Cupra Tavascan 2024 Review

Cupra hasn’t yet finalised pricing for the 2025 Tavascan but it has offered a ballpark figure. Two variants will be introduced from launch in early 2025, with an entry level Endurance trim featuring rear-wheel drive and a single motor at a price “in the $60s,” says Cupra. The high-performance VZ trim level gets two motors and AWD for a price “in the $70s”.

If that’s the case when the model starts trickling into Australia in January, both will avoid Luxury Car Tax, saving a good chunk of cash. Demonstrators will become available in March; first deliveries are expected to reach customers in April 2025.

Both versions get a 77kWh lithium-ion battery offering 534km of range in the more efficient two-wheel drive variant, or 499km for the AWD version. Peak torque is rated at 545Nm for both variants while the rear-drive produces 210kW, versus the 250kW max of the dual motor. That’s enough to do the zero to 100km/h dash in 6.8 seconds and 5.5 seconds respectively.

As with all models in the family, Cupra’s strategy is to equip its vehicles with a relatively high standard of equipment included in the asking price, while offering a handful of packages to add kit if desired.

Alloy wheels measure 19 inches for the entry version and can be upsized to 21, depending on the variant, and options include a forged wheel in a unique design. Four exterior colours will be introduced at launch, and the company’s trademark frosted metallic tones will come later and cost more.

Triple triangle LED headlight and tail-light designs are standard, along with an illuminated bonnet badge and full-width LED light bar at the rear. Copper exterior highlights continue through to the interior, which is trimmed in a number of sustainable materials such as a synthetic suede or leather in the higher grades, and a different style of seat as part of an option pack.

Technology features prominently in the Tavascan cabin, with a 15-inch central touch-screen – the largest of any Cupra – offering wireless smartphone connection for both Android and Apple devices, and wireless charging.

There’s also a fully digital driver’s instrument cluster which measures just under 6.0 inches but looks even tinier next to the vast central screen. It’s neat and dainty and offers a good amount of information for its size, but does not feel inadequate thanks to the supplementary HUD which is absolutely massive and even offers augmented information.

Safety earns its place within the technology package by offering seven airbags, AEB, adaptive cruise control, vehicle exit warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring as standard, while we consider the excellent augmented HUD to be an important safety feature as well as an impressive tech and comfort inclusion.

There’s a lot to like about the 2025 Cupra Tavascan. From the arresting exterior looks that carry through into the cabin with similarly uncompromising design, to the sweet dynamics and tantalising price hint, the newest model in the Cupra family does promise a lot.

We’ve only sampled the all-wheel drive in a strange mix-match of specifications, but we’re amped to try the production versions that arrive early next year. Our pre-production car repeated the excellent combination of ride and handling that we experienced in Europe earlier in the year, with a beautiful steering set-up forming the icing on the cake for any true driver.

That said, the Tavascan strikes great ride comfort that all occupants will appreciate. The Tavascan is based on the same MEB platform that underpins many models, including the VW ID. 3 and ID.5, the Skoda Enyaq and even the smaller Cupra Born. However, the Tavascan is the model that feels as though it has enjoyed the most refinement during chassis development.

Performance might not quite equal a comparably priced Tesla Model Y, but zero to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds is fast enough, and we would make a small sacrifice in acceleration over the Tesla’s woeful ride and neurotic steering any day.

We love the Tavascan’s cabin ergonomics, space and technological offering which feels premium even though Cupra insists it’s not trying to be. Instead, the local outfit prefers to focus on ‘value’ which we think is completely fair, given what’s included for the cash.

Compared with the Tavascan’s list of virtues, the negatives are far fewer and less significant, but one that may be relevant to many users is a relatively low maximum charging rate.

A peak power rating of 135kW is behind the peak figure of a number of rivals, but Cupra claims the Tavascan can take a 10-to-80 percent top up in about 30 minutes which is about the market average and, in reality, most owners will be charging at home where outright speed is of much lower consideration.

The Tavascan compares with rivals such as the Tesla which can manage more than 200kW and some Chinese challenger brands that go even higher.

Drum brakes for the rear axle are a strange specification choice – strange for a performance-focused model which would ordinarily favour discs and calipers in all corners. The drums can’t match discs for heat dissipation under repeated heavy braking, although we didn’t have any opportunities to test that theory.

We also look forward to another drive to retest the efficiency. Our drive was fairly representative of a reasonable jaunt from the city to the country, during which the Tavascan used about 17.3kWh/100km which is on the high side. Once again, if your electricity comes from solar cell on your roof, this will not be of great consequence.

Choice was once a rare luxury in many EV segments, including the small-to-medium crossover/SUV realm, but now you are positively spoilt for choice. And while the Tesla Model Y used to be the obvious choice for many, there are now plenty of other battery-powered vehicles that should be considered – including the Cupra Tavascan high up that list.

It might not be quite as quick when compared to the most potent version, nor does it offer charging that is as rapid, but in virtually every other way the Tavascan is a superior car. Its steering is a highlight of an overall great chassis and dynamic package, along with the great comfort characteristics.

The Tavascan’s styling stands out for all the right reasons, the interior design is unlike anything else on the market, and yet neither compromise practicality. And the digital display suite is impressive but retains enough of the hard buttons and separated functions for the right balance of visual simplicity and user friendliness.

If the model can come in at the suggested pricing of sixty something and seventy something respectively, the Tavascan will offer a truly compelling EV that will appeal to a broad audience, drawn in by the many attributes that are hard to ignore.

2024 Cupra Tavascan VZ at a glance:
Price: $74,990 (estimated)
Available: January 2025
Powertrain: Asynchronous electric motor (front), permanent magnet synchronous motor (rear)
Output: 250kW/545Nm
Transmission: Single speed reduction gear
Battery: 77kWh lithium-ion
Range: 499km WLTP
Energy consumption: 16.8kWh/100km WLTP claimed
Safety rating: Not tested

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