Sporty Cupra Tavascan electric SUV will be the brand’s answer to the VW ID.4
- Arriving in 2024
- Shares platform with Volkswagen ID.4
- 341-mile range
The Cupra Tavascan has finally been unveiled as the Spanish brand’s next all-electric model. The Tavascan will arrive in 2024 as a rival to the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model Y.
The production-ready version looks to be faithful to the concept car released in 2019, but differs substantially from the camouflaged prototypes spotted last year, which looked closer in design to the Volkswagen ID.4 on which it’s based.
The latest images now show the Cupra Tavascan with a sleek and more coupe-like design than the ID.4, sporting Cupra’s new triple-triangle LED signature headlights and an illuminated Cupra logo at the front. The polished black A-pillars are another design cue taken from the concept car, styled to emulate a racing helmet’s visor.
The Tavascan also gets a long light bar spanning the entire width of the tail with another illuminated logo in the centre. Triangular LEDs also feature in the rear lights, and a small lip spoiler adds a sporty look to the tailgate, complemented by a diffuser on the rear bumper.
There will be two versions of the Tavascan from launch: the base model gets a rear-mounted electric motor producing 282bhp and a 77kWh lithium-ion battery for a claimed range of up to 341 miles on a charge.
The higher-spec Tavascan VZ features a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing 335bhp – that’s 40bhp more than the Volkswagen ID. 5 GTX. The Tavascan VZ will accelerate from 0-62mph in just 5.6 seconds, but the higher performance comes at a slight expense of range – it manages 321 miles on a single charge from the same 77kWh battery as the entry-level version.
The Tavascan is compatible with charging speeds up to 135kW, meaning it will take around half-an-hour to top up from 10 to 80%, and it’s possible to add 62 miles of range in seven minutes.
Cupra has fitted the Tavascan with Dynamic Chassis Control Sport tech, sport suspension and progressive steering to deliver on the brand’s sporty credentials and appeal to keener drivers.
Drive modes will include Range, Comfort, Performance, Cupra and Individual settings, with all-wheel drive versions getting an additional Traction mode. The Tavascan also gets four levels of regenerative braking which drivers can switch between using paddles behind the steering wheel.
2024 Cupra Tavascan: design, interior and technology
The Tavascan's aero-efficient design attempts to combine the silhouette of a four-door coupe with SUV presence. Cupra has been updating its styling with triangular LEDs in its head and tail lights across many of its models to create a family resemblance spanning the entire lineup, which is particularly evident in the Tavascan and upcoming Formentor SUV facelift. Wheel sizes will range from 19 to 21 inches, with the largest wheels getting performance tyres.
The interior of the Tavascan is noticeably driver-focussed, getting a high centre console and floating spine that divides the front passenger and cocoons the driver, with a handy storage space beneath it to add some practicality.
Tavascan models get a 15-inch touchscreen on the centre of the dashboard – this is the same display used on the recently-unveiled Volkswagen ID.7 saloon car. We’re happy to see the climate controls below it are backlit – the frustrating non-illuminated controls used in the Cupra Born and Volkswagen’s ID electric cars are hard to use at night.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will feature as standard, and drivers will also get a 5.3-inch digital dashboard. A 12-speaker sound system developed in collaboration with Sennheiser will also feature on the Tavascan, and an augmented reality head-up display that projects information onto the windscreen will also be offered to buyers. An optional heat pump will be available to help heat the cabin more efficiently.
Bucket seats will be fitted as standard upfront, and buyers can choose between recycled textile or microfibre upholstery. The door mouldings, central spine and other elements around the cabin can be finished in either Deep Plum or Dark Ice Metal colour options, and Cupra’s trademark copper accents also feature around the interior.
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Trustpilot
The Tavascan will get plenty of safety tech, including predictive adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane assist and fatigue detection. A new feature known as Connected Travel Assist is also offered – this can keep the car in the centre of the lane, adjust speed while cornering and offer lane-changing assistance on the motorway. There’s also an Assisted Parking function that allows you to perform parking manoeuvres remotely using your smartphone.
Cupra Terramar
Cupra has also previously announced a plug-in hybrid SUV called the Terramar which is about the same size as a Volkswagen Tiguan and even Cupra’s own Ateca.
The model will be built alongside the Audi Q3 in Hungary, so it’s likely to use the same technology as that car — possibly a 1.4-litre or 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor with a range of up to 62 miles.
There will also be regular petrol versions of the Terramar; Cupra says it will be the last car from the brand that’s available without electric motors.
The all-electric Tavascan and Terramar will both arrive in 2024. While confirmed UK pricing has not yet been announced, we’d expect the Tavascan to start from around £55,000, given the Volkswagen ID.5 coupe-SUV currently starts from almost £51,000. At this price the Tavascan will go head-to-head with the rival Polestar 4 coming in the same year. Cupra is also set to release an affordable entry-level electric car based on the UrbanRebel concept, which is expected to arrive in 2025.
Keyword: Cupra Tavascan unveiled as brand’s next all-electric coupe-SUV