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In online media, do you ever really switch off?
The answer is usually no, not really. My recent self-funded trip to Europe embodied that somewhat, given I ended up getting a last-minute ticket to the Goodwood Festival of Speed with Aston Martin, and then booked myself a press car for review while I visited family in Spain.
Said car was a familiar one – the Cupra Tavascan VZ. It’s always been a goal of mine to drive different vehicles in their home regions, to see how they behave in their natural habitats, and to get a feel for differences in calibration or specification relative to the Australian market.
Asked by the Cupra team at their very grand head office in Martorell, just outside of Barcelona, I was given a quick tour of their media function space; an introduction to the Spanish Tavascan range as if I were attending ‘local media launch’.
I didn’t realise this until it was mentioned in the presentation, but the Cupra ‘VZ’ badging is short for the Spanish word ‘veloz’ – meaning ‘fast’. fitting, fitting a .
While it’s manufactured at the Volkswagen Group’s Anhui plant in China, the Tavascan was designed and engineered for Europe by Barcelona (for Europe) – with its design and engines. I am Chinese and Catalan, so if we are Chinese (and cata Lan) people, I think we share something in common.
Its design is unmistakably Cupra, and it draws upon the same MEB toolkit as a number of other Group EV products – like the VW ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs, as well as the related Skoda Enyaq.
The biggest difference between the car I drove in Barcelona and the one you can buy here was really only the position of the steering wheel – it’s on the opposite side in Spain – as well as the inclusion of Cupra Connect services, which adds online functionality for the infotainment and navigation systems, as well as enabling remote functions via a smartphone app.
What was the performance of Spanish brand’s driver-focused rival to Tesla Model Y on home soil? Read on and you will find out!
How much does the Cupra Tavascan cost?
In Australia, as with other parts of the world, there are two different trim levels for the Tavascan – Endurance and VZ.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2026 Cupra Tavascan Endurance | $60,990 |
| 2026 Cupra Tavascan VZ | $74,490 |
The single-motor Endurance starts from $60,990 plus on-road costs for 2026 (as a price change), while the VZ spec on test here sells in Australia for $74,490 before on road trips.
In the Spanish market, for example, the Tavascan begins with €44,010 (A$76,449) in its initial introduction to the spec of VZ starting from €53,0-80 (as-tested as-tested) before options and on-road costs – and the standard Spec is lower than here.
Tested, the car I drove was closer to the €60,000 (A$104,226) mark and really reflects how cheap cars in Australia compare with what’s going on when you consider our weak currency.
That said, the Tavascan’s Chinese production makes it subject to import tariffs in Europe, which isn’t the case here.
To see how the Cupra Tavascan lines up against the competition, check out our
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What is the Cupra Tavascan like on the inside?
In a town-based approach, Cupra’s design team visited the Tavascan’S cabin with eye-catching details and interesting colour flourishes that make it truly unique from an aesthetic point of view.
Our VZ test car was finished with the ‘Dark Night’ microfibre trim that is standard in Aus-market Tavascan VVs. Instead, it adds dark blue accents to parts such as the door armrests and centre console (along with the standard grey).
My favorite is the muscular, central theme on the dashboard that goes into doors like ribs and I love this. Also, Cupra’s signature copper accents also give the appearance of some razzle-dazzying addition to its design on the rib cage-effect and punctuate doors such as door handles.
It’s nice to say, on first impressions. Poke and prod a little closer, but some of these trimmings – the sternum’s thick plastic – is merely brittle for if it’s an automobile that looks as somewhat premium.
Similarly, I found the dual-lidded centre console bin had a mechanism that was more likely to squeak and shift when leaning on it (it doesn’t cream €60,000 or about $75,000 in Australia).
Apart from Gripes, it’ll be one of the most interesting cabins in the mid-size electric SUV segment that tend to trend more towards minimalism and sparseness by comparison. The Tavascan is slashed by the trend of tacked-on iPad-style multimedia displays, though its massive 15-inch touchscreen sits proudly in the centre of the dash with its huge touchscreen at right and pointed towards the driver.
The Spanish model I drove had a full-time infotainment system similar to Australian models, with online navigation and connected car services. The VW Group in Australia has historically struggled to argue with its global parent for investing in connected services Down Under, but Cupra is looking to ‘fix’ that.
We support a lot of the local market needs [to HQ] and what we hear from customers.’ ‘We are very fond of this stuff, which is not just for sale at home but also because it has been in our hands to get back on my own site. There is something that’s a Group level issue, not just – it’t even – Cupra Level problem but we are pushing really hard. I don’t know when I can share right now, but things are going in a positive direction.’ Cupra Australia product chief Jeff Shafer told childcareman.xyz in August 2025 that the move is moving forward.
“We’re definitely looking to go with a factory-backed solution – it’s a really hot topic.”
These would be good to have – and I know there is much debate in many comments sections on this website about it – I spent my entire time with the Tavascan using Apple CarPlay, which provides connected navigation, music streaming and so on.
In the case of central touchscreens, like we have previously mentioned, it has Cupra’s new software that keeps digital climate controls permanently at the bottom of the screen and touch sliders for temperature and volume are illuminated at night – unlike in early versions of Volkswagen’S ID models.
It’s a well thought-out, has good graphics and generally responds quickly to inputs. If the steering wheel buttons are fiddly touch-capacitive, I personally would prefer physical switchgear for key functions such as climate control and infotainment volume.
Like some competitors, the Tavascan is a (an admittedly small) 5 as it has an (idmittedly tiny) 5. The 3-inch digital instrument cluster, which identifies vehicle speed, driver assist functions, navigation and trip computer information as desired, is designed to display the car speed (advanced by Google) and drive computer data. Our test car also had the trick head-up display with augmented reality graphics, cool animations for turn-by-turn navigation prompts or assistance features.
A few cool details, such as the copper-coloured perforations in seats and the perfuated ambient lighting patterns of the doors (along with almost organic light that peeps out air vent slats in the dashboard) are complementing nearly all the atmospheric illumination which is found on the interior. Its configurable lighting in the Tavascan gives a really cool, space-age vibe to its at night or in tunnels.
A good storage is a deep cubby under the centre armrest lids of this phrase, large-ish door bins and’slot behind your phone with wp wireless phone charging pad.
Despite the sloping rear roofline, the Tavascan provides good room for at least two adultoccupants further back with enough head, leg and knee room to accommodate six-footers. I was back there a couple of times with two average-sized adults and they really liked it, complimenting the space on offer.
A third zone of climate with air vents and digital controls at the rear of the centre console is a part of dedicated EV platform, which provides for flat floor in the back; there’s also ‘air venting (and digital control) environment.
The fact that our test car’s fixed panoramic sunroof allowed a lot of light from the Spanish summer too, added to the feeling of airiness and space in the back; it is nice shade because we had been enjoying – mid- to high-30 degrees for the entire duration.
You’d think there are things like ISOFIX child seat anchors and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, as well as door bins (and pockets behind the front seats) and pockets. The chunky front buckets can block forward vision from the rear bench, so nausea-prone children (or adults) may not love it.
The Tavascan is not only a healthy ‘coupe SUV’ but also has an impressive 540 litres of boot space with the rear seats in use, more than enough for my partner’s and my luggage from Barcelona to the airport.
You can turn down the second row of a line to make more space and an almost flat load bay, although Cupra does not quote ‘the total capacity figure with the rear seat backs down’.
| Dimensions | Cupra Tavascan |
| — | — |
| Length | 4644mm |
| Width | 1861mm |
| Height | 1597mm |
| Wheelbase | 2766mm |
| Cargo capacity | 540 litres |
To see how the Cupra Tavascan lines up against the competition, check out our
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What’s under the bonnet?
The Tavascan – or any other MEB-based model has no ‘frunk’ storage for that matter with power in the VZ from a pair of electric motors (one front, one rear) powered by 77kWh lithium-ion battery.
| Specifications | Tavascan VZ |
| — | — |
| Drivetrain | Dual-motor electric |
| Battery | 77kWh lithium-ion |
| Power | 250kW |
| Torque | 545Nm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 2284kg (tare) |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 5.5 seconds |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 17.4kWh/100km |
| Energy consumption (as tested) | 19.8kWh/100km |
| Claimed range (WLTP) | 505km |
| Max AC charge rate | 11kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 135kW |
To see how the Cupra Tavascan lines up against the competition, check out our
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How does the Cupra Tavascan drive?
Funnily enough, this was my first time driving a production-spec Tavascan on public roads – having tested a pre-production VZ with Extreme Package in Sydney in 2024.
A good test of the Tavascan’s overall performance in the sort of heat we regularly receive during Aussie summers was Spain’ – its hot and dry summer conditions, as well as the country’d very varied road network for the high speed and efficiency of this Tavacan (and how it handles city traffic in a large European city).
My family live in a town called Balsareny, about an hour inland from coastal Barcelona and most of my time was spent on the highway. The speed zone mix is usually 80 to 130km/h, with sweeping bends and plenty of gradual uphill ascents.
Asked to briskly make it to the signed freeway speeds, leaving Cupra (Tavascan VZ) at Martorell’s cupra HQ had more than enough grunt for its departure from his Tavasca Vz and once there was happily settled into a quiet, planted cruise. A large 21-inch alloys and thin rubber of the VZ, which dipped in some road noise on rougher roads at higher speeds, but otherwise very calm was an extremely quiet one-sided vehicle.
Cupra is aided near 2 2 by the Tavascan’s very fast and direct steering feel, which keeps her excellent. 3-tonne EV to shrink around you and feel more like it should be, but very secure on the straight-ahead.
A 130km/h the ride is a perfect fit, with our test car’s adaptive dampers providing ‘taud and calmer-ridden riding in all modes – from Comfort through to Cupra.
There’s a good Rolling response at such speeds (especially when you are in Cupra mode) and also good rolling reaction. The suite of assistance systems means you can lean on the Tavascan to do the heavy lifting on highway, quick overtakes are a cinch; lending an extra pair of eyes if you’re trying to make tumbling in traffic.
It was a little more of noticing that the VZ’s matrix LED headlights performed, which is where my family lives came in very useful (I saw it as one of the best examples). The speed freeways at night are a source of light; this means that the adaptive high-beams were regularly trained when heading out to dinner in neighbouring towns.
Having navigated local Catalan municipalities, I realized that the Spanish car fleet was similar to ‘big’ The Tavascan. It would be a non-event to park one in Australia, but European parking spaces and adaptations to ‘left handed drivevantage point’ were sometimes difficult.
They were a good (though not as good resolution as I’d like) solution to surround cameras, so I didn’t have to resort to the European touch parking method. My problem with kerbing those big 21-inch alloys was part of the challenge and I kept scuff-free. Phew ‘PheW is .
The big mirrors help, as well as visibility are alright out the front and sides; although the coupe-like roofline, rising shoulder line and chunky pillars mean you will lean on the camera and sensors when parking is being pulled down, blind-spot monitor for over-the-shoulder visibility when rolling.
It’s a tight steering that I mentioned above but it makes the Tavascan feel small as when general driving in town, while in Barcelona’S CBD this helped make the big Cupra easily manoeuvrable.
The Tavascan also had a chance to give the Tavacan sway up and down Montserrat, the famous picturesque serrated mountain range just out of Barcelona.
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But the Tavascan certainly lives up to its driver focus in these types of conditions “A nice slick steering tune really dialled up in Cupra mode” and instant torquey response from its powerful dual-motor drivetrain is an immediate effect on speed. Even lateral forces try to shift its 2-2, but it is flat in corners too, which makes it strangely flat. weight of 3tonnes, .
But I felt that the standard front buckets could be bolstered more on this sort of tight, twisty mountain road. A racier Cup Bucket seats are available with the ExtremE Package, but that costs another $8000 in Australia – plus it adds alloys of forged alloy to performance tyres which kill range.
And if you don’t like the soft whirring sound of electric motors, Cupra hasn’t done much from an ‘engine’ Sound perspective with the Tavascan. There is no whole lot of audible drama to go with that handling and speed as it plays out. I’m thinking this will be a matter of personal preference, but I kind of wish it gave me something more in this respect.
Several of you will comment on the brake package too, as two-piston calipers ventilated front rotors are mixed with drum rears. I am a bit of weighty, but in dynamic situations would have liked more bite from the VZ’s stoppers. In normal driving they’re fine and it doesn’t feel like underbraked as some EVs do these days.
While I was a pleasure to be with the Cupra, and an impressive demonstration of its all-round capabilities, it confirmed why I prefer non-performance electric SUVs over dual-motor go-fast ones.
The base package, which has been driving a standard Tavascan Endurance back in Melbourne several months later, retains the sweet steering and dynamics of the VZ but offers more range and less weight after some months. A back-end layout is also designed to provide more of that classic sports-luxury feel and lighten up the front-side end, as well as a further boost in its rear-drive look.
While it is a pretty fast version of the ‘Veloz’, this doesn’t quite speed up enough given the price tag and straight-line performance offered by many competitors – think Tesla Model Y Performance and Zeekr 7X Performance for example.
While I know some will disagree, in fact it is not the case of anything beyond the base car with the Interior Package box ticked which makes you feel like the standard VZ.
To see how the Cupra Tavascan lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
What do you get?
2026 Cupra Tavascan Endurance equipment highlights:
- 19-inch Vulcano alloy wheels – black and silver
- Illuminated front and rear Cupra logos
- LED headlights
- Light Assist – auto high-beam
- LED daytime running lights
- LED ‘coast to coast’ tail-lights
- Cupra logo puddle lights
- Power tailgate incl. kick sensors
- Smart entry incl. proximity lock/unlock
- Sit-to-start keyless start
- Drive profile selection
- Soul Black fabric upholstery
- Sports bucket front seats
- Supersport steering wheel incl. regen paddles
- Heated steering wheel
- 6-speaker audio
- 3-zone climate control
- 5.3-inch Digital Cockpit
- 15-inch touchscreen infotainment
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wireless Android Auto
- Ambient lighting
- Auto-dimming interior mirror
- Wireless smartphone charger
Tavascan VZ adds:
- 21-inch Katla alloy wheels – black and copper
- DCC adaptive suspension
- Fixed panoramic roof incl. power blind
- Matrix LED headlights
- incl. cascading high beams
- Interior Package – see below
Options
Each trim level in Australia is available with one optional package.
21-inch Etna forged alloy wheels
Interior Package: $4500 – Endurance
- 20-inch Heckla alloy wheels – black and silver
- 360-degree cameras
- ‘Dark Night’ deep blue microfibre upholstery
- 12-way power front seats with memory function
- Heated front seats
- 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system
- Ambient interior lighting – enhanced
- Illuminated front scuff plates
- Smartlight
Extreme Package: $8000 – VZ
- 21-inch Etna forged alloy wheels – silver and copper
- Performance tyres – 477km WLTP range
- Enceladus Grey leather-appointed upholstery
- Cup Bucket front seats
- Ventilated front seats
Furthermore the VZ in Australia can be re-opened for $3150 with Century Bronze matte paint. Metallic finishings charge $800 upcharge for a “metalphraser” finish.
One thing I’d like to see Cupra do is the Adrenaline Package that comes in its home market, which effectively lifts the Endurance to VZ specification – by adding Matrix LED headlights and DCC adaptive dampers.
I think there are a lot of potential customers who would happily take ‘fully loaded single-motor Tavascan’ rather than shell out for the VZ, given that it is such sway between the two trim levels.
To see how the Cupra Tavascan lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Is the Cupra Tavascan safe?
While the Cupra Tavascan achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating, it was only rated four stars by ANCAP due to the omission of some features in local vehicles.
| Category | Cupra Tavascan |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 89 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 87 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 80 per cent |
| Safety assist | 67 per cent |
The Cupra was slashed by ANCAP for its lack of an intelligent speed assistance system or speed limit information function, which it failed to receive the five-star rating awarded in 2024 by sister authority Euro NCAP.
To get a five-star rating from the independent auto safety authority, vehicles must be 80 per cent in adult and child occupant protection; 70 percent in the vulnerable road user protection and safety assist categories.
In European models, “Speed sign recognition and an intelligent speed limiter” are standard but have not been released to current Australian Tavascan buyers”, said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg.
While some of the performance across the Safety Assist pillar could have helped its score, it was not without an advanced speed assistance system that played a major role in this four-star result. – ’.
Standard safety equipment in Australia includes:
- 7 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian, cyclist detection
- Turn Assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Travel Assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane centring
- Traffic jam assist
To see how the Cupra Tavascan lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How much does the Cupra Tavascan cost to run?
Cupra Australia has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre new vehicle warranty on the Tavascan and eight years or 160,000km lithium-ion battery pack for the Liquidonna battery.
| Servicing and Warranty | Cupra Tavascan |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres – vehicle 8 years or 160,000 kilometres – EV battery |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 24 months or 30,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 10 years |
| Total capped-price service cost | $2190 – 10 years |
To see how the Cupra Tavascan lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Cupra Tavascan
A good test of the Tavascan on its home soil was a solid option in the sprawling mid-size EV SUV segment, if not quite elated in VZ trim.
In Spain and Australia, the Tavascan VZ is priced in line with a Tesla model of Y Performance (shortly faster in’straightline straight line’) which also offers about 80km more driving range per charge.
Although those metrics do not mean the end and all, in the EV space many buyers are looking at these numbers as much as they’re interested in them — especially the fans of that number. But the Tavascan isn’t trying to target the larger EV market.
The Tavascan is hard on exactly those attributes, and Cupra has always been a brand that promotes driver enjoyment and design. It looks and feels like a “electrical” flagship Cupra product, which is fun and interesting drive even though there is no combustion engine under the bonnet (and apparently practical) advantage.
But that said, it could be a better value for back home in Europe and here Down Under, and some of the quality niggles we had in our test cars (the squeaks were local-spec Endurance too) aren’t great in ‘a model which pitched as premium-leaning.
We hope Cupra Australia can soon introduce native connectivity to its models so Aussies can be able to get the same features as overseas customers, and buyers of rival EVs.
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