Cupra Raval (2026 - )

We have to applaud a manufacturer that develops a car with unique styling that stands out in a crowd for all the right reasons. And with its dynamic good looks and low-slung front end, the Cupra Raval electric hatchback does exactly that.
It shares the same MEB+ platform as fellow Volkswagen Group stablemates the VW ID.Cross, ID.Polo and recently launched Skoda Epiq, but it certainly has its very own identity.
All models are front-wheel drive, but the Raval can be matched to either a 37kWh or a 52kWh battery. The smaller unit can be paired to the entry-level Raval Origin (arriving soon) and this delivers 115PS, along with V1 and V2 grades which see a power increase to 135PS.

Alternatively, a larger 52kWh unit is available in the V1, V2 and Launch Edition trims with 210PS or to the high-end VZ and VZ Extreme grades with 225PS.
The Cupra Raval is priced from £23,785, but all models with the larger capacity battery gain a £1,500 Electric Car Grant (ECG) discount. We opted for the range-topping Raval VZ Extreme for our test drive and this car carried a £36,310 price-tag, reduced to £34,810 with the ECG.
 

It’s all well and good developing a car that looks dynamic in its styling, but it also needs to deliver on the performance front too, and the Cupra Raval does just that. Our top-of-the-range Raval VZ Extreme featured the larger of the two battery options – the 52kWh unit – and this develops 225PS and 290Nm of torque.

There is a single electric motor on the front axle for all-wheel drive and the Raval can complete the 0-62mph dash in a respectable 6.8 seconds, maxing out at 109mph.

Officially, it can achieve a WLTP-tested 238 miles between charges, although we rarely got close to seeing that figure during our 10-day loan. That said; we did cover quite a lot of motorway miles which impacts heavily on driving range. Yet even when we stuck to city routes and open roads, we were still seeing sub-200 miles.

But, it was a most rewarding 200 miles to be fair thanks to the Raval’s dynamic handling with instant power and acceleration, confident road-holding and perfectly weighted steering. It’s a car that can be driven hard through twisting bends and offers a balanced, composed response at all times.

A steering wheel button offers easy access to the drive modes called Comfort, Performance, Cupra, Individual and Range, and these alter the characteristics of the vehicle. There is also a separate Cupra button and this instantly activates the Cupra mode which is the most aggressive with sharper handling accompanied by a louder synthetic engine note.

Steering wheel paddles allow you to control the strength of the regenerative braking with single-pedal driving possible in the strongest setting, while a B mode on the gear shifter will help recover energy whilst slowing down.

We did find the ride was on the firmer side and there is quite a lot of tyre rumble at higher speeds, but that almost adds to the car’s all-round appeal.

The five-door Cupra Raval is very easy on the eye thanks to its sleek styling and dynamic lines. It’s a vehicle that really will turn heads as it passes by, and our test model also featured optional Manganese Green matte paintwork that looked gorgeous despite adding £1,600 to the price.

Eye-catching design cues include distinctive triangular lighting signatures with Matrix LED headlights, illuminated pop-out door handles, rear privacy glass, bold wheel arches, 19-inch Extreme alloys, blacked out pillars, a huge raised rear bumper and illuminated Cupra badging.

Moving inside, the Raval is once again distinctive in its styling and layout with a fancy ambient lighting set-up that flows into the door panels and looks most impressive at night time. The body-hugging sports seats are upholstered in an attractive grey and yellow 3D knit textile that looks quite premium and these seats are power adjustable. They can be also heated against the winter chill along with the steering wheel.

As is the Cupra way, expect to find flashes of copper trim throughout the cabin along with a number of PVC panels that look a lot better than they sound.

The main nerve centre is a 12.9-inch colour infotainment display and this offers access to the wealth of on-board technology, including the in-built sat nav, a premium 12-speaker 475-watt Sennheiser premium sound system, full smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera and lots more besides.

There are a number of physical controls and quick access keys which means less driver distraction to operate the on-board features, which is always a plus-point in our book.

And behind the steering wheel is a clear 10.25-inch information display where all the important data, such as driving range and speed, are clearly shown.

The Cupra Raval is a compact five-door electric hatchback that stretches 4,046mm in length, 1,784mm across, 1,518mm tall and has a 2,600mm wheelbase.

But despite its supermini dimensions, the cabin space is deceptively generous. A couple of six-foot-plus adults will have ample room to stretch out up front and, providing the seats are not pushed back too far, a trio of youngsters will be happy enough sat in the back of the car. Adults may find the space quite limited and the seat backs are rock solid, so knees could end up black and blue after a more enthusiastic drive.

The boot is accessed via a manual tailgate and has a capacity of 441 litres, a limit that can easily be increased to 1,240 litres by dropping the 60:40 split-folding rear seats. There is an adjustable boot floor for added convenience, but no frunk beneath the bonnet.

There are however plenty of storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin and these include a deep central cubby, a glovebox, door bins with room for a bottle, front cup holders, a huge storage area beneath the centre console, a wireless charging pad, some trays and four USB ports.

When it comes to charging, the Cupra VZ Extreme’s 52kWh battery can be boosted from zero to 100 per cent boost in five hours via an 11kW DC charger, or from 10 to 80 per cent in in 24 minutes using a DC 135kW outlet.

The Raval also offers Vehicle-to Load capabilities and that means it can be used to power up external appliances such as e-bikes, coffee machines, laptops and the likes directly from the car.

The Cupra Raval is competing for sales in a busy sector now with some exceptional rivals, including fellow VW Group models the Skoda Epiq and VW ID.Polo along with the Kia EV2 and Alpine A290. With that in mind, pricing is key and the Raval is very tempting at entry level, but climbs quite steeply to the range-topping models.

The line-up stars from £23,785 for the Origin trim which will be available early next year. The Raval V1 with the smaller 37kWh battery costs £26,995 and the V2 with the same capacity battery is £29,580.

As we mentioned, customers opting for the larger 52kWh battery models are rewarded with a discount of £1,500 thanks to the government’s Electric Car Grant. With that in mind, the Raval V1 is £29,995 (£28,495 with ECG), the V2 and V2 Launch edition are both £32,580 (reduced to £31,080), the VZ costs £34,995 (£33,495) and the VZ Extreme version, as tested, is £36,310 dropping to £34,810.

Our test car had a few optional extras, including a panoramic sunroof priced at £580, Manganese Green matte paint costing £1,600 and a second physical key that added a further £90 to the final cost.

There will be a £10 first-year road tax charge and that will increase to the standard fee of £200 after 12 months. However, there will be no concerns about paying any Expensive Car Supplement as the Raval is priced well below the £50k government threshold. Business customers will see an attractive four per cent Benefit in Kind tax rating and the Raval VZ Extreme, as tested, sits in insurance group 22.

For added peace of mind, the Raval is sold with a standard five-year, 90,000-mile warranty package, increasing to eight years or 100,000 miles for the battery.

While the electric supermini segment is getting over-crowded right now with new models seemingly landing every week, the Cupra Raval is a very welcome addition to the ever-growing numbers.

That’s because it boasts an identity all of its own. Despite sharing its architecture with fellow VW siblings, it looks truly distinctive and oozes charm and charisma.

The interior is futuristic but not so mind-boggling to deter would-be customers and the performance also ticks all the right boxes.

We would have liked a little more driving range on a single charge, but that was our only slight gripe about this otherwise very appealing model.