• Economy not great if you enjoy yourself
• No fuel-saving tech
• Servicing at a normal SEAT dealer

What are the running costs?

When testing the 300hp Cupra Ateca we saw a wide spread of economy. On a cross-country blast with a bit of dual carriageway thrown in, we struggled to get over 27mpg. Yet on a long motorway run at a steady 70mph we saw more than 40mpg.

We’d expect sensible driving with the odd grin-inducing outburst to result in low-30s economy overall. Fuel tank capacity is 55 litres, which is enough for a range of about 350-400 miles, depending on the restraint of the driver’s right foot.

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The 150hp engine is more efficient. But because its smaller and less powerful, it’s also under stress more of the time. Which means the difference in miles-per-gallon in the real world isn’t as big as you might think. Overall we achieved around 38mpg in our testing.

There is no fancy fuel-saving tech on the Cupra Ateca beyond the conventional stop-start system. Cupra offers other models if you do want a greener conscience: the Formentor SUV comes as a plug-in hybrid, while the Cupra Born hatchback is a 100% electric car.

View detailed mpg and CO2 figures on our Cupra Ateca specs pages

Servicing and warranty

Service intervals for the Cupra Ateca are every 12 months or 10,000 miles. You can add an optional Cupra Care monthly subscription that covers the cost of servicing and maintenance – and gives you a two-year warranty extension. Insurance can be included at further cost.

The standard Cupra Ateca warranty is for three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Official Cupra extended warranties are available, offering up to three years’ more peace of mind.

Reliability

• Shares parts with other VW Group cars
• Feels built to last inside
• Ateca range has not been faultless

On face value, the Ateca looks and feels like it should last a long time. It seems well built, and its mechanical components are all found in several other cars from the Volkswagen Group.

That doesn’t mean it’s all perfect though. A quick scan of an Ateca owners’ forum shows a number of people complaining, though mostly about minor faults.

The main SEAT Ateca range has been the subject of several recalls so far, and these seem to imply some issues with build quality on the production line. There’s been nothing too severe to worry about but if you’re buying used, do make sure all the necessary recall work has been carried out.