Cupra Ateca vs Renault Arkana
What's the difference?

Cupra Ateca

—

2025 price

View pricing & specs

Renault Arkana

$36,990 - $45,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

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Summary

2025 Cupra Ateca

2026 Renault Arkana

By Laura Berry

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 1.3L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

7.1L/100km (combined)

5.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

The 'mysterious' brand
Volkswagen quality and engineering
Lower price into the Ateca model

Stylish, distinctive design
Great boot space and practicality
Responsive handling

Dislikes

Safety tech could be more cutting edge
Fuel economy on the high side
No head-up display

Mild-hybrid gains feel limited
Snug rear seat space
Slow off the mark

2025 Cupra Ateca Summary

Not many people even know what a Cupra Ateca V is… and this is the second best thing about this small SUV. The first best thing is that Cupra is owned by Volkswagen.

So, this means you can have your mysterious SUV not many other people drive while knowing it’s underpinned by one of the largest car manufacturers in the world which makes cars millions of people drive and one which also has a reputation for high quality vehicles.

The big news here is the Ateca model range has a new and lower entry fee with the arrival of this V grade. See, until now the only Ateca Australians could buy is the high-performance VZx which while really sporty also came with a pretty big price tag.

So, how much is the Ateca V and what do you get for the money? We found this out at the Australian launch along with how practical and safe it is and what it’s like to drive.

View full pricing & specs

2026 Renault Arkana Summary

This time around my family of three has been reviewing the updated Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine mild-hybrid, and you might be wondering… why?

In a market that is positively bursting at the seams with established and new competition, including full-hybrid rivals like the Honda HR-V RS and Hyundai Kona Premium, the Arkana has its work cut out for it.

It’s also a slightly unusual proposition, pairing the raised ride height of an SUV with the swooping roofline of a coupe, while sticking with a mild-hybrid powertrain as more and more rivals make the jump to full-hybrid.

So, does this small French SUV coupe still have enough going for it to stand out from the crowd?

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Cupra Ateca 2026 Renault Arkana

Verdict

The Cupra Ateca V is a much needed more affordable way into this small SUV while still offering a high-end feeling with plenty of standard features. Yes, the V isn't as high-powered as the VZx but it's still great to drive in the city and on the open road. Big on the inside and small on the outside the Cupra Ateca can perform urban and (small) family duties well.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

Verdict

The Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine mild-hybrid combines some serious design flair with a reasonable amount of practicality for a smaller family, but it’s hard to ignore the lack of improvement in efficiency following the addition of the mild-hybrid system. That said, it still succeeds on some fronts. It just does it quietly.

Cupra Ateca vs Renault Arkana What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Cupra Ateca vs Renault Arkana
What's the difference?