Car of the week #31 – Cupra Ateca VZ

At the beginning of December, in our series, I brought you Kiti Ateca, a close cousin of today’s heroine. Cupra Ateca is, of course, more expensive, but believe me, you can feel what you are paying for. Especially in the tested, 300-horsepower version of the Spanish SUV. I knew what to expect, but there were still a few surprises.

The appearance of this car is not surprising, because it is closely related to the Kit model of the same name and is immediately visible. However, the Cupra Ateca, although its twin sister, looks a little as if it prefers fitness and exercise to the library.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

On the one hand, the car is a typical representative of the compact SUV segment with all the advantages that come from this category, but at the same time this car was a matter of Spanish designers that they had to prove that it was possible to turn around. a family car in a car with a clear sports character. This claw can be seen both in terms of the stylistic elements of the body and – and perhaps above all – under the hood and in the driving characteristics of this model.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

If you tried to answer the question based on the picture above, only real participants would give the correct one. The shape of the LED daytime running lights and front lights is generally the same as that of the Seat Ateca, the same embossing pieces on the hood and even the shape of the side mirror are visible. This is the only such color that cannot be found in the Chair range. However, similarity is not a bad thing. The Ateca is the first model of the young Spanish brand separated from the Seat models. An already known body was selected. The reason? Prosaic, it was cheaper and safer.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

However, when we look at the back of this car, no Seat Ateca looks sharp anymore. A quad exhaust system, accentuated by swirling elements, is impressive in the tested version of the Cupra. They are actually real, these are not fake.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

What makes the Cupra stand out is, of course, the excellent equipment (than Kiti) as standard, which can be seen immediately after opening the door. The seat adjustment, which is quite wide but provides good lateral support, is fully electric. In the tested car, the driver also had a settings memory. Massage – no. The rest area between the driver and the passenger can be adjusted in length and height. The operating range can also be changed (manually) in two planes. Everyone will fit here.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

The sports seats themselves with integrated headrests, covered in leather (optional) and a beautiful red harness are also an element that emphasizes the dynamic character of the car. It is worth noting that these seats are more comfortable than sports seats.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

The back seat has a normal space for this segment of SUV. There’s plenty of legroom and headroom for normal-sized adults, there are magazine holders on the backs of the front seats, manually adjustable air vents (oil comfort is available in reverse), two power sockets of USB-C and micro storage. the room. The foldable, wide armrests also have two cup compartments. Small bottles and trinkets will fit in the pockets on the sides of the door. Of course, there was also ISO adjustment on the outer seats. The doors open quite wide, so there should be no problem with holding a child’s seat.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

The trunk is also a big advantage of the Cupra over other compact cars with comparable performance. No ordinary hothatch will offer such space for cargo. Here we have 485 liters of frame, convertible, which after folding the rear rear seats (it can be folded from inside the trunk, there are cables) increases to 1,579 liters. Any stroller or stroller and many other items will fit here. There are hooks for nets, a loop for long objects, and a 12 V socket. The tested unit even had a 230 V socket capable of powering equipment and a power of up to 150 W is enough for a laptop.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

However, the most interesting feature of this model is the car. I tested a variant called Cupra Ateca VZ on the current brand configurator. VZ is an abbreviation of the Spanish word “Veloz”, which means “quick”. Turbocharged, four-cylinder 2.0 TSI produces a power of up to 300 HP and 400 Nm of torque. Maximum torque is available from 2000 rpm. In Cupra mode, using the launch mechanism (Launch Control), the Cupra Ateca hits 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. The maximum speed in the list is 249 km / h.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

However, the advantage of this car is that you can adjust its behavior. Changing the driving mode means a real and very noticeable change in the operation of the drive system, steering, throttle response, brake sensitivity, suspension operation, charging system and much more. As a result, when you press the button that appears on the left side of the steering wheel Cupra at one point the car becomes an aggressive, sporty SUV, and then after changing the mode Comfort it immediately turns into a quiet, family SUV, in which the seven-speed gearbox does not drag the gears excessively and does not make quick changes.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

In normal or comfort mode, the exhaust, fully heard in sports channels and the hand (also from the speakers) “popcorn”, becomes more respectable. We won’t wake up the neighbors by quietly moving from the driveway at dawn.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

The Cupra Ateca VZ is an all-wheel drive car, but God forbid you should go off-road with this model. Drive on both axles facilitates maneuvers here, but it is not suitable for crossing swamps. Let me assure you, you will be able to get to the plot without any problems, but it is better to skip the road meeting.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

In terms of ergonomics, the Ateca is a near-death approach in the Volkswagen group, which is pushing touchscreen interfaces across brands with a consistency worthy of the best of reasons. Here we still have many physical bonds and bonds. This does not mean that there are no modern solutions. A virtual clock in front of the driver and a large central touchscreen display provide the driver with a wealth of information and also provide a good level of personalization. For example, in front of me I can choose whether I want to have sports or economic indicators, navigation map, etc

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

Each driver can also have its own profile associated with the vehicle, which allows you to adjust the multimedia settings to your needs. In addition, these settings can be protected by a PIN code, so that, for example, when we hand over the keys to a technician, he will not accidentally change our on-board system settings, although he can still use the car’s functions as a guest device. In the test car, which had the optional XL assistance package, I had a large group of driver assistants. In addition to cruise control with traffic sign recognition, I had a high beam assistant, a blind spot monitoring system and a parking assist function, lane keeping (keeps the car in the middle of the lane, and does not get tired snake. between the lines), and traffic queue assistant. Put it.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

The 300-horsepower drive certainly gives adrenaline, and with the Cupra mode, the modified operation of the gearbox, stiff suspension, stiff steering, means that in the driving mode of a sports car, you can easily take this SUV on the track (for route, I recommend Wojtek’s text about the Northern Loop, an excellent guide that everyone who dreams of driving should read). However, in civilian driving ways the car is not only more quiet, but it can even be economical! The Cupra offers an average fuel consumption according to the WLTP of 8.7 l/100 km for this model. Not only are these results very realistic, but I was able to get down to 6.7 l/100 km comfortably, around 60 km on national roads and through small towns. The best results for a 300-horsepower Moto-SUV. However, we cannot cheat the laws of physics: if you use power, the turbine will increase the boost pressure, which will lead to higher fuel consumption.

Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI (photo: Dariusz Hałas / iMagazine.pl)

So should you be interested in this car? Without doubt! Despite its high power and sportiness, the Cupra Ateca is also a surprisingly conventional family SUV. The car manages to reconcile seemingly contradictory elements. It is more functional and universal than the usual hot hatches, and on the other hand, despite the rims, sills, larger bumpers, and sports seats, it remains a carefree car. How much? In the latest price list for 2024, the model starts at PLN 165,300, but for this amount we will receive a more civilian version (weaker) with a 150-horsepower engine. The tested Cupra Ateca VZ with a 300-horsepower unit starts from PLN 236,600. Of course, the amount will be higher if we decide on the optional equipment, which was a lot on the tested car (electric trunk lid, XL support package, alarm with SAFE function, paint. Concealment of Darkness) . As a result, the copy you see in my photos (however, I would like to thank Sony Polska for lending me Sony Alpha A7 III + SEL24105G1 glass) will be valued today at PLN 271,007.