New Cupra Tavascan – Bigger than a Born, but is it better? | Electrifying

#cupratavascan #cupraeelectric #electriccars

Music nerds will spend hours talking about how bands have difficult second albums after a big hit.

Car companies like Cupra face the same problem; it had a huge hit with its first electric car, the Born and now it has to try and match the success.
The Tavascan is its comeback, and it is bigger and generally posher that the Born.
Does that mean it’s better?
It actually uses a lot of the same bits underneath as the Born and all sorts of other electric cars including the Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4 and 5 and even the new Ford Explorer.

At 4,644mm long, the Tavascan is slightly longer than a Volkswagen ID.4 but marginally shorter than the best-selling Tesla Model Y. Cupra would probably prefer comparisons to posher rivals such as the BMW iX2.
It has a much sportier look than either though, as you’d expect from a Cupra, and has plenty of space of the family.

The Tavascan will be available with two power outputs. The lowest is a single motor rear drive with 286HP. This gives a range of around 355 miles from its 77kWh battery pack.

Drivers wanting more power can plump for a twin motor version that will have 340hp and all-wheel drive. This top version, called the VZ, can reach 62mph in 5.6 seconds and a range of around 326 miles from the same 77kWh battery pack.

Both versions can recharge at the same maximum of 135 kW, meaning a 10 to 80% charge takes just under half an hour using a suitable DC charging point. That’s nothing to write home about, and it less than the 185kW offered by other models in the VW range. Something like a Kia EV6 will be long gone by the time you’ve charged your Tavascan. The AC maximum has a disappointing 11kW maximum too.

Join Tom as he takes the new Tavascan on the road for the first time. Are you a fan? Has Cupra pitched its second release just right? Let us know in the comments below.

[IOSALive]

Electrifying, Subscribed because your content is fantastic!

[Gazinet]

Great review Tom, I love the look and don't mind the haptic buttons as I have owned a Born. Certainly put it above the VW ID range .

[KristianKoivistoKokko]

I'm tired of having to do math in my head of converting miles to kilometers. please just put the conversion on the screen in the edit, when you mention ranges and stuff. otherwise the content is great as always.

[matthewtyler-jones]

"First Vw group car which has paddles to adjust regeneration" No it’s not. The Enyaq has paddles, had then in 2021 I think

[osm]

Heat pump an optional extra .. taking the proverbial at the asking price.

[alistairl]

I'm very interested in the Cupra Born VZ as a successor to my ID.3, Tavascan certainly looks dramatic!

[goonmerchant]

Circa £50k for an average family saloon and a Cupra (£55k for the dual motor) - quite a premium for what is essentially an average family saloon which given current EV form (in the UK) probably means it will depreciate like a lead balloon. Shame because the cupra EV's have pretty good styling.

[martinwray]

I have a soft spot for 'use your illusion'. Part 1 and 2 were the first 2 CDs I bought. The first album has been played to death, who really wants to hear 'sweet child of mine' again?
Had something to say about the car but I forgot what it was halfway through, 'civil war'.
Up the Zep!

[TassieEV]

Do love the look of the Tavascan and the name. I will need to wait for Australian model reviews though to find out what Cupra have knobbled on it such as connectivity, charge schedules, app support, etc before knowing if it'll be a possible in future or not. Nice to see one of your reviews Tom at last.

[clivew]

First VW EV with regen paddles? I think the Enyaq I tried in 2021 had paddles, not that they seemed to do much. I prefer BMW’s intelligent regen, and all anyone really needs is a full coast mode and full one-pedal.

[Finglebat]

I think Jedward’s second album, Victory, should have been a flop (I mean I am surprised they managed to get a first album, no accounting for taste) but to my surprise it went platinum! 🤔

The Cupra is a bit blingy for my tastes, however it is nice but would I want to own one? No, I would want something a bit more boring and functional I am afraid. But that is the beauty of car manufacturers, they build something for everyone's taste... Like the music industry catered for Jedward fans 😂 (Those eejits have 4 albums, can you believe it!)

[thezanzibarbarian]

The one thing that puts me off from Cupra's is all that copper inlay they have. It has zero appeal with me 8-((...

[Yanquetino]

Huh. It's range beats mine with the same size battery pack. Not bad! I like Cupras, and wish we'd get them on this side of the pond.

[Finglebat]

Car to X feature, where it comunicates to other cars about traffic, accidents I think is exciting, and as cars get bigger and parking spaces stay the same, I think remote parking/summoning I think will become standard, which I like too.

[maeharaUK]

Cupra says 'Tavascan', my head says 'Gaviscon'. Godsdamnit.

[evkx]

Nice review. The screens seems like straight from ID4. For the paddles they have been available in Audi Q4 e-tron from the beginning

[paulpavlou]

I own and love my Cupra Born that’s fully spect out including the 77kw battery. I’m in Sydney Australia and I saw the Taverscan for the first time last week. Would I buy one, no I wouldn’t. I’m going to wait for a twin motor Born as the single motor VZ just doesn’t cut it for me either. Give me a twin motor all wheel drive Born and I’m all in. But for now I’m just loving my Born.

[zych]

Not expecting anything spectacular from VW group in terms of electric cars... you just confirmed my feelings.

[urbanstrencan]

Can't decide if upgrade from regular Born to Born VZ or to Tavascan, it looks amazing 🤩😍😍

[diwe]

I think Cupra's 2nd album is good - visually - but since I found out that the Born is coming as a VZ, I've been thinking about it a lot, because I actually don't need the larger Tavascan because of the space - but I think it's pretty I already have the car!