2025 Cupra Tavascan overview | CarExpert

I don’t find out about you, however I’m not an enormous fan of coupe-style crossover SUVs.

However sheesh, after just a few hours behind the wheel of the Cupra Tavascan in Spain lately, I’ve to say… I’m a bit taken by it.

Not solely is that this electrical SUV a design to behold from the skin, it’s wonderful inside, extra spacious than you’d suppose, and is shaping as much as be extra value-packed and lower-priced than a good few of its primary opponents.

I may let you know that it has its personal character when it comes to the drive expertise, as I came upon throughout just a few spirited stints within the top-spec dual-motor variant.

Learn on to seek out out extra.

How a lot does the Cupra Tavascan value?

The Spanish model hasn’t confirmed precise Australian pricing for the Tavascan, however you possibly can anticipate the 2 variations to be priced as follows.

For those who’re considering, “wait a second, so the Cupra may very well be cheaper than the Skoda Enyaq?”, you’d be proper. It’s additionally shaping as much as be extra sharply priced than many established gamers, together with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Subaru Solterra.

That is largely due to sourcing for this automobile – it’ll be produced by Volkswagen Anhui in China. The Enyaq alternatively is made within the Czech Republic, which provides to the prices concerned and results in the next value – regardless that Australia will get a relatively whole lot on pricing for that automobile.

To see how the Cupra Tavascan stacks up towards it rivals, use our comparability device.

What’s the Cupra Tavascan like on the within?

It’s, frankly, attractive. Higher than that, it feels particular inside, and that’s sufficient to set it other than many different EVs in the marketplace.

However that’s a Cupra trait, proper? The model is about design, aesthetics, finishes, trims, lighting, and darkness. Critically, when you haven’t sat in a Cupra, do your self a favour – the model has its inside recreation heading in the right direction.

Nonetheless, comply with me on this tangent. Whoever designed or accredited the outside door handles ought to have an excellent take into consideration what they’ve carried out, as a result of they’re horrible.

They’ve obtained a sensor that’s speculated to set off them to open, however when you’re not used to the handles you’re going to flick it open and it’ll snap again loudly, or worse, you’ll get the sting of your finger pinched when it springs again, as I did. Ouch.

When you’re inside, the VZ with the Darkish Evening inside theme is phenomenal to behold, with an excellent mixture of finishes and emotions to the supplies used.

There’s an enormous blade-like ingredient that runs the width of the sprint, gill-like finishes on the doorways, and a backbone centre piece that divides the cabin between the driving force’s zone and the passenger space.

The latter affords an enormous storage trench under, with a wi-fi charger and a spot to your keys or pockets.

On the centre tunnel there are open cupholders between the seats, and a centre console bin that’s a helpful measurement. So it’s each type and operate.

Sitting proud on the prime of the dashboard is a 12.9-inch touchscreen that takes some acclimation as a result of there are just a few menus upon menus – however it’s undoubtedly higher than the sooner examples of software program design from Cupra.

Certainly there are some useful shortcuts you possibly can arrange within the house bar part on the prime of the display, plus there’s a set local weather space on the backside.

That’s the place you possibly can faucet to show in your seat heating or modify the fan pace. Nonetheless, you want to enter one other menu to vary the rear local weather settings, air circulation and steering wheel heating. Just under the display there are sliding haptic interfaces for the temperature, and a central slider to manage the amount.

I had my iPhone linked to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and it labored with out trouble. There’s additionally wi-fi Android Auto connectivity, plus an array of USB-C cost ports.

We’ll dwell extra on the display in our Australian overview, however there are sensible charging choices so you possibly can set a timer for the EV to fill its battery up as soon as plugged in, and there are heaps of different menus obtainable. 

The most important annoyance within the cabin for me is the inclusion of haptic steering wheel controls, that are simple to bump – particularly when you’re driving with intent.

Talking of steering wheel controls, there’s a drive mode selector button on the tiller, in addition to a devoted Cupra button to shortly entry essentially the most assertive drive mode.

One other haptic management that doesn’t make sense to me is that as a substitute of getting 4 window switches for the driving force to function, there are solely two, and a haptic button to modify between the entrance and rear home windows. Why? Looks as if simplicity for complexity’s sake!

For those who’re questioning, the automobile will begin up if you sit on the seat and put your foot on the brake, and switch off if you hop out. That may be annoying, as a result of the seat sensor is fairly delicate to motion.

Sitting behind my very own 182cm driving place, I had inches of leg-room and toe-room, and even an honest quantity of head-room – a shock for a coupe-style SUV, particularly one with a panoramic glass roof.

There’s additionally first rate width to the again seat, with sufficient house for 3 throughout. In case you have little ones there’s a set of ISOFIX youngster seat anchors within the window seats, and three top-tether factors.

Facilities embrace directional air vents, heated outboard seats, rear local weather controls, ambient lighting, map pockets on the seatbacks, bottle holders within the doorways, in addition to a flip-down armrest with cupholders and a ski-port.

Boot house is commendable at 540 litres, and there’s an adjustable ground part that can be utilized to partition away a hidey gap to your charging cables.

It additionally has a pair of procuring bag hooks, storage trenches on the perimeters, and a lightweight.

No spare wheel, although. As an alternative you get a tyre restore package. Different omissions embrace a entrance trunk and a rear wiper.

To see how the Cupra Tavascan stacks up towards it rivals, use our comparability device.

What’s below the bonnet?

Cupra has confirmed specs for the brand new Tavascan line-up, and like its sibling mannequin from Skoda there might be two completely different variations on supply – one with rear-wheel drive; and a range-topper with dual-motor all-wheel drive.

Additional specs together with weights, towing capability are but to be made obtainable for Australian fashions.

The vitality consumption figures for our market are additionally to be confirmed, though knowledge on-line suggests a determine starting from 16.5-18.1kWh per 100km for the flagship VZ.

On check, I noticed a considerably greater 25.6kWh per 100km over just a few hundred kilometres of assorted driving, together with an extended stint of mountain cross testing – to not point out quite a few completely different drivers behind the wheel.

To see how the Cupra Tavascan stacks up towards it rivals, use our comparability device.

How does the Cupra Tavascan drive?

As you’d anticipate, the VZ dual-motor all-wheel drive mannequin is impressively quick.

The 0-100km/h time mightn’t be as blistering as some rivals on the market, however in apply it flings you on the horizon with shocking ease, particularly contemplating the heft of the factor. 

The Tavascan VZ weighs as much as 2273kg, in line with the model, and you’ll really feel that in corners, however it does have a extra dynamic character than most of the different EVs on this section. A good bit of that may also be attributed to the drive mode choice system.

There are a number of completely different modes to select from – together with the aforementioned Cupra mode – which principally turns it from a silent and comparatively easy commuter SUV right into a dramatic one with a distinct temperament.

There’s a pure development to the steering, that means much less of that tremendous darty on-centre fakery that you just get in another EVs on the market, with extra of an intrinsic responsiveness to the driving force’s arms.

It’s a correctly sporty electrical SUV – to the purpose that when you’re cross-shopping it towards a Toyota or Subaru electrical SUV, it’s on one other degree.

The braking might be the least pleasurable ingredient throughout more durable driving, with the regen system interrupting issues a bit. The pedal simply doesn’t have the identical degree of belief that I would really like for an SUV of this measurement.

However in ‘B’ mode (selectable utilizing the column shifter), the response and progressive nature of the regenerative braking system is gorgeous in city driving.

Along with B mode there are three completely different regenerative braking ranges to select from, by utilizing the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

One other nice a part of the drive is the trip consolation and physique management. The VZ comes with Adaptive Chassis Management, so the dampers are adjustable to make it extra soft if you want, or extra targeted in really feel.

Whereas there isn’t any escaping the bodily measurement of the automobile, nor the actual fact it has 21-inch wheels and low-profile Hankook Ion Evo SUV tyres that really feel sharp bumps, it was very snug in slower pace visitors snarls, and a mixture of different highway conditions.

What do you get?

Two variants of the Cupra Tavascan might be supplied at launch.

Tavascan Endurance highlights:

• 19-inch black and silver ‘Vulcano’ alloy wheels
• Illuminated Cupra logos entrance and rear
• Arms-free energy tailgate
• Tri-zone local weather management with rear management
• 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Paddle shifters for regenerative braking adjustment
• Black cloth upholstery

Elective Inside Package deal provides:

• 20-inch ‘Heckla’ alloy wheels
• Encompass-view digicam
• Energy-adjustable, heated entrance seats with reminiscence
• Sennheiser sound system
• Darkish Evening deep blue inside
• Microfibre upholstery
• Ambient lighting

Tavascan VZ provides:

• 21-inch black and copper ‘Katla’ alloy wheels
• Dynamic Chassis Management (DCC) adaptive suspension
• ‘Cascading’ Matrix LED headlights
• Mounted sunroof with energy solar blind

If you want, there’s the Excessive Package deal for the VZ, which provides ventilated Cup Racing entrance bucket seats completed in Enceladus Gray leather-based, in addition to stickier efficiency tyres.

Geared up as such, you pay a value when it comes to driving vary, which drops to 463km (down from 499km).

Is the Cupra Tavascan secure?

There isn’t any Euro NCAP or ANCAP security ranking for the Tavascan but, and full specification particulars for the security suite to be supplied domestically are nonetheless to be confirmed – however as normal the “full suite” of lively know-how might be supplied, in line with the model.

Anticipated normal security tools:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, bike owner detection
  • Junction and head-on detection
• Lane preserve help
• Adaptive cruise management incl. pace limiter
• Visitors jam help (braking, accelerating and steering help)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Protected exit help
• Lively bonnet
• Driver fatigue monitoring system
• Visitors signal recognition
• Clever park help (semi-autonomous parking)
• Linked companies with emergency calling (TBC for Australia)

The bottom mannequin comes with a reversing digicam, whereas the elective pack provides a surround-view 360-degree digicam – normal on VZ. There are twin entrance, entrance facet, entrance centre, and full-length curtain airbags.

How a lot does the Cupra Tavascan value to run?

There’s a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee for all Cupra fashions in Australia, and you’ll anticipate the Tavascan could have that very same degree of canopy.

Battery guarantee will span eight years/160,000km, and it’ll assure a 70 per cent state of well being by the tip of that interval. 

There might be a pay as you go servicing choice for consumers, probably with three- and five-year phrases. Pricing hasn’t been finalised but. You get 5 years roadside help with a brand new Cupra in Australia, too.

To see how the Cupra Tavascan stacks up towards it rivals, use our comparability device.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Cupra Tavascan

Fashionable and particular feeling – that sums up what I felt in regards to the Cupra Tavascan after a brief stint driving it in Spain forward of its native debut.

Keep tuned, as a result of this may very well be a extremely spectacular supply within the Australian EV market, the place it’s because of arrive earlier than the tip of 2024.

Concerned with shopping for a Cupra Tavascan? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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