Cupra Ateca VZx 2022 Review

The 2022 Cupra Ateca is not just another SUV; it represents the introduction of a new brand.

To be fair, Australians with a long memory may know a bit about Cupra’s lineage. It was spun out of Seat, the Volkswagen-owned Spanish brand that was briefly offered here in the late 1990s.

As a standalone brand Cupra has only existed since 2018 and Australia is an early stop on its global tour.

And as part of the vast Volkswagen Group, Cupra utilises major components and technology, but it also proudly showcases its Spanish heritage.

The Cupra name is derived from the Latin word for copper, a colour highlight the company has adopted as its signature. Cupra says that copper hue is also reminiscent of the morning sun in Barcelona.

As with other Cupra models, the 2022 Cupra Ateca VZx is aiming to straddle the middle ground (if there is any) between mainstream brands and luxury ones. It also sits between the larger compact and smaller mid-size SUVs.

So there’s a plethora of potential contenders and you can pluck the best of each when looking for alternatives.

Within the Volkswagen family alone there are various vehicles that broadly align with the Ateca. They include the Volkswagen T-Roc and Tiguan (dimensionally the Ateca is between them), Skoda Karoq and Audi Q3.

You could also look at the Toyota C-HR and Lexus UX, as well as the BMW X2, Volvo XC40 T5 R-Design and Jaguar E-PACE R-Dynamic.

But the Ateca VZx leans towards the premium side of things with its pricing. At $60,990 plus on-road costs (or $65,990 drive-away), it’s leaving clean air for Volkswagen.

There’s no haggling on the price, either, because you’re buying directly from head office and prices are fixed.

The Ateca comes loaded with kit, including a fiery 221kW turbocharged engine that’s used in various hot Volkswagens.

There’s also 19-inch alloy wheels, quad exhaust, tinted rear windows, powered tailgate, 360-degree camera, parking sensors at either end, alloy pedals, smart key entry, digital instrument cluster, dual-zone ventilation, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, auto wipers, auto headlights with auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, adaptive dampers, powered driver’s seat, wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Other high-grade equipment includes a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 9.2-inch central infotainment screen incorporating satellite navigation and a nine-speaker Beats sound system that includes a subwoofer.

Body-hugging sports front seats are a welcome addition.

The copper colour highlights – including interior stitching – and carbon-look touches inside add some zing, although the Ateca misses out on the flair of the fresher (to other markets) Leon and Formentor, each of which has nicer finishes.

The spare is a space-saver and there are tyre pressure monitors to warn of slow leaks.

It’s available in four colours: white, grey, black and ‘Dark Camouflage’, three of which fit in with the moody and mystical Cupra theme. White, grey and black are standard colours while Dark Camouflage is another $475.

Other options include a panoramic sunroof ($1800) and bigger Brembo brakes ($4050), the latter replacing the spare wheel with a repair kit. There’s also an exhaust from specialist company Akrapovic ($5950) that brings a snazzier look to the tips and some added burble.

The Ateca is covered by Cupra’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. Those who purchase before the end of 2022 get the first three services included – and there’s a chance that offer could be extended.

Buyers can pre-pay for the next two services for $1200, at which point they can make use of the concierge pick-up and drop-off service. Servicing is done at selected Volkswagen service centres.

The backbone of Cupra’s technology spread is borrowed from Volkswagen. The layout and basic functionality of the 9.2-inch infotainment screen on the 2022 Cupra Ateca VZx is pure VW, for example.

Touch pads on the passenger-side adjust volume and other major functions, but there’s no regular knob for adjusting the audio volume. Digging around for some things in the infotainment screen can require patience.

Instead, you can adjust major audio functions from the steering wheel, which is busy with buttons; best to familiarise yourself with what each does before poking around.

Elsewhere, the Ateca gives clues to its age. Whereas the Leon and Formentor use the latest-generation hardware with minimal buttons, the Ateca has an older VW layout – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

There are physical buttons and dials to adjust the ventilation, for example, which makes changing the temperature and where the air is going so much easier.

The key, too, is an old-school flip unit, although there’s a start button on the steering wheel that allows you to keep it in your pocket.

As well as wireless phone charging there’s also wireless functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so no need to plug in. But if the clan is after a device top-up, there’s a pair of USB-C ports front and back, for four in total.

Cupra has also nicely leveraged the functionality of a digital instrument cluster, allowing the driver to select different layouts. There’s a decent spread ranging from the more traditional to modern.

Plus, there’s no shortage of driver assist technology, the most useful of which is autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

The 360-degree camera is also handy, plus there’s lane assist and a pre-crash preparation system to close the windows and sunroof or warn a car approaching from behind to slow down.

As with other Cupra models, the Ateca misses out on speed sign recognition.

There’s also no centre front airbag being used on some newer models – including the Leon and Formentor – but the Ateca still gets full outer airbag coverage. There are seven in all, including a driver’s knee airbag.

There’s currently no ANCAP safety rating for the Ateca.

It’s also pure Volkswagen beneath the skin of the 2022 Cupra Ateca VZx, so no surprise that there are loads of similarities.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine is a familiar piece of kit available in various power outputs. But in the Ateca VZx it’s towards the sportier end, with a full 221kW and 400Nm of torque.

That’s towards the pointy end of the faster hot hatches on the market.

It’s also not far off the 235kW and 400Nm from the recently released Volkswagen Tiguan R.

But in the lighter body of the Ateca, there’s actually a smidge more ferocity to the acceleration. The claimed blast to 100km/h takes just 4.9 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than the Tiguan R.

So, it’s brisk then, something you notice as soon as you start rolling. The Ateca VZx ambles around the suburbs just fine, albeit with the occasional DSG clumsiness as the transmission engages at low speeds.

But call on more or plant your right foot and it leaps with intent. Driving through all four wheels ensures all that grunt is put to the best use, too.

Underway, the seven-speed transmission shifts quickly and cleanly to make the most of what the engine has on offer.

Fuel use is claimed at 7.8L/100km on the combined cycle, but you can expect to use more than that if you’re regularly relishing all 221kW. It also calls for the most expensive 98-octane premium unleaded.

Adding to the sense of occasion is the exhaust burble, which has just enough beefiness to remind you you’re driving something special but without alerting the entire neighbourhood to its full potential.

The car I drove had the Akrapovic exhaust system, which for its $5950 ask you’d expect to rouse the senses.

The Ateca is also set up to tow up to 2100kg once MY23 build cars start arriving soon; they will have the pre-wiring for a tow kit.

The 2022 Cupra Ateca VZx doesn’t just deliver on straight-line fervour; it’s also well primed for corners.

Ours was running on 19-inch Bridgestone Turanza T005 tyres, which provide ample grip to explore the talents of the chassis. The penalty is some tyre noise over more challenging bitumen surfaces.

Steering is nicely weighted and the Ateca points crisply, although it’s not as dynamically focused as the newer Cupra Formentor (blame that partly on its higher stance).

As with the engine, there’s plenty of Volkswagen flavour to the way it goes about its business.

There are various drive modes to adjust the weighting, as well as other parameters such as gear shift points and throttle response.

We suspect the Offroad mode is a tad optimistic given the clear on-road focus of the Ateca VZx. But perhaps it will help out in the snow!

The Sport mode is a better bet, making everything that little more alert. Even with the dampers in their stiffest setting the Ateca is still respectably compliant in a sporty SUV way.

There’s also an Individual mode that allows you to choose more aggressive drivetrain and steering settings while having a more relaxed setting for the shock absorbers.

Happily, the terrific front seats provide excellent support and hold you in tight when you dial up the temperature with a sporty blast.

Those in the rear are well catered for, too. The seats are quite upright, but there’s good headroom and foot space. Knee-room is only okay, with those wanting more sprawling space reliant on those up front compromising on their seat position.

In some ways, the 2022 Cupra Ateca VZx is the surprise package of the Spanish brand’s three-pronged Aussie launch line-up.

It’s the largest vehicle on offer, albeit with more compactness to its SUV stature.

What it lacks in the visual fizz of the Cupra Formentor it makes up for with more traditional SUV proportions.

There’s enough spark for some genuinely brisk SUV motoring and it’s a car that rewards at every corner.

As with other Cupra models, there’s an emphasis on style – and what it lacks in the latest-gen finishes and switchgear it makes up for with useability and practicality.

There’s no shortage of gear, either, although the asking price nudges it into the territory occupied by more familiar – and fancy – badges. Its price also trips over the slightly smaller Formentor.

Perhaps the biggest thing the Cupra Ateca VZx has going for it is that you can actually get hold of one soon-ish.

In a market desperately short of mid-size SUVs, that could be enough to coax it onto a shortlist.

How much does the 2022 Cupra Ateca VZx cost?
Price: $60,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 221kW/400Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 177g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested