CUPRA Tavascan (2024 - )

The CUPRA Tavascan is a fully electrified crossover-coupe model that’s very easy on the eye and packed with technology.
It’s not exactly cheap in an ever-growing sector with new vehicles flooding the market at a rapid pace, but this car does have its own unique appeal.
For starters, the design helps it stand out in any crowded car park and the performance perfectly matches its sporty nature. There is a very distinctive interior featuring all the mod cons we demand in a car these days and it is even relatively practical.
Factor in the impressive driving range and it’s easy to see why the Tavascan is being viewed as CUPRA’s best EV to date.
With prices starting from £47,340, customers can select from rear-wheel drive models called V1 and V2 or all-wheel drive versions named VZ1 and VZ2. All cars feature a 77kWh battery with the V1 and V2 delivering 286PS while the VZ1 and VZ2 ups the power output to 340PS.
We opted for the entry-level Tavascan V1 for out test drive.
 

Those designers at CUPRA have done it again developing a car that is both practical and fun to drive, while still being a total head-turner. It’s a sleek five door crossover-coupe that boasts a striking front end featuring a three-triangle eye light signature. There are 3D rear lights with full-width light bar and illuminated logo, dark tinted rear windows, a sculpted bonnet,  flush door handles and 19-inch alloy wheels that look absolutely stunning.
Move inside and you are greeted with a cockpit that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern sci-fi film with a large dividing section that separates the front seat occupants and spans out to merge into the dashboard. As is the CUPRA way, there are copper trimmings and detailing throughout and plenty of tech to explore.
The main nerve centre is a 15-inch infotainment screen with sharp graphics and quick responses. It offers access to the likes of the sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connection, a seven-speaker sound system with DAB radio, Bluetooth and plenty more besides. All the vital driving data such as speed, battery charge levels and driving range,  is displayed clearly on the 5.3-inch digital cockpit. 
The cloth-upholstered bucket seats offer ample support and have plenty of manual adjustment. And, along with the steering wheel, they can be heated to fend off those winter blues.
We would like to see a few more physical buttons rather than relying on slider controls and the touchscreen for most functions, but otherwise the set-up is driver-focused.
 

We tested the rear-wheel drive CUPRA Tavascan in entry-level V1 guise but it felt nothing like a basic model. The 77kWh battery delivers 286PS and 545Nm of torque resulting in a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.
But one of the most important numbers on any EV spec sheet is the driving range between charges which is a WLTP-tested 352 miles. This drops slightly on the all-wheel drive versions with the VZ1 model delivering a combined 323 miles on a single charge.
Like most EVs, the Tavascan is sharp out the starting blocks with instant acceleration via the single-speed transmission and plenty of power on tap for quick overtaking manoeuvres. It is confident and balanced through tight bends on twisting B roads with impressive grip and next-to-no sign of body sway. 
On motorways, it will effortlessly sit at 70mph, but those higher speeds do take their toll on the range.
There are drive modes called Range, Comfort, Performance, CUPRA and Individual that alter the driving characteristics of the car, along with a B mode on the gear selector that increases the strength of the regenerative braking. Steering wheel paddles can also be used to increase or decrease the braking force, which makes it easy to slow down or stop in busier town centre settings.
And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there is a very tempting CUPRA button on the steering wheel. Press that and all the car’s settings automatically switch to their most engaging and aggressive format.
Refinement levels are excellent with a well-insulated cabin and the impressive suspension set-up smoothing out most bumps and dips along the way.
The only gripe is the driver’s over-the-shoulder visibility which is due to the car’s high window line and wide pillars.
 

With sporty good looks, the CUPRA Tavascan stretches 4,644mm in length, is 2,108mm across (including door mirrors), 1,597mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,766mm.
There is ample manual seat and steering wheel adjustment so finding a comfortable driving position is a simple process and there is bundles of room up front for a couple of six footers to stretch out.
Rather surprisingly, considering its coupe styling with sloping roofline, rear passengers also fare quite well for space. The completely flat floor means the middle passenger need not straddle a central tunnel, but there is no armrest on the entry-level V1 model, so no rear cup holders.
The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can swallow 540 litres of luggage, which is a larger capacity than many rivals, and it increases further by dropping the 60:40 split-folding rear seats.
Throughout the cabin are numerous storage compartments, including a glovebox, front cup holders, seat back pockets, a deep central cubby, door bins and a wireless charging pad.
Charging the 77kWh battery on the Tavascan V1 from 10 to 80 per cent via a 135kW fast charger takes 28 minutes. If using an 11kW port then a 0 to 100 per cent charge will take eight hours.
 

The CUPRA Tavascan line-up is relatively well priced in an ever-increasing EV marketplace with the entry-level V1 trim, as tested, costing £47,340. Our car featured a Winter Pack that added £1,335 to the final price-tag and that introduced heated front seats, a heat pump and heated windscreen.
At the other end of the Tavascan line-up is the VZ2 model which costs £60,835, before any options are factored in.
However, owners will be able to claw back some savings thanks to a number of government-led incentives for EV drivers. These include being exempt from road tax, Congestion Charge fees and Ultra Low Emission Zone penalties. In addition, there is no added surcharge for buying a vehicle costing more than £40k whereas ICE driven cars carry an annual charge for five years. On the downside most, if not all, of these financial boosts are being reduced or withdrawn this year.
For anyone considering the CUPRA Tavascan as a company car, it has an attractive two per cent Benefit in Kind tax rating. And our test car sits in insurance group 34.
With less moving parts than a traditionally-powered car, there should be lower maintenance costs when running an EV and, for added peace of mind, the Tavascan comes with a five-year, 90,000-mile warranty, increased to eight-years or 100,000-miles for the battery guaranteeing its capacity remains at 70 per cent or higher.

The CUPRA Tavascan is an impressive all-rounder that boasts distinctive design traits and impressive driving dynamics. It is not cheap in an already overcrowded market, but does boast plenty of unique appeal.
There is a good selection of choice for customers and then models can be personalised further thanks to a wide range of options, but that will see the price climb quite quickly.
But the entry-level car, as tested, with just a Winter Pack as an extra add-on, was generously equipped and would be our recommendation if you’re looking to keep costs down.