Cupra Ateca: SEAT’s first standalone Cupra UK Price and Spec

The Cupra Ateca, the first car from SEAT’s new standalone Cupra Performance Brand, costs from £35,900 for the 296bhp mainstream performance SUV.

When SEAT announced that Cupra was to become a standalone performance brand, it seemed likely they would kick things off with a hot hatch. But they didn’t.

Instead, SEAT delivered the Cupra Ateca, a Cupra performance take on the compact SEAT SUV which, says Cupra, “offers the highest performance of any SUV available outside of premium manufacturers“, and now, ahead of going on sale in the UK, we find out just what the Cupra Ateca offers and what it costs.

The Cupra take on the Ateca stands out with Cupra body styling, black brake calipers, gloss black where you might expect chrome, 19″ diamond cut alloys, four exhaust tail pipes and rear diffuser, and comes with a choice of Energy Blue, Velvet Red, Brilliant Silver, Rodium Grey, Magic Black and Nevada White paint jobs.

Inside there’s black Alcantara seats with copper stitching, Alcantara door panels and leather steering wheel, aluminium pedals and gloss black trim, keyless, wireless phone charging, Park Assist and an 8” Infotainment.

The Cupra Ateca comes with the 296bhp 2.0 litre petrol turbo from the Leon, good for 296bhp and, say Cupra, a 0-62mph time of just 5.4 seconds, with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox sending power to all four wheels, with Dynamic Chassis Control adding a sporty edge to proceedings.

As well as a pretty decent spec, the Cupra Ateca also comes with the first three services – and first MOT – for free, as well as European Roadside Assistance.

The new Cupra Ateca costs from £35,900 in the UK, and will have an open field as a mainstream compact performance SUV until cars like the Hyundai Tucson N arrive.