CUPRA Tavascan: our first impressions of the new Spanish electric SUV

CUPRA has unveiled the new CUPRA Tavascan, its second fully electric model after the CUPRA Born. And although we have not yet been able to drive it, our first impressions of the sporty SUV have been very positive. Fans of the brand have every reason to celebrate. So too will those considering switching to electrification, as they will have one more option to choose from, which we expect to enjoy the same success in its segment as the CUPRA Formentor is enjoying among combustion-engined SUVs.

I won’t dwell too much on the technical specifications of the Tavascan, which we already detailed here. But to set the scene, it is worth recalling that this model shares its platform with the Skoda Enyaq Coupé and the Volkswagen ID.5, which, as you can imagine, will be among its main rivals. But not the only ones, it should be noted: the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron or even the Tesla Model Y can also be alternatives to the Tavascan, for which we will still have to wait until mid-2024.

For this reason there is not yet even an official indication of the price of the Spanish electric SUV -which, incidentally, will be built at the Group’s plant in Anhui, China- although a good reference could be the Enyaq Coupé and Volkswagen ID.5, which would lead us to expect around 55,000 euros for the entry version with a 286 hp rear-mounted motor, and above 60,000 for the Tavascan VZ with 340 CV. In both versions the battery has a capacity of 77 kWh, and ranges of up to 550 km are expected in the best of cases.

A groundbreaking exterior design

During the presentation we were joined by Alberto Torrecillas, head of the design team, who could not hide the satisfaction one feels when convinced of one’s work. “We wanted to create a special feeling, so that when someone first saw the car it would produce a “wow” effect,” Alberto explained to us with a beaming smile. And judging by our faces, it was clear to him that they have achieved it: the Tavascan really does surprise from every angle.

Its very athletic proportions and very fluid exterior line, with a high waistline that has a clear incline, higher at the rear and sloping down towards the front, create a visual sensation as if the car wanted to move forward even when stationary. A very distinctive effect has also been sought, which CUPRA associates with the visor of a helmet, by painting the front pillar black.

Details such as the illuminated CUPRA front badge attract a lot of attention, a feature we will see on the brand’s future electric models. Alberto Torrecillas explained to us how difficult it is to adopt a solution like this, and how, to comply with European regulations requiring a minimum separation between the front lights, a very well integrated strip of light connecting the two headlights had to be incorporated. The rear also features the illuminated badge, in this case in red, and a much more evident light strip linking the taillights. In moving to production, Alberto highlighted the difficulty of maintaining the design features of the original prototype without compromising aerodynamics.

I particularly liked the solution used to flush the door handles into the bodywork. Instead of resorting to a retractable handle system, which is always more cumbersome, here the handle simply hides a button to activate the opening electrically rather than mechanically. As for the wheels, opinions vary. There is no denying they have a very elaborate aerodynamic design, but I would like to see how they look painted in a single colour… or at least without so much black. Depending on the version, they can be from 18 to 21 inches.

For the bodywork you can choose from six colours in shades of blue, white, red and grey, to which is added a spectacular matt bronze. In all cases the A-pillar is painted black, while the wheel arch mouldings will be grey rather than black for the lighter body colours.

Tavascan: a coupé-style SUV, but with good living space

And if the Tavascan’s exterior design surprises, the cabin is no less so. The most distinctive element is a structure christened by CUPRA the “backbone”, which joins the dashboard to the centre console, creating a separation between the driver’s side and the passenger’s side. It has no practical function, but once you are seated behind the wheel it causes no bother at all, and achieves what it sets out to do: attract attention. The bucket seats are spectacular and very comfortable, and they seem set to offer excellent body support when it comes to making the most of the sportier driving mode.

Other details I liked are the feel and sensation achieved with some of the materials and technical fabrics used in the trim, and the carefully designed ambient interior lighting, with floating light points even on the door panels, and a function that uses these lights on the dashboard to highlight when the indicators are activated or when a vehicle is in the blind spot. The enormous 15-inch multimedia screen, with high-resolution graphics and very good touch feedback, contrasts with the 5.3-inch instrument display. In a car like this I would have liked the instrumentation to play a slightly bigger role, although in some versions this is solved by resorting to a head-up display, which here is already the most advanced, with augmented reality function.

The glass roof is fixed, so as not to excessively restrict headroom in the rear seats, where in addition to more than enough space passengers have climate control vents and USB sockets. As in most electric cars, the floor sits higher than usual to make room for the battery, and this slightly affects the seating posture in these seats, with the feet -and therefore the knees- higher relative to the hips. To travel more comfortably one solution is to stretch your legs a little, placing your feet under the front seats, but in this case the space to do so is a little tight. The Tavascan does not offer the option of sliding the rear bench or adjusting the backrest angle of the rear seats; even so, they are perfectly usable by adults, even on long journeys.

Both the single-motor version and the Tavascan VZ with two motors and all-wheel drive offer a boot capacity of 540 litres, in line with the best among its main rivals. The shapes are very regular, and the floor adjustable at two heights, together with the tie-down loops for securing cargo, are a plus in terms of versatility. Access is through an electrically operated tailgate, which can be opened or closed simply with a gesture of passing your foot under the rear bumper.

CUPRA Tavascan – Image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverCUPRA Tavascan6 versions · from 49,420 €