2026 Cupra Raval evaluate: Prototype drive

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Spanish model Cupra is getting a sign honour in terms of a brand new household of small, reasonably priced electrical automobiles (EVs) from the Volkswagen Group.

Rather than taking part in follow-my-leader to dad or mum agency Volkswagen itself, Cupra will lead the event of the ‘MEB+’ platform which will probably 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, will probably be first to the market. Not solely that, however the Raval will probably be bought in Europe at a extremely aggressive value – making it a tempting EV for first-time consumers to the zero-emission fold.

Whether it could actually come to Australia for such good worth stays to be seen, though the bigger Born EV has been closely discounted right here in current months; so perhaps 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 have 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 – referred to as Dynamic, Dynamic Plus and VZ Extreme – it’s not very possible that the flagship mannequin of the Cupra may dip beneath that barrier.

What is the Cupra Raval like on the within?

We’re not solely positive. An odd assertion to start with, you’d assume, on condition that we’ve pushed the Raval prototype.

But the Spanish producer is presently being coy with the aesthetics of the Raval, selecting to protect its last exterior look and inside design till a world reveal someday in 2026.

Thus, the cabin of the Raval prototype we drove was swaddled in obfuscating material. So we will’t let you know an terrible quantity about it – however there are some things we’ve got gleaned.

First of all, regardless of the very fact the Raval is barely just some millimetres longer than 4 metres from tip to tail, absolutely 2.6 metres of that house is positioned between the axles. This, says the producer, results in a surfeit of rear-passenger room and a big (for this class of automobile) boot too.

Second, the top-dog VZ Extreme – which is the model we drove in Spain – comes with electrically adjustable Cup bucket seats which are fantastically supportive, and which provide an outstanding driving place. 

Lesser variants retain sports activities seats, however these will probably be flatter, much less sculpted examples than the Cups, and they’re going to additional be clothed in Dinamica microfibre.

Obviously, to drive a automobile, you want to have the ability to see the steering wheel and the essential gauges behind. Furthermore, on a contemporary touchscreen-equipped car corresponding to this, a lot of the drive modes and chassis software program must be accessed on the central display.

So we obtained glimpses of each the absolutely digital instrument cluster within the Cupra Raval, in addition to its foremost infotainment interface. Both regarded wonderful with crisp graphics, swift response charges, and a marked step up from Cupra’s current {hardware}. 

Size-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 great 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 relating to the Cupra Raval’s inside.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Again, 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.

The VZ Extreme, nevertheless, ramps issues up with a 166kW motor, which we do know produces a wholesome 290Nm of torque, too. Again, there’s no 0-100km/h time but, however the prime velocity of this automobile is alleged to be 175km/h – probably restricted to protect the battery.

We don’t have any details and figures in regards to the electrical system that’s used for the Cupra Raval household, though it’s affordable to imagine a 400-volt structure.

We additionally reckon there will probably be one battery measurement, someplace within the 50-60kWh zone. This is as a result of the 166kW VZ Extreme 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 leads to 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. Therefore, the Raval ought to – within the regular order of issues – be a bit extra involving to drive than the Volkswagen and Skoda automobiles that may path alongside in its wake.

So when Cupra says the Raval “sits 15mm lower than the platform and has 10mm-wider tracks too”, it may appear a bit daft at first look – however what the corporate is attempting to convey is that its automobile will probably be decrease to the bottom and broader of stance than the common, run-of-the-mill Volkswagen and Skoda efforts.

That gained’t essentially be true of the new VW ID. Polo GTI, which we already know is within the pipeline – we’d guess that may have the identical set-up because the VZ Extreme we’re driving right here.

Cupra has put a variety of its finest efforts into the Raval VZ Extreme to make it a pleasure to steer. 

This contains 15-mode Dynamic Chassis Control (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 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 referred to as the ‘one-box’ management unit to make the brakes really feel extra pure.

The Raval additionally has a sound generator that, with the automobile in its extra targeted Performance and Cupra modes, overlays the acceleration with a synthesised noise to raised contain the motive force within the act of going quick.

All noble efforts that may come to naught within the improper engineering fingers, however the great information is we’re right here to let you know Cupra has labored wonders. The Raval is likely one of the most participating little EVs we’ve had the pleasure of driving but.

Its completed dynamic exhibiting begins with wonderful suspension that blends off a agency however forgiving experience high quality – the VZ runs on 19-inch alloys with extensive 235-section tyres – with impeccable (for this class of automobile) physique and wheel management.

So whereas the Raval isn’t what you’d name ‘supple’ round city, it’s nonetheless able to coping with crumbling tarmac with much more grace and geniality than a few of its supposedly sporty rivals. 

Yet 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 best way the foremost controls are calibrated to permit the motive force to benefit from the sharp underpinnings.

The steering, as an illustration, has actual heft and tactility to it, with no slop in its charge of responses. Coupled to the super-eager front-end of the Raval, it makes the automobile really feel agile and light-weight – two most welcome attributes in an EV.

However, it’s the digital ‘diff’ which is the true jewel right here. Get on the facility good and early in a tighter bend, and the Cupra Raval VZ doesn’t wash extensive 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 street.

It’s completely succesful and satisfying 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; a minimum of, actually not within the dry situations of Spain, which ought to bode effectively for our personal local weather.

As to the velocity, this isn’t a automobile that’s going to try to tear your face off underneath full acceleration. But we really 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 will probably be a extremely credible goal as soon as the official figures are launched, but the accelerator feels fantastically progressive – eliciting pleasing acceleration, reasonably than making an attempt any neck-snapping shenanigans.

Even the artificial noise is nice. It’s quieter within the Performance setting than it’s in ‘Cupra’, however in each modes, it fades away on a trailing ‘throttle’ in order that the automobile isn’t continually firing a pretend tune into your ears. 

It additionally makes no try to mimic inner combustion, so whereas we settle for it gained’t be to all tastes, we occurred to fairly just like the Raval’s EV voice.

Yet we reserve our highest reward for the brakes. These are the very best we’ve encountered on any EV but, actually at a fairly cheap stage of the market. 

The rear discs and the one-box mix to make for essentially the most pure, organic-feeling brake pedal you would want for, so while you mix every part 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.

Yet the Raval appears like it should operate completely effectively as a day-to-day runabout, as blissful absorbing the imperfections of metropolis streets as it’s when its driver is hurling it alongside a difficult street.

All in all, even in prototype type, the Cupra is one significantly 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 this may maintain true for Australian-market automobiles or not, on the worldwide occasion Cupra stated that the Raval VZ Extreme could be fitted with the next gear.

2026 Cupra Raval gear highlights:

• 19-inch ‘sulfur-detail’ alloys
• Twin digital screens
• Manganese matt exterior particulars
• Cup bucket seats
• Advanced driver help programs (ADAS)
• Intelligent parking features
• Matrix LED exterior illumination
• Electronic 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 check process.

All the corporate would say is that it’s fitted with a wholesome array of ADAS equipment, so there’s an opportunity it should rating extremely when it’s finally examined.

How a lot does the Cupra Raval price to run?

Aside from 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 will probably be key to its success, together with its eventual value, however a minimum of Cupra’s spectacular unlimited-distance guarantee and roadside help bundle must do their bit to assist tempt in consumers; each of those ensures are in impact for 5 years from first registration.

CarExpert’s Take on the Cupra Raval

Although this has been only a temporary style check in a closely disguised pre-production model of the automobile, with little or no exhausting knowledge to accompany this pattern, the early indicators for the Cupra Raval are vastly promising. 

Finally, it is 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 effectively capable of do the humdrum day-to-day stuff with an appropriate diploma of polish, so supplied the pricing is true, the inside seems to be as spectacular as we hope, and the styling isn’t too contentious, then Cupra must 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 profit from Cupra’s groundwork laid down with this compact EV platform.

Click the photographs for the total gallery

MORE: Explore the Cupra showroom

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