor of an SUV. Nevertheless, the Ateca VZ3 is the master of driving equilibrium, and I do love its two-faced personality. You can just cruise around and relax as you waft about from place to place, and the CUPRA Ateca would duly oblige. It’s a comfy, easy-going, gentle commuter car that won’t be out of place no matter where you go.
However, with a set of low-profile Bridgestone tyres, its ride quality is a smidge on the stiffer side, but it’s not wholly uncompromising. Alternatively, once you find a nice stretch of road, you can just put your foot down and give it the beans, and the Ateca VZ3 is no less capable. After all, it’ll hit 0-62mph in a sprightly 4.9 seconds, before topping out at 155mph. As such, I had no qualms about pushing the CUPRA Ateca and enjoying the performance on suitable roads. For an SUV, it has a good amount of agility when you’re pushing it, and thanks to a slick-shifting 7-speed DSG gearbox, the CUPRA Ateca VZ3 hauls along smoothly and speedily, too. The only thing you could complain about is the somewhat clinical sense of drama you get when you are going at speed.
If you’re looking for maximum theatre, it might be best to stick with the Golf R. For me, that’s mostly down to the Ateca VZ3’s quietened driving experience. It lacks some of that angry engine and exhaust noise of the Golf R, though CUPRA has engineered a nice purr to the Ateca VZ3, so there’s still something there to tickle your earlobes. Plus, you definitely won’t be disappointed with how the CUPRA Ateca VZ3 drives. The speed and pace you’re able to get out of it is relentless. Moreover, with how well it’s been set up, from the powertrain to the transmission, as well as the suspension and chassis, it’s the sort of car you could just point it in one direction, and have it effortlessly rocket through. You’d be shocked at how well it keeps up, even with sportier cars.
Another surprise was its fuel economy. The Ateca VZ3 does all of this while still being pretty fuel-efficient for a sports SUV. If you’re not slamming the throttle all the time, you’re looking at the mid-30 MPG mark. The more you drive and experience the CUPRA Ateca, the more you realise that all this performance you have on tap is properly tweaked, too. In other words, it’s not like CUPRA just chucked a bunch of horsepower and torque into an unwieldy SUV and called it a day. Nope, they genuinely put a lot of effort and man hours into tuning the entire machine, ensuring that it handles and drives well as a result. This is one of the few things that clearly separates CUPRA from the competition, a proper performance brand from top to bottom.
What you get then is a seemingly vast SUV that’s surprisingly nimble and confidence-inspiring dynamics. Even on a technical stretch of tarmac, the CUPRA Ateca VZ3 won’t complain or lose balance. Furthermore, with a quick steering rack, the all-new CUPRA Ateca (with or without the VZ3 trim package) feels a lot more athletic and agile than it might appear on paper. Of course, it’s no track car, but as a family car that you could more than easily pack the kids into and some IKEA flat-pack furniture in the back, you can have a lot of fun behind the wheel. And speaking of the Golf R, if there’s one reason why you’d pick the chunky Ateca SUV instead of a lithe hot hatch, it’s the amount of interior space you’d get out of it.
What Is It Like Inside?
Since it’s an SUV, there’s so much more headroom and legroom for rear passengers, and you’ll have more boot space to work with, too. One thing I noticed is that the boot on the CUPRA Ateca is a tiny bit shallow, though it’s rather tall as a whole. So, you can accommodate a lot more than meets the eye, and you can put stuff back there with greater ease, thanks to a handy electric tailgate. The interior of the CUPRA Ateca is a really nice place to be. As I mentioned earlier with the copper-bronze accents that have since become synonymous with the CUPRA brand, we get a lot of it once you step inside the new Ateca. That includes some copper-bronze stitching on the door trim and equally on the lovely leather sports bucket seats.
Aside from that, you’ll get a bunch more copper-bronze surrounds around the centre console buttons and switches, as well as on the sports steering wheel itself. It makes for an overall more theatrical atmosphere every time you step inside your Ateca. Although, you’ll also come across a tonne of typical Volkswagen Group parts in the new Ateca, such as that all-too-familiar centre console stack. And, the uncanny set of analogue switchgear and buttons that you’ll find on pretty much any other VAG vehicle. But hey, the benefit of having these come from the Volkswagen parts bin is that they work well, are easy to use, and they’re functional, with hard, tactile switches for all the controls you really need.
Similarly, the CUPRA Ateca utilises a familiar VW infotainment system and digital gauge cluster, both of which work well, too. Elsewhere, the new Ateca features a plethora of nice-to-haves, like the wireless charging pad for your phone – with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, too – and some USB-C ports. Interestingly, in this VZ3 trim package, you get memory seats, but only for the driver, and not the front passenger, which is a bit odd. It is what it is, and moving on from there, I do appreciate how much effort CUPRA put into making sure the cockpit felt more unique than what you’d find on your average Volkswagen. They’re making it known that what you’re driving is unequivocally a CUPRA, not a VW.
The Experience
I like those large, tactile paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel, as well as the two big buttons you’ll find at the bottom of the wheel… On the 4 and 8 o’clock side of the steering wheel, respectively. One functions as your engine start/stop, and the other (with a large CUPRA logo on it) is the drive mode selector. Most of it is pretty straightforward, and you can vary between your usual drive modes like Comfort and Sport. Plus, you also have a ‘CUPRA’ mode, which turns the wick up to 11, if you’re looking for a more responsive, sharp, and aggressive set-up.
This latest CUPRA Ateca isn’t just about sporty driving, remember. It handles the more boring side of day-to-day commuting and hoovering from A to B with ease. And, it helps that it has a comprehensive suite of driver assists and safety systems, such as the park assist system and the umpteen cameras to make sure you’re wary of what’s around you. It certainly makes parking and manoeuvring tight spaces way easier. There are other systems on board, like the traffic sign recognition system, automated emergency braking, and more. Best of all, for daily driving the CUPRA Ateca on the motorway, using its adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist features make it superbly easy and effortless to drive.
CUPRA Ateca VZ3 Cost
Our CUPRA Ateca here, as the title might suggest, comes with the VZ3 trim. This is near enough the top of the trim-level food chain, so it does come with extra goodies. Compared to the VZ2 trim that slows below it, the VZ3 gains you those 19-inch cooper-bronze alloy wheels, a sports steering wheel, and performance brakes with the aforementioned Brembo callipers. As such, what you’re getting in return is more than mere cosmetic. Or, if you really want to go all out, the top-of-the-line VZN trim gets you a bit more compared to our VZ3 here. This includes a larger set of 20-inch alloy wheels (also in that sweet, sweet copper-bronze colourway), metallic paint options, a panoramic sunroof, and a Beats audio system.
Granted, for a premium-level trim, you are paying a premium price. For the Ateca VZ3 that we have here, it starts from £50,125, while the flagship VZN trim starts from £52,125. Although, the Ateca range does start from a more reasonable £36,480, with the V1 trim, and moving up from there through to the V2 trim (from £38,265), and then onto the VZ1 trim (from £44,485), the VZ2 trim (from £47,185). Therefore, if you’re looking for a more budget-conscious option among the new CUPRA Ateca line-up, there’s no shortage of alternatives within the nameplate alone. Additionally, don’t forget that CUPRA bundles the Ateca with a 5-year warranty, which should give you that added peace of mind for long-term ownership.
Verdict
Overall, the CUPRA Ateca is pretty decent value for money if you spec it right, offering you a lot of usability, luxury, and performance for an appealing price tag in that entry-level luxury segment. While there are plenty of rivals on the market today that aim to do what CUPRA has done with the Ateca, it’s a tough nut to crack. The all-new CUPRA Ateca is a well-designed, athletic, yet practical SUV, and one that’ll put a smile on your face, even when encumbered with your weekly food shopping in the boot. Its predecessor has set really high standards for what a sporty SUV can be, and CUPRA’s new Ateca handily beats them. So, if VW’s Golf R attracts you, but you want something large and more practical maybe the CUPRA Ateca might offer you something more in return.
Besides, it’s nearly as fast as the Golf R and most other hot hatchbacks or entry-level performance cars, but with a huge amount of boot space and passenger room. It handles itself shockingly well on the road too, with really responsive steering, slick-shifting transmission, well-poised suspension, and very good chassis control. All the while, as you’re hammering it down your local B-road, the CUPRA Ateca looks especially handsome doing it. There’s really nothing the Ateca can’t do, and add that VZ3 trim on top of it, you’ll look even better and stop on a dime with those performance brakes. If you’re looking for that one-car that does it all – drives well, is easy to live with, comfy to commute with, and is uber-practical – look no further than CUPRA’s new Ateca.
Specification
CUPRA Ateca VZ3 Specs
- Price: £50,125
- Engine: 2.0-litre TSI inline-4
- Power: 300PS
- Torque: 400Nm
- Transmission: 7-speed DSG
- 0-62mph: 4.9 seconds
- Top speed: 155mph
- Weight: 1,628kg
- Economy combined: 30.4-31.4mpg
- CO2: 205g/km