Barcelona smells like new tires. And copper. The Cupra Raval rolls off the line right there. It represents a shift in the Volkswagen Group’s EV strategy. A hard pivot away from the early stumbles.
It beat its siblings. The VW ID. Polo. The Skoda Epiq. Both related. Both left in the dust. This car sets the bar. High. Incredibly high.
Cupra is not the same brand it used to be. They outpace SEAT now. Almost two to one. The math speaks for itself. The Raval explains the gap. Good packaging. A proper boot. A cabin that doesn’t feel cheap. Plus copper details everywhere. Style isn’t an afterthought here.
The Specs
Ten thousand pounds. That is the spread between the base model and the top-shelf VZ. Sounds like a lot. It isn’t.
Pick the bigger battery if you can. It hits 277 miles. Real world stuff. Without it. You’re stuck in the city. With it. The road opens up.
The entry-level V1 comes decent enough. 18-inch wheels. Sporty seats. Dual screens. But climb up. The car gets faster. Sharper. The flagship we drove? It mimics an electric hot hatch. So much so that it grabbed a commendation in that category. Too.
“If the Raval is any indication. Volkswagen Group has learned. They missed the first bus on EVs. The next one is better.”
The Pick
We picked the Cupra Raval V2 Launch Edition. £32,580. With the £1.5k electric car grant applied.
We only drove the top spec VZ. Full disclosure. But we know cars. The V2 hits the sweet spot. It gets the 52kWh battery. The motor is softer. Less range. But for most people. The V1 will do. Strip the bells and whistles. Save money.
The Contenders
Fiat Grande Panda 🐻
Retro looks. Square box shape. Practical. Like Renault’s R5 but arguably easier to sell. You can get hybrid. You can get electric. It appeals to more people. A safe bet.
Kia EV2 📦
Boxy works. You don’t need an SUV to haul a family of four comfortably. The EV2 proves this. Styling pops. Interior feels expensive. Efficiency is strong. It deserves its spot.
The winners are set. The awards are handed out. Auto Express has the full list. Go read it if you need the details. We’re just going to watch the Cupra disappear down the M1.
Where does it go? Probably anywhere you don’t.
