2025 Cupra Tavascan review

How much does a 2025 Cupra Tavascan cost?

The Cupra Tavascan range starts at $60,990 plus on-road costs for the rear-wheel drive Endurance model and raises to $74,990 for the all-wheel drive VZ.

There are also option packages available to increase the choices available for Tavascan buyers. A pack of extras can be added to the Endurance model for $4500, adding Sennheiser audio system, upgraded microfibre interior, 360-degree camera and larger 20-inch wheels.

While not tested here, further enhancements are also available for the VZ via an $8000 Extreme pack for cars to be delivered from July. This adds 21-inch Etna wheels with performance tyres, CUP Bucket front seats with ventilation, and Enceladus grey leather appointed seat trim.

The Cupra is supported by a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, 8-year/160,000km battery warranty and capped price servicing which can be pre-purchased for either six years ($1310) or ten years ($2190). Individual services are $485 with intervals are set at 24-months/30,000km.

All Cupra electric vehicles are backed by Volkswagen Group Australia's ON EV program, designed to make EV ownership easier by offering finance, battery health checks at services and a battery warranty that guarantees capacity.

Read more: 2025 Cupra Tavascan: price, specs, release date

2025 Cupra Tavascan exterior design

On road, the Cupra Tavascan strikes a unique presence highlighted (literally) by its illuminated bonnet and boot badges, unique triangular signature headlights and bold wheel options. It’s the first car in Cupra’s growing line-up to feature its updated design language, and both the Endurance and VZ variants look the business and turn heads.

While technically a medium SUV, the Cupra Tavascan features a coupe style rear - so it's sharp rather than curved.

Boot space is decent at 540 litres, expanded to 1550 litres with the rear seats folded down. That space is good, but there’s no spare wheel or inflator kit. Unusually for a Volkswagen Group product, the Cupra Tavascan is fitted with premium run-flat tyres.

There are some quirks to the Cupra's sharp design, however, including shallow door handles that are a tight squeeze for fingers. There’s also no front trunk storage available which can be handy for alternative cable storage and might be missed by those looking for unique EV features.

What is the Cupra Tavascan like inside?

The interior of the Cupra Tavascan is well considered, with the copper accents of the exterior mirrored within the cabin. The cockpit-style front row is heavily focused on the driver - no surprise given this is an EV designed for those that enjoy driving.

But there’s a distinct lack of utility created by the large plastic wishbone that sits between the driver and passenger. In an electric vehicle that doesn’t require a conventional transmission shifter, one advantage is that the shift-by-wire gear selector can be moved on the steering column stalk, freeing up valuable centre console space, or even reducing the central tunnel altogether.

Instead of using that real estate to deliver more storage and easier access to phone charging, or even making space for a dual wireless charging bay, Cupra has created an oversized tunnel, effectively creating a ‘driver pod.’

All is not lost for storage however, as there is a large bin with twin doors between the seats which also doubles as an armrest.

Three interiors are available for the Tavascan: a black cloth interior, attractive microfibre interior with powered and heated front seats with Cupra logos (standard on the VZ and optional on the Endurance), and a sportier Cup bucket seat which adds ventilation, available as part of the Extreme pack to be introduced in mid-2025.

The full-length panoramic sunroof of the VZ adds a bit of extra interest for the rear seat passengers, but their space has less appeal than the driver and front passenger focused front row.

The interior is further enhanced by the superior sound offered by the Sennheiser sound system (standard on the VZ and optional on the Endurance). Other tech includes a large colour touchscreen which can be configured to driver preference and Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration, which is essential as the Cupra Tavascan does not include an onboard satellite navigation system.

It’s one of a number of tech features that are missing on the Tavascan including speed limit recognition, augmented reality head-up display (which is available overseas on this car), and connected car technology.

Is the Cupra Tavascan good to drive?

Both the all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive Cupra Tavascan models acquitted themselves well on the twists and turns of the Adelaide Hills roads.

Each vehicle officially has the same peak torque of 545Nm, but power is greater in the twin-motor, all-wheel drive Tavascan VZ – 250kW compared with 210kW in the Endurance variant.

As with all electric vehicles, torque is instant so pick up in the Tavascan is brisk. However unlike other brands that rely on a 0-100km/h acceleration time and offer little else in terms of driving feel, the Tavascan’s got swagger in the ride and handling department. It has sharp, responsive steering, is engaging to drive, and offers a compliant ride, even on larger rims.

The VZ's Hankook runflat tyres exhibited exceptional grip through corners, no mean feat given the Tavascan’s weight and all-wheel drive system. We also found it pleasantly quiet. The driving experience is further enhanced by the dynamic chassis control available in the VZ variant.

Less convincing was the braking performance in both VZ and Endurance variants. Unusually for a modern car (and an electric one at that), Cupra has elected to fit the Tavascan with drum brakes on the rear in place of discs and callipers. It’s not doubt a decision that contributes to the effectiveness of the regenerative braking system, but the brakes feel spongy in initial application, requiring significant effort on the pedal to slow and stop the hefty 2.2 tonne Tavascan.

Energy consumption for the Tavascan VZ is claimed to be 17.3kWh/100km, while our spirited test drive up and down hill elicited usage of 22kWh/100km - on a par with other heavy EVs such as the Polestar 3.  A more measured stint in the Endurance saw the car consume 16.6kWh/100km against a claim of 16.3kW/100km - so expect more reasonable consumption for the daily commute.

And talking of the daily commute, the range on the Tavascan is claimed to be 534km (WLTP) for the Endurance, and 499km (WLTP) for the VZ. It comes down to 436km (WLTP) in the Cupra Tavascan VZ with Ultimate pack due to what Cupra says are stickier performance tyres.

What safety features does the Cupra Tavascan have?

The Cupra Tavascan has a five star Euro NCAP rating, scoring 89 per cent for adult occupant and 86 per cent for child occupant. It has not yet tested been by ANCAP.

The Tavascan has a decent suite of advanced driver assistant systems without inundating the driver with excessive alarms and alerts. All models feature the same standard equipment including rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking, but there's no speed sign recognition.

The 2025 Cupra Tavascan is also not fitted with the hardware required to support valuable connected car services such as eCall and breakdown assistance technology.

How does the Cupra Tavascan compare?

The Cupra Tavascan is built on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5, the Audi Q4 e-tron and Skoda Enyaq.

It’s priced relatively well compared to its competition, which is a large cohort. The medium SUV segment is bursting at the seams, encompassing a huge amount of choice, including performance, hybrid and electric options.

Given its nature and styling, a natural competitor could be anything from last year’s best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y, to a performance hatch like the Volkswagen Golf R. There’s a lot to think about for new car buyers but if perky EV SUV is on the list, then the Tavascan ticks those two boxes.

We’re yet to drive anything from the new car brands in Australia that handles as well as the Cupra Tavascan, but as the Chinese invest in local engineering talent, expect that to change pretty quickly,

Should I buy a Cupra Tavascan?

The Cupra Tavascan’s zesty approach to electric motoring is to be admired, and differentiates it from the pack. It’s an enjoyable drive, and the ride on the large wheels is compliant. While styling is subjective, the Tavascan has real presence and style in this author's eyes.

Less convincing is its tech suite, which feels underbaked compared to the majority of electric vehicles launching in 2025. With no integrated app, no remote start, pre-heating which must be set in the car, no e-call, no breakdown, no bio scanning, no traffic sign recognition and no head-up display, the Cupra Tavascan feels a generation behind some rivals. Which is a shame, as it should be simple to recommend.

^{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.}