This is the newly facelifted Cupra Ateca. It follows the updated standard SEAT Ateca into showrooms, with a similar range of design updates and technology upgrades. It’ll go on sale in August, with first deliveries expected to arrive towards the end of the summer.
Cosmetic revisions are fairly restrained, limited to a pair of fresh LED headlamps, a new front bumper, an updated honeycomb radiator grille and a new rear diffuser with a larger quad-exit exhaust system. Buyers also get a set of 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, along with some copper-coloured badging and new scrolling indicator bulbs.
Inside, there’s a new 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and a 9.2-inch infotainment screen with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Like the old car, buyers get sports seats, Alcantara upholstery, aluminium pedals, copper-coloured trim, Cupra-branded puddle lighting and four USB C ports.
As with the standard facelifted Ateca, the new Cupra Ateca also features an improved voice recognition system which SEAT says can better understand natural language commands. Buyers can also download the new SEAT Connect smartphone application, allowing them to remotely unlock the car’s doors, set up speed alerts and check the location of their vehicle.
It’s powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the outgoing model, which is mated to the a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and four-wheel-drive system. Power and torque figures remain the same at 296bhp and 400Nm, which provides a 0–62mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 153mph.
Cupra says it has recalibrated the Ateca’s steering and throttle response and, like the old model, the drivetrain features four selectable drive modes which adjust the SUV’s damping, engine characteristics and steering weight. Buyers can also have 18-inch ventilated Brembo brakes as an optional extra.
There’s some extra safety technology, too, including pre-crash assist and predictive adaptive cruise control. Buyers also get side exit assist, which monitors the car’s surroundings when manoeuvring around car parks and applies the brakes if the system detects another car, a cyclist or pedestrians. The system can detect vehicles up to 70 metres away on the road.
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