Over the course of my extended summer break, I got the chance to mull over many things, one of which was the framing of this article. Now, that’s important because the Tavascan is a huge deal for Cupra, representing a leap forward for the brand both in terms of its product lineup and its brand identity.
First, let’s set the scene for this article, I thought it only appropriate to begin with a recap of Cupra’s journey thus far. The brand can trace its origins back to a badge applied to sporty Seats, eventually diverging out on its own in 2018. The first batch of standalone vehicles to bear the Cupra name were rebadged products (sort of) with copper accents, namely the Leon hatch and wagon, an exception being the Formentor which was the truest Cupra offering at the time. What was clear from the start though was that these vehicles had a sporty bend, sharper styling and a focus on driving dynamics, not to mention a certain badge exclusivity.
Then came the brand’s first EV, the Born, again, what appeared to be a rebadged ID.3 on the surface but underneath it couldn’t have been more different. A rear wheel drive set-up and engaging dynamics saw the Born globally recognized as one of the most fun to drive EVs of its time! Now appears the Tavascan, the brand’s second ever fully electric offering but once again, it shares VW DNA, namely that of the ID.5. So, is it different enough?
Firstly, I tell a lie, the Tavascan is not only related to the Volkswagen ID.5 but also the Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4, the perks of being a brand under the Volkswagen Group umbrella I suppose! However, from the aforementioned names, the Cupra is distinctive right from the get go, take its prominent badge for one.
The Tavascan embodies Cupra’s design language to a tee, the nose is pointy and aggressive, the lines are strong and pronounced, it is what we have come to know from the Spanish brand but on a different scale. ‘Tavascan Blue’ is the vehicle’s hero colour and the shade selected for our review model. The colour palette is quite diverse with ‘Basalt Grey’ as standard whilst ‘Atacama Desert’, ‘White Silver’ and the aforementioned ‘Tavascan Blue’ are all option. As a fan of blue hues, the latter would be a justifiable $2,500 spend in my opinion.
Also note the unmissable copper accents on the 21 inch ‘Katla’ wheels which are a standard option on this range topping VZ model. To top that, the front badge is backlit by a white LED light while the rear sees the badge integrated into the ‘coast to coast’ light bar, the latter feature in particular a standout detail on these newer Cupra models. While some things change, some stay the same and in keeping with tradition, the model name is etched into the taillights as visible above.
At 4.64m long, 1.86m wide and 1.59m tall, this is about the largest car that Cupra currently manufacture but thanks to some clever design, it doesn’t look it and certainly doesn’t feel like a traditional boxy SUV. Instead, a coupe-SUV style sets its apart and aims it squarely at those who are willing to sacrifice a few litres of boot space for design prowess, as they should! Although, 540L of room in the trunk is probably plenty for most.
Now, it’s time to shut the boot, walk away and look back, what becomes clear is that the Tavascan VZ certainly has presences. During my review period, I did my usual ‘park outside a nice Ponsonby restaurant test’ and can attest to the fact that the car draws attention. Thanks in part to its design elements that can be described as a sum of aggressive, edgy, even daringly outlandish at times. Undoubtedly thought, some of that bystander interest will be masked as curiosity as the badge still has an exclusive feel about it, although Cupra’s support of A-League giants Auckland F.C. has gone some way to popularizing it, certainly in this city.
If you thought the exterior design was a mix of daring and stylish, even outlandish to some extent then boy, let me introduce you to the interior! In a nutshell, it is unashamedly Cupra and I greatly respect that. Where interior design has (to an extent) become an art of combining black plastic with large screens, the rebellious nature of the Tavascan says otherwise. Just take a look at the above, striking copper accents break up swathes of ‘Dark Knight deep blue’ coloured upholstery. Also, take note of that floating central beam (‘Optimized Central Spine’ is the technical term) like column which connects the dashboard with the centre console, it hides wireless charging facilities underneath. Let’s also spend a moment to talk about the ‘sports bucket’ seats because in typical Cupra fashion, they are sporty, supportive and quite distinctive. A combination of the brand’s logo embossed into the headrests and fabric pattern make these look properly gamer chair-esque on this occasion too!
If you’ve read to this point and are getting worried that the Tavascan is all about style then don’t because it is big on substance too. Firstly, there’s a panoramic sunroof which does well to lighten up the cabin as the 12-speaker Sennheiser audio system does to fill it with good sounds. And despite my previous comment about losing space thanks to a coupe-SUV design, you never really feel yourself wanting for more when on the inside. My parents served as the backseat testers during this review as they often do and in their opinion, the Tavascan was roomy and comfortable!
Clearly, the range topping Tavascan VZ is well optioned at $94,900+ ORC and has a lengthy list of safety technologies for the money as well but therein lies a challenge. During my test, I experienced the wrath of its ‘City Emergency Braking’ function on two occasions, once when backing into a driveway and once when exiting a narrow parking lot, the latter event particularly petrified my elderly colleague at the time. Speaking of terrifying, the VZ is the performance model so let’s cover what exactly sets it apart from the V. A 77kWhr battery (82kWhr gross) features on both models but whilst the V has to make do with power delivery through the rear wheels, the VZ uses all four to put its power down. As a result of this, the 0-100kph sprint can be clocked in 5.5s. Total power is 250kW and torque is a sizable 545Nm. Plenty of oomph for most! What’s even more so impressive is that it claims a WLTP range of 499km and during my testing, returned an efficiency figure of 16.2 kWhr/100km, remember that this is a performance EV!
But Cupra is a performance brand so although impressively efficient, the drive is what you’ll really want to know about. On the city streets, the Tavascan VZ is a comfortable commuter, offering a buttery smooth and quiet electric drive, a nice oasis from the noise of the world if you will. Coasting downhill engages an almost unnatural freefall of sorts but a quick twist of the shifter will have regen braking on the case. The suspension is compliant at most times with the odd bump/judder bar ruffling its feathers, although that is to be expected in a performance model right! Despite riding on the 21 inch wheels, tyre roar isn’t concerning even over rougher surfaces.
On the acceleration front, it has plenty to get you off the line quickly when the onramp lights turn green but thankfully not quite so much that your stomach churns. Then when presented with twisty roads, the Tavascan will engage the challenge suitably so. Yes, at 2.2 tonnes, it is not always the sharpest handler around tighter bends but again, that is to be expected with a higher riding vehicle.
The Verdict
Altogether, the Cupra Tavascan VZ is a compelling purchase for the discerning EV buyer. The Spanish brand played to its strengths in the design and performance departments, putting out a sharp looking coupe SUV that is capable when needed with the ability to morph into a comfortable commuter. A stylish and well equipped interior adds some practicality to the package. A hard one to fault bar some overly eager safety technology.
2025 Cupra Tavascan VZ: 4/5
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Car courtesy of Cupra New Zealand. Words and photos by Matthew D’Souza.
