Auto Express – August 20, 2019

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk SpecialIssue 87

LivingwithaCupraAteca OURCARS

Na

th

an

M

or

ga

n

On the roadSteveset the drivemode to his liking using the Individual option

PracticalityCupra’s485-litrebootcapacity impressedourman on atrip to Europe

Performance

0-62mph/top speed

4.8 seconds/152mph

Running costs

30.9mpg (ontest)

£71 fill-up/£465 or37% tax

Practicality

Second opinion

“TheAtecaisapromisingstartforCupra

asabrand,sowe’relookingforwardto

thenextmodels,includingacoupé-SUV,

anewLeonandevenanelectricvehicle.”

Sam Naylor

Senior reviewer

Sa

Se

Essentials

CupraAteca 2.0TSI

300PS 4Drive

Comfort &Sound

Pack +Design Pack

Onfleetsince: February2019

Pricenew: £41,910

Engine: 2.0-litre4cylpetrol,

296bhp

CO 2 /tax: 168g/km/£465

Options: None

Insurance*: Group:33 Quote:£680

Mileage/mpg: 8,042/30.9mpg

Anyproblems? None

*InsurancequotefromAA(08001070680)fora

42-year-oldinBanbury,Oxon,withthreepoints.

WE LIKEThe driving experience

wonour man over, and he also

came to love the Cupra’sexcellent

infotainmentand instrument

displays.Theynever faltered, so

he felt he could rely on them

WE DON’TAteca’s high list

pricemeans the cheap-looking

switchgear washardtostomach.

Plus the ultra-stiff ride in Cupra

mode meantSteve neverused

thatsetting on the road

WEhadtolearntolovetheCupra

Ateca.Itssharpdynamics,good

looks,decentpracticalityandmostly

excellentinteriormadeiteasytoget

onwithandenjoyabletodrive.

★★★★★

Verdict

throttleandgearboxresponses,nicefruity
exhaustnoise(butneverboomyonthe
motorway),slightlylessmanicsteering
and–eureka–amuchcalmer,muchmore
comfortableresponsefromthedampers.
Ittookawhiletogetthere,butthen,that’s
whatIndividualmodeisallabout.
AndwhenItooktheCupraonaweek-long
filmshootaroundEuropeanditswallowed
twiceasmuchkitaswethoughtitwouldbe
ableto,myappreciationofitspracticality

wentupseveralnotches,too.Sointhe

endIreallydidcomeroundtotheCupra

Ateca.Ilearnedtolikeit,andonceIhad

doneso,Ireallydidlikethecarverymuch.

Evenitsfueleconomyimprovedtomore

than30mpgeventually,althoughitsrange

ofnotmuchmorethan300milesremained

adownside.Mostoftherestofit,though,was

muchbetterthanIfirstthought.Justdon’t

mentionthefrighteningdepreciationitwill

probablysufferoverthenextthreeyears.

Bootcapacity

485 litres