Cupra Tavascan Review: One Of The Sportiest EVs We Have Ever Tried!

Mikhail Ow
1 day ago
4 min read

The Cupra Tavascan is the brand’s first all-electric SUV coupé, blending bold design with advanced technology to deliver a driving experience that feels both futuristic and emotional. Positioned as a performance-oriented EV, it aims to stand out in a crowded electric SUV market by combining distinctive styling, a luxurious and immersive interior, and a suite of smart features that elevate both safety and convenience.

Silver car parked on a street by greenery. License plate reads "SLL 8288D." Background has a modern building and trees under a cloudy sky.

On the outside, the Cupra Tavascan is a striking SUV-coupé that commands attention with its athletic stance and sculpted proportions. Its sharp character lines flow seamlessly across the body, giving it a sense of movement even while standing still.

Silver SUV with the license plate "SLL 8288D" parked on a leafy street. Background shows modern buildings and trees.

The sleek profile is complemented by a coast-to-coast rear light bar that incorporates the glowing Cupra emblem, a signature touch that reinforces its electric identity. Built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, the Tavascan combines form and function in a way that feels both futuristic and unmistakably Cupra.

Close-up of a silver car's sleek headlight and shiny hood, reflecting trees and sky. Parked on a street with buildings in background.

The headlights are among its most defining features. Designed in the brand’s triangle motif, these “eye-like” light clusters give the car a fierce, almost jewel-like expression. Beyond aesthetics, they provide strong illumination with advanced LED technology, ensuring both visibility and presence on the road.

Interior

Stepping inside the Tavascan reveals a cabin that blends luxury with sustainability. High-quality materials such as plant-based textiles and recycled microfibers are used extensively, creating an atmosphere that feels premium without compromising on environmental responsibility.

The surfaces are soft to the touch, while copper accents highlight the brand’s distinctive design language. This is not just a practical interior; it feels like a modern lounge designed around the driver.

Car interior showing dashboard with a large touchscreen, sleek black steering wheel, and gray perforated seats. Modern and minimalist design.

What sets the Tavascan apart is its unique central spine — a structural element finished in Cupra’s trademark copper. This unconventional design anchors the cockpit while accentuating its driver-centric layout. Everything is positioned to create a sense of focus and control, making the driving experience feel personal and immersive.

Car interior with ambient lighting. Touchscreen shows icons and words like ECO and CLIMA. Illuminated cup holders, textured dash. Dark mood.

The interior lighting completes the atmosphere. Ambient lighting extends seamlessly across the dashboard, through the door panels, and even into the rear seats. Subtle details like illuminated cupholders and perforated panels with backlighting add depth and warmth, ensuring every passenger shares in the immersive environment, not just those in the front.

Features

Technology in the Tavascan is designed to be both intelligent and intuitive. One of its standout innovations is the smart lighting system, which goes beyond simple illumination to act as a communication tool.

Car interior view showing a dashboard display with driver assist options. Outside, a road with "HUMP" text and parked cars is visible.

This light provides real-time notifications, signaling everything from incoming phone calls and navigation prompts to battery charging status and even brake warnings. This transforms light into a functional interface between the car and its driver.

The Tavascan also comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems. Parking is simplified through park assist technologies that can guide the vehicle into tight spaces.

Car dashboard screen showing smart assistant options: ESC, Auto Hold, Lane Assist. Background trees visible through the window. Temperature: 22°C.

Lane assist and Electronic Stability Control work together to keep the car steady and safe, reducing the risk of drifting or loss of traction. Meanwhile, adaptive cruise control and a built-in speed limiter help manage speed intelligently, particularly on longer journeys or in changing speed zones.

For those who enjoy tailoring their drive, multiple customizable drive modes are available, from efficient range settings to performance-oriented options like Cupra mode. On highways, Travel Assist combines steering guidance with adaptive cruise control to deliver semi-autonomous driving, keeping the car centered in its lane and at a safe distance from traffic. Altogether, these features strike a balance between safety, convenience, and driver engagement.

Car dashboard screen displaying safety alerts: Side Assist, Exit Warning System, and Drowsiness Monitor. Background shows dashboard details.

Side Assist uses radar sensors to monitor blind spots and approaching vehicles, giving drivers extra confidence when changing lanes. Complementing this is the Exit Warning system, which alerts occupants to oncoming traffic or cyclists when opening a door, helping prevent accidents in busy urban environments. For longer journeys, a Drowsiness Monitor keeps track of driver behavior, detecting signs of fatigue and prompting timely rest breaks to ensure safer, more focused driving.

Car touchscreen with voice assistant interface, showing suggestions and settings. Dashboard visible, with trees outside. Time reads 11:16.

The personal voice assistant adds a layer of convenience and connectivity to every drive. Activated by natural voice commands, it allows drivers to control navigation, climate settings, media, and even certain vehicle functions without taking their hands off the wheel.

Battery

Powering the Tavascan is a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery, available in two configurations. The Endurance version uses a rear-wheel drive setup with 286 horsepower, offering a WLTP range of up to around 534 kilometers. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 6.8 seconds, making it brisk without sacrificing efficiency. For those seeking more power, the VZ model adds a second motor to deliver all-wheel drive and a combined output of 340 horsepower. Range in this version is slightly lower, at around 499 kilometers, but acceleration improves to 5.5 seconds for the 0–100 km/h sprint.

Charging is equally convenient. With DC fast charging at up to 135 kW, the Tavascan can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in roughly half an hour, while an 11 kW AC charger will fully recharge it overnight. This flexibility ensures that whether at home or on the road, the Tavascan remains practical and ready for long trips.

Conclusion

The Cupra Tavascan is more than just another electric SUV; it is a statement of design and technology working in harmony. Its bold exterior and signature triangular headlights give it a distinctive identity, while the luxurious and ambient-lit interior creates an inviting space for every journey.

Gray car parked on a city street, close-up view. Background shows a modern building and trees. License plate reads SLL 8288 D.

With advanced driver assistance features, smart lighting that actively communicates with the driver, and customizable drive modes, the Tavascan offers a blend of safety, convenience, and enjoyment behind the wheel. Coupled with a capable battery and strong charging performance, it delivers the range and performance to match its striking looks. For drivers seeking an electric SUV that dares to stand apart, the Cupra Tavascan is a compelling choice.