In 2018, Seat did to the Cupra what Fiat did to the Abarth a few years ago: they launched it as a standalone performance brand.
Their first product is the Cupra Ateca, a performance-oriented version of Seat’s compact SUV that gets a beefed up body kit, new logos, 19-inch alloy wheels and a few updates inside.
The Cupra Ateca is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four producing 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. The unit is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive, and pushes the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds and up to a 247 km/h (153 mph) top speed.
Also Read: Cupra To Launch Seven Models By 2021, Including Bespoke Crossover
Apart from being very fast, the hot SUV has lots of standard gear, good legroom and headroom at the back and a good overall build quality, which should make it popular among those looking for such a vehicle. Also, the fact that it’s less costly than other sporty SUVs, with a starting price of almost £36,000 (equal to $46,479/€40,803) in the United Kingdom, is yet another major advantage.
All of the above indicate that this is a compact performance SUV that should be included on buyers’ lists. And it is, but it does miss out on one particular trait. As CarBuyer points out in their video review shared below, the Cupra Ateca simply lacks character. So, let’s take a 10-minute break and see what they meant by that.