It’s smaller than its cousin, the Tiguan, but not by much and it shares a lot of DNA with the Skoda Karoq. So much so, that once you see it, you can’t unsee it. They share the same sharp lines running the length of the body and similar cut aways in the rear.
The nose is different, with the Ateca’s grille being less ‘toothy’ than the Karoq and its headlights look like arrowheads. The rear is cooler too with it jutting out over the quad exhaust but what really sets it apart is the heavy use of copper accents on the badge, 19-inch alloy wheels and detailing. It looks smart and edgy – immediately making it pop out against the pack.
At first, the badge sort of looks like the kind of tribal tattoo you get when you want to look cool … but the longer you drive this, the quicker that badge starts looking a little waspish and mean.
The interior carries through the sporty vibe but it’s here that it sort of loses its way. There’s quite a bit of hard plastic looking finishes inside and the dash design is practical but not particularly fun. The steering wheel and blue leather sports seats help make you forget about some of the hit and miss aesthetics, though.