How reliable is the Cupra Ateca compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Cupra Ateca, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 89.1% across 897 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Cupra Ateca?

The item recorded most often is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", which appears in 39.0% of failed Cupra Ateca tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Cupra Ateca?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 23.1% of all Cupra Ateca tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Cupra Ateca usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 28,010 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Model reliability file

Cupra Ateca MOT pass rate & common failures

From 897 recorded MOT tests of the Cupra Ateca, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 897 MOT tests, 89.1% of Cupra Ateca tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Cupra Ateca fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which appears in 39.0% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 28,010 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

89.1%unadjusted, not comparable897 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the Ateca. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 897 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Cupra Ateca tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements39.0%
32 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm20.7%
17 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged14.6%
12 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage13.4%
11 occurrencesShock absorber defective explained
5.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction9.8%
8 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained
6.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen9.8%
8 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
7.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.3%
6 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
8.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.3%
6 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
9.Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer6.1%
5 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
10.An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction6.1%
5 occurrencesAirbag warning lamp on, or airbag missing explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Cupra Ateca tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements23.1%
207 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm12.8%
115 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged11.4%
102 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt4.8%
43 tests
5.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn4.0%
36 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
6.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured3.9%
35 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
7.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements3.2%
29 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
8.A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage2.5%
22 testsShock absorber defective explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Cupra Ateca

The 13 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

What gets tested

The Ateca fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 28,010
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol100.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (4)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

ATECA TSI 4DRIVE S-A
ATECA VZ1 TSI 4DRIVE S-A
ATECA VZ2 TSI 4DRIVE S-A
ATECA VZ3 TSI 4DRIVE S-A

Check a specific Cupra Ateca

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Cupra models

Cupra Formentor — 89.3% unadjusted
Cupra Born — 90.6% unadjusted
Cupra Leon — 84.5% unadjusted
All Cupra models

Common questions

How reliable is the Cupra Ateca compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Cupra Ateca, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 89.1% across 897 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Cupra Ateca?: The item recorded most often is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", which appears in 39.0% of failed Cupra Ateca tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Cupra Ateca?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 23.1% of all Cupra Ateca tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Cupra Ateca usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 28,010 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.