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Spanish model Cupra is getting a sign honour in relation to a brand new household of small, reasonably priced electrical autos (EVs) from the Volkswagen Group.
Reasonably than taking part in follow-my-leader to mother or father agency Volkswagen itself, Cupra will lead the event of the ‘MEB+’ platform which shall be used for a quartet of impending fashions, all hailing from this Iberian outfit, in addition to Volkswagen and Skoda.
And its tackle the format, the Cupra Raval, shall be first to the market. Not solely that, however the Raval shall be offered in Europe at a extremely aggressive value – making it a tempting EV for first-time patrons to the zero-emission fold.
Whether or not it might come to Australia for such good worth stays to be seen, though the bigger Born EV has been closely discounted right here in latest months; so possibly the urge for food is there for a less expensive, extra compact runaround with no combustion engine fitted.
We headed over to Cupra’s headquarters at Martorell, simply outdoors Barcelona, to have a go in a closely disguised Raval prototype, with a purpose to see simply how good it’s.
How a lot does the Cupra Raval price?
The slated entry determine for a Raval in Europe is €26,000. That, on a direct alternate, is about $46,000 – which is what discounted Borns had been going for round 9 months previous to this drive.
Ascertaining how a lot the Raval may cost a little right here, if and when it lands, is pure guesswork at this stage.
Hopefully, one thing sub-$50,000 earlier than on-roads wouldn’t be out of the query, though of the three grades of Raval we all know of – known as Dynamic, Dynamic Plus and VZ Excessive – it’s not very doubtless that the flagship mannequin of the Cupra may dip under that barrier.
What’s the Cupra Raval like on the within?
We’re not fully certain. An odd assertion to start with, you’d assume, on condition that we’ve pushed the Raval prototype.
However the Spanish producer is presently being coy with the aesthetics of the Raval, selecting to protect its ultimate exterior look and inside design till a worldwide reveal someday in 2026.
Thus, the cabin of the Raval prototype we drove was swaddled in obfuscating material. So we are able to’t inform you an terrible quantity about it – however there are some things now we have gleaned.
To start with, regardless of the very fact the Raval is just just some millimetres longer than 4 metres from tip to tail, totally 2.6 metres of that house is situated between the axles. This, says the producer, results in a surfeit of rear-passenger room and a big (for this class of automotive) boot too.
Second, the top-dog VZ Excessive – which is the model we drove in Spain – comes with electrically adjustable Cup bucket seats which can be superbly supportive, and which provide an excellent driving place.
Lesser variants retain sports activities seats, however these shall be flatter, much less sculpted examples than the Cups, and they’ll additional be clothed in Dinamica microfibre.
Clearly, to drive a automotive, you want to have the ability to see the steering wheel and the essential gauges behind. Moreover, on a contemporary touchscreen-equipped automobile reminiscent of this, a lot of the drive modes and chassis software program need to be accessed on the central display screen.
So we obtained glimpses of each the totally digital instrument cluster within the Cupra Raval, in addition to its most important infotainment interface. Each seemed wonderful with crisp graphics, swift response charges, and a marked step up from Cupra’s current {hardware}.
Measurement-wise, we’d guess at a ten.25-inch cluster and one thing like a 12-inch touchscreen on the sprint, however don’t maintain us to that.
As to the steering wheel, it’s magnificent. It’s a superb measurement, it feels beautiful to carry, and it’s festooned with correct bodily buttons, reasonably than the less-than-ideal haptic pads the Volkswagen Group has regrettably foisted upon a few of its merchandise lately.
Anyway, from what little we may see and function, even at this early stage there are some very encouraging indicators concerning the Cupra Raval’s inside.
| Dimensions | Cupra Raval |
|---|---|
| Size | 4046mm |
| Width | 1784mm |
| Top | 1518mm |
| Wheelbase | 2600mm |
| Cargo capability | TBC |
What’s underneath the bonnet?
Once more, minimal knowledge at this level, however the Dynamic and Dynamic Plus variations of the Cupra Raval will use a front-mounted 155kW electrical motor. No torque nor efficiency figures have been launched for these fashions at this stage.
| Specs | Cupra Raval | Cupra Raval VZ Excessive |
|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 50-60kWh (anticipated) | 50-60kWh (anticipated) |
| Energy | 155kW | 166kW |
| Torque | TBC | 290Nm |
| Drive kind | Entrance-wheel drive | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Claimed vary | 450km (approx.) | 400km (approx.) |
The VZ Excessive, nevertheless, ramps issues up with a 166kW motor, which we do know produces a wholesome 290Nm of torque, too. Once more, there’s no 0-100km/h time but, however the prime pace of this automotive is alleged to be 175km/h – almost definitely restricted to protect the battery.
We don’t have any info and figures concerning the electrical system that’s used for the Cupra Raval household, though it’s cheap to imagine a 400-volt structure.
We additionally reckon there shall be one battery measurement, someplace within the 50-60kWh zone. It is because the 166kW VZ Excessive is alleged to go round 400km on a single cost, whereas the 155kW Raval will increase that determine to 450km.
As a yardstick, one of many Cupra’s key rivals, Alpine’s A290 GTS, has a 52kWh battery and a 160kW motor, which ends up in a 364km quoted vary.
How does the Cupra Raval drive?
Ah, right here we get to the crux of the matter. Cupra is the sporty arm of the Volkswagen Group and has been for some time now. Due to this fact, the Raval ought to – within the regular order of issues – be a bit extra involving to drive than the Volkswagen and Skoda vehicles that can path alongside in its wake.
So when Cupra says the Raval “sits 15mm decrease than the platform and has 10mm-wider tracks too”, it might sound a bit daft at first look – however what the corporate is making an attempt to convey is that its automotive shall be decrease to the bottom and broader of stance than the common, run-of-the-mill Volkswagen and Skoda efforts.
That received’t essentially be true of the recent VW ID. Polo GTI, which we already know is within the pipeline – we’d guess that can have the identical set-up because the VZ Excessive we’re driving right here.
Cupra has put numerous its greatest efforts into the Raval VZ Excessive to make it a pleasure to steer.
This consists of 15-mode Dynamic Chassis Management (DCC) damping with a five-per-cent firmer tune than these used within the Dynamic and Dynamic Plus fashions, an digital system mimicking a limited-slip differential on the entrance axle, variable-ratio steering, and a relaxed stability management system (each of which have a ‘sports activities tune’).
There are additionally revised steering knuckles and a braking setup that sees correct discs used on the rear axle of a Volkswagen Group EV for the primary time, in addition to one thing known as the ‘one-box’ management unit to make the brakes really feel extra pure.
The Raval additionally has a sound generator that, with the automotive in its extra targeted Efficiency and Cupra modes, overlays the acceleration with a synthesised noise to higher contain the driving force within the act of going quick.
All noble efforts that may come to naught within the incorrect engineering fingers, however the great information is we’re right here to inform you Cupra has labored wonders. The Raval is without doubt one of the most participating little EVs we’ve had the pleasure of driving but.
Its achieved dynamic exhibiting begins with wonderful suspension that blends off a agency however forgiving trip high quality – the VZ runs on 19-inch alloys with vast 235-section tyres – with impeccable (for this class of automotive) physique and wheel management.
So whereas the Raval isn’t what you’d name ‘supple’ round city, it’s however able to coping with crumbling tarmac with much more grace and geniality than a few of its supposedly sporty rivals.
But when the corners come, the physique stays flat and stage, with minimal roll, pitch and dive to report.
What makes it such a pleasure to drive, although, is the way in which the most important controls are calibrated to permit the driving force to benefit from the sharp underpinnings.
The steering, as an example, has actual heft and tactility to it, with no slop in its price of responses. Coupled to the super-eager front-end of the Raval, it makes the automotive really feel agile and light-weight – two most welcome attributes in an EV.
Nevertheless, it’s the digital ‘diff’ which is the actual jewel right here. Get on the ability good and early in a tighter bend, and the Cupra Raval VZ doesn’t wash vast with fun-sapping understeer – as a substitute, it takes a much bigger chunk out of the curve’s radius and jinks in in the direction of the within of the highway.
It’s totally succesful and fulfilling making it nook like this, and such driver-focused antics additionally exhibit that the Cupra doesn’t endure from any notable issues with grip or traction; no less than, definitely not within the dry situations of Spain, which ought to bode properly for our personal local weather.
As to the pace, this isn’t a automotive that’s going to try to tear your face off underneath full acceleration. However we truly prefer it all of the extra for that.
It’s quick and fluid achieve 100km/h, a lot in order that we’d say a sub-seven-second dash shall be a extremely credible goal as soon as the official figures are launched, but the accelerator feels superbly progressive – eliciting pleasing acceleration, reasonably than trying any neck-snapping shenanigans.
Even the artificial noise is nice. It’s quieter within the Efficiency setting than it’s in ‘Cupra’, however in each modes, it fades away on a trailing ‘throttle’ in order that the automotive isn’t continually firing a faux tune into your ears.
It additionally makes no try to mimic inside combustion, so whereas we settle for it received’t be to all tastes, we occurred to fairly just like the Raval’s EV voice.
But we reserve our highest reward for the brakes. These are the most effective we’ve encountered on any EV but, definitely at a fairly cheap stage of the market.
The rear discs and the one-box mix to make for probably the most pure, organic-feeling brake pedal you can want for, so if you mix the whole lot collectively, the Cupra Raval VZ appears like a scorching hatch – in a method neither the most-powerful model of the Born or its VW analogue, the ID.3 GTX, may ever fairly match, even with their rear-wheel drive nature.
But the Raval appears like it’s going to operate completely properly as a day-to-day runabout, as completely happy absorbing the imperfections of metropolis streets as it’s when its driver is hurling it alongside a difficult highway.
All in all, even in prototype type, the Cupra is one critically convincing compact EV from a kinematic perspective, and we hope the manufacturing model maintains this stage of brilliance as soon as it arrives.
What do you get?
Whether or not this may maintain true for Australian-market vehicles or not, on the worldwide occasion Cupra mentioned that the Raval VZ Excessive could be fitted with the next gear.
2026 Cupra Raval tools highlights:
- 19-inch ‘sulfur-detail’ alloys
- Twin digital screens
- Manganese matt exterior particulars
- Cup bucket seats
- Superior driver help methods (ADAS)
- Clever parking capabilities
- Matrix LED exterior illumination
- Digital limited-slip differential
- Sennheiser 12-speaker premium sound system
Is the Cupra Raval protected?
At this early juncture, the Cupra Raval hasn’t been subjected to both a Euro NCAP or ANCAP take a look at process.
All the corporate would say is that it’s fitted with a wholesome array of ADAS package, so there’s an opportunity it’s going to rating extremely when it’s finally examined.
How a lot does the Cupra Raval price to run?
Other than the truth that it’s clearly an EV and subsequently comes with all the advantages and tax breaks related to that, we don’t but know the charging speeds nor electrical effectivity of the Cupra Raval lineup.
That shall be key to its success, together with its eventual value, however no less than Cupra’s spectacular unlimited-distance guarantee and roadside help package deal should do their bit to assist tempt in patrons; each of those ensures are in impact for 5 years from first registration.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Cupra Raval
Though this has been only a transient style take a look at in a closely disguised pre-production model of the automotive, with little or no laborious knowledge to accompany this pattern, the early indicators for the Cupra Raval are massively promising.
Lastly, this can be a Volkswagen Group EV which drives with a big diploma of verve, with its e-diff-equipped front-end, DCC suspension and mega brakes all serving up a genuinely thrilling expertise behind the wheel.
It additionally appears properly capable of do the humdrum day-to-day stuff with an appropriate diploma of polish, so offered the pricing is correct, the inside seems to be as spectacular as we hope, and the styling isn’t too contentious, then Cupra should be onto an actual winner right here with its fabulous little Raval.
It’s additionally mighty excellent news for Volkswagen and Skoda, that are each going to learn from Cupra’s groundwork laid down with this compact EV platform.
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery
MORE: Discover the Cupra showroom
