By almost any measure, Cupra has done a fine job of launching new compact SUVs. Lest we forget, the brand kicked off with the Ateca, a car that managed to not make a complete pig's ear of its MQB underpinnings or its Golf R-shared powertrain. That was followed in 2021 by the impressively stylish Formentor, which came in lots of forgettable flavours (its maker missed a trick by not selling the 390hp five-pot in this county) but also a 310hp one that sold very well. There are currently 313 examples available to buy in the PH classifieds, significantly outnumbering the rest of the Cupra lineup even when put together.
Now the trend continues with the Cupra Tavascan. The manufacturer reckons it is its ‘first all-electric SUV coupe’ and while you can obviously strike off the last word as meaningless, it is certainly true that the new model marks Cupra’s entry into the EV crossover market. Its first go at a battery-electric car was the Born, a hatchback that tried to inject some flair (both visual and dynamic) into the VW ID 3, with mixed results. The Tavascan, which also sits on the MEB platform, is tasked with doing a similar job for the ID 4. So while you can have it as a single-motor 286hp variant, you can also get a dual-motor 340hp version that shares its output with the punchier ID 5 GTX.
This means you get 5.5-second-to-62mph performance alongside a 324-mile range (courtesy of a shared 77kWh battery). You’ll need to buy into the styling of course - which aren’t as cleverly differentiated as the Formentor’s - and you’ll need to be comfortable with the £55,935 asking price. Or £60,835 for the range-topping VZ2 trim. If that sounds a wee bit punchy, it is: an entry-level Porsche Macan, with 360hp and 399 miles of projected range, starts at £67,200. An Audi Q4 e-tron, which shares the Cupra’s output and hard points, is £56,820.
If that inclines you to look heavenward and wonder what the world is coming to, then rest assured it is at least part of a wider strategy - specifically one that involves taking Cupra far enough upmarket that we all forget its spiced-up Seat origins. Is a Chinese-built, slightly meh-looking, battery-powered crossover the way to do that? At face value, and in this market, probably not. But we haven’t driven the Tavascan yet and Cupra’s track record for proving people wrong - or at least upsetting the odds - is fairly strong. After September 11th, when orders for the car open in the UK, we’ll have some idea if its recent success bodes well for the future.
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