Cupra Tavascan interior, design and features review

30 October 2024

Introduction

The Cupra Tavascan is the company's second fully electric vehicle after the Cupra Born. The new vehicle from Cupra, which is starting deliveries in December, is a coupe-style SUV, sitting on the VW MEB platform and thus sharing a lot of similarities with the VW ID.5 and the Skoda Enyaq Coupe.

You get the same battery 77 kWh usable battery capacity (82 kWh total) and a choice between single rear-mounted 286 hp electric motor or two-motor configuration with up to 340 hp.

The Tavascan will also aim to steal some market share from the likes of Model Y and the Volvo C40 Recharge, which is no easy task.

Who is it for?

Just like the Born, the Cupra Tavascan tries to appeal to the younger audiences with its flamboyant design. It has the aggressive look and a promise of nimble cornering at the expense of somewhat stiffer suspension system.

Despite being a relatively compact SUV, the Tavascan can still haul your family around. It has plenty of boot space and a decently roomy cabin with spacious back seats.

The bold, high-quality interior wouldn't be out of place on a premium vehicle, and is another of Tavascan's key selling points.

Give me the technical stuff

Cupra Tavascan at a glance:

• Dimensions: 182.8 inches x 73.3 inches x 62.9 inches, 108.9 inches wheelbase.
• Drivetrains available: 77 kWh - RWD 210 kW (286 hp), 402 lb-ft, 77 kWh - AWD 250 kW (340 hp), 402 lb-ft
• Charging: 135 kW CCS (77 kWh), 10-80% in 30 min.
• Range: 340 miles (RWD), 321 miles (AWD) WLTP
• Weight: up to 4,502 lb
• Trunk: EU: 540 l, no frunk

What's great about it?

The Tavascan is an interesting alternative to the currently available SUVs in the sub-$55,000 price bracket. The vehicle stands out with a more sporty feel and bolder design, both inside and outside.

We are also quite fond of the interior. We can see how it can be polarizing, but we tend to like it. Not just the aesthetics of it but also the premium feel it provides.

It's also pretty competitive in terms of pricing as it's among the more affordable MEB-based cars out there. Maybe not by much, but enough to make you think twice.

Lastly, we are surprised by how spacious it feels on the second row. The Tavascan can provide a surprisingly comfortable riding experience for four passengers for a compact SUV.

What's not that good?

As is the case with other VW-made vehicles, like the IDs, the Tavascan is also getting a lot of touch controls. The issues with those are well documented and we really wish the VW group would finally bring back regular physical keys for at least the more often used controls.

And even though the trunk space is ample, it's 30% less than what a Model Y offers.

Charging isn't impressive either. The Tavascan caps at 135 kW DC charging and 11 kW AC charging. Other cars running on the same 77 kWh battery support 170 kW charging.

Finally, the heat pump is not available on the base model. That means you'll need to opt for one of the higher trims to get the range boost that comes with it.

Which version to get?

The AWD version called VZ starts at €62,040, which is a sizeable increase over the Endurance RWD option. So, we doubt the VZ will be the more desirable option of the two, given that the standard Tavascan Endurance pack already gives plenty of horsepower (286 hp) and offers more range (340 miles). Get the VZ only if you are dead-set on AWD.