The Ateca is Seat’s first-ever SUV, and it’s alsothe first (and only) high-riding model of the new Cupra performance sub-brand.
However, the Spanish automaker went a bit further than giving it the necessary assets to battle it out with other sporty compact SUVs, and made it available solely as a Cupra.
Based on the same underpinnings as the Seat Ateca, the Cupra model is powered by a high output version of the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0-liter turbo-four.
Also Watch: Cupra Ateca Is Very Fast And Well-Rounded, But It Lacks Character
The 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque are directed to the all-wheel drive system through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Officially, the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration is completed in 5.2 seconds, and flat out, it will reach 247 km/h (153 mph).
It’s safe to say that the new Cupra Ateca has the performance to rival compact hot hatches. So, how does it fair against them?
To answer that, Quattroroute raced it against the Leon Cupra R. Seat’s front-wheel drive hatch uses the same powertrain as the hot Ateca, boasting 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW) with the DSG auto, or 10 PS (10 hp / 7 kW) more with the manual gearbox. The naught to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint is dispatched in 5.8 seconds, whereas top speed is electronically capped at 250 km/h (155 mph).
So, could a sporty SUV beat a hot hatch in a straight line? The video is in Italian, but you don’t have to be bilingual to see which one won that fight.