Cupra Ateca vs. Cupra Formentor: which is better?
Cupra Ateca vs. Formentor: We put Cupra’s SUV against its sporty crossover rival on driving dynamics, space and more in this guide
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Buying one of these cars will grant you access to a few perks – they’re both SUVs, so they have a lot of appeal, but they also fall under the Cupra brand which means you’ll get plenty of car tech, premium materials and powerful engines.
If you’re undecided about which Cupra SUV to go for, then let us guide you through their key differences and similarities below.
Cupra Formentor vs. Cupra Ateca: which has more style?
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Although these are both SUV models, they have totally different styles, and the Formentor, which is a smaller crossover, stands out for its uniquely sporty design.
Unlike the majority of crossovers, it has a long bonnet and a curved rear typical of a coupé, and its lower stance and wider body gives it a more aggressive stance.
Its front end is dominated by a large, angular grille and plenty of other air intakes, creases and folds. The sharp angles continue into the headlight clusters, which have distinctive LED daytime running light signatures similar to those in other Cupra and SEAT models.
The Ateca has a more conventional, boxy shape, and although it still has plenty of sporty style, we think it looks less aggressive than the Formentor.
This is great if you don’t want to stand out too much because it looks very similar to the regular, non-performance SEAT Ateca.
What is it like to drive a Cupra Formentor vs. Ateca?
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Cupra used to be a performance division of SEAT, but now it’s its own brand. It designs sporty, engaging and fun-to-drive cars, and although these are quite big cars, the Formentor and Ateca are great.
The Formentor might be more fun to drive because it’s smaller and also lower to the ground. Its lower centre of gravity helps improve stability when cornering.
On the flip side, if you regularly find yourself on uneven surfaces and the odd muddy field or track, the Ateca’s raised ride height could be more appropriate.
The Ateca was the first Cupra to launch, and it’s available with two 2.0-litre petrol with either 190hp or 300hp – they both come with four-wheel drive as standard.
There’s also a front-wheel drive 150hp 1.5-litre petrol model, and while it’s absolutely fine, you’re better off getting the same engine in a sporty trim level for the SEAT Ateca, which will likely be considerably cheaper.
The Formentor has the same engines, but the performance model has 310hp rather than 300hp. There’s also a middling 245hp 2.0-litre petrol with front-wheel drive.
Even better is that the Formentor has two 1.4-litre petrol-powered plug-in hybrids, with 204hp and 245hp. The more powerful setup is lifted straight out of the performance Volkswagen Golf GTE.
If you’re buying a Cupra because you want a performance model, then the 300hp and 310hp versions of these cars can do 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, which is mighty fast for such a comparably affordable pair of cars.
Most come with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox – it’s fun to drive and really smooth, but more crucially, it’s really quick to change gears so it helps with performance.
What is the technology in the Cupra Ateca and Formentor?
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Because they’re so similar, they share a lot of parts, which means they both get a large touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. However, the Formentor’s system is an updated version, with more of the car’s controls managed from the display.
The Ateca has a slightly more traditional interior, with a series of knobs and buttons on the centre console for controlling things like the cabin temperature. The Formentor does without most buttons, with touch-sensitive sliders under the screen for the temperature and even a touch-sensitive panel next to the wheel for the headlights.
Standard equipment varies by model year, but as a guide, the latest Ateca models come with a heated steering wheel, heated seats, parking sensors and LED headlights.
Formentor models generally have slightly more car tech, including keyless entry and a wireless phone charger, but as you climb up the trim levels on both cars, you get even more.
Cupra Ateca vs. Formentor dimensions and boot space
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You might be surprised to learn that the Cupra Formentor is the largest of these two cars, at least in terms of length, where it’s more than 6cm longer. However, it’s both narrower and shorter, given that it’s a sporty crossover and the Ateca is a family SUV.
The Formentor measures 4,450mm long, 1,992mm wide and 1,528mm tall, whereas the Ateca is 4,386mm long, 2,078mm wide and 1,599mm tall. For reference, the Cupra Ateca is 1.6cm lower and 0.5cm longer than the SEAT Ateca thanks to its sportier bodykit and firmer suspension.
Unsurprisingly, it’s the Ateca that has the larger boot at 510 litres. That’s standard for this size of car, but the four-wheel drive models have a smaller 485-litre boot.
The Formentor’s 450-litre boot is fairly middling, however, be aware that four-wheel drive variants have a smaller 420-litre capacity and the plug-in hybrid has a rather disappointing 345-litre boot, which is less than you’d get in a family hatchback like a petrol-powered Golf.
Ateca vs. Formentor: which is more reliable?
It would be reasonable to think that the Ateca might be more reliable, given that it’s been on sale longer in both Cupra and SEAT forms, but that’s not necessarily the case, although there’s a lot more data due to its age.
The reality is that both cars belong to the Volkswagen Group, so they share a lot of mechanical parts with other Cupra, SEAT, Skoda, Volkswagen and Audi models, which means everything is tried and tested.
Don’t be put off with Cupra being a fairly new brand, because the backing of so many other companies helps ensure durability and reliability.
Used Cupra Formentor vs used Cupra Ateca: which should I buy?
In essence, you’ll want a Cupra Ateca if you have a bigger family and need more interior space, and the Cupra Formentor will appeal if you have a growing family with less of a requirement for space.
However, it’s also smart to consider styling, because the Formentor certainly has a more eye-catching design, and engine options, because there are more to pick from, including surprisingly economical plug-in hybrids.