Shane O’Donoghue test-drives the new Cupra Terramar
Sowly but surely, the Cupra brand is evolving. The name was originally used on the sportiest of SEAT’s models before the Volkswagen Group reinvented it as an entirely new entity. That was back in 2018, and while there have been plenty of new models for the striking Cupra badge to adorn, all could still be considered ‘sporty’ in nature, restricting their appeal to a certain cohort of buyers. Until now. Cupra’s newest vehicle is the Terramar, a five-door, five-seat SUV using the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen Tiguan to bring the Spanish brand slap-bang into the mainstream.
Exterior design and image
Thankfully, Cupra hasn’t abandoned its edgy sense of style completely and, while the Terramar is attractive rather than massively distinctive, it retains some of the brand’s characteristic touches, such as copper-coloured accents, a full- width rear light, and a triangular design motif running through it all.
In line with Cupra’s house style, bright colours are few and far between on the palette of available hues, but there are some eye-catching paint options to consider, including Dark Void, which is somewhere between black and purple. It’s not as ‘out there’ as it sounds and actually suits the handsome lines of the Terramar.
Interior and practicality
The copper accents continue inside to good effect, used sparingly, but enough to make the cabin feel special. We particularly like the smooth trim piece that lines-up with the interior door handles as it looks good and is tactile to the touch. Perhaps of more note is the sense of quality, as all the interior materials are solid and premium-feeling. It comes as no surprise to hear that the Terramar is manufactured in an Audi factory in Hungary.
A chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel reminds the driver of Cupra’s sporty beginnings and we love the prominent stitching in the leather rim. It also features an engine-start button and another for selecting the driving mode. Behind it is a set of clear, customisable digital instruments, complemented by
a high-set touchscreen packed with the latest in-car connectivity functions. One of our few gripes with this slick setup is that the cabin temperature is controlled either through the screen or via a slider at its base; we prefer physical buttons and knobs for this.
Of course, by moving so many controls to the touchscreen, there’s plenty of room freed-up for odds and ends, and the space between the front seats is cleverly laid out to make the most of this. A cooled wireless smartphone charger is also a welcome addition.
Those in the back may not benefit from the same comfortable bucket seats as those up front, but it’s not a bad place to while away a long journey. Air vents and USB ports in the rear help keep everyone happy, while there’s loads of headroom and legroom. The wide back seat can even accommodate three adults, or bulky baby seats as will often be the case.
As expected in this sector, the rear seat backs can fold down to allow carrying of larger items, though the boot is a decent size even before you do that. Just watch
out for the fact that the plug-in hybrid models have a smaller boot than the purely petrol ones, as that’s where the drive battery is packaged.
On the road
Our first chance to drive the Terramar was at the wheel of the most powerful of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants. And buyers that previously dismissed a PHEV on the grounds of it attempting to offer the best of both worlds, but failing to do either one well – in terms of zero-emissions driving like an electric car on one hand, but the ability to drive long distances without charging up on the other – should give the technology another go in the Terramar, as it features a large battery pack and the ability to travel up to 122 kilometres on electric power alone. That’s the official figure, admittedly, but our experience shows that it should manage nearly 100km in all conditions, which means it wouldn’t even have to be charged twice a week.
As with all such cars, the Terramar is at its best on electric power. It’s smooth, it feels like an electric car in terms of effortless performance, and it’s incredibly quiet. Well-judged suspension adds to the experience, as it’s comfortable yet still competent in the corners, and this is undoubtedly the most refined Cupra yet in terms of isolating wind roar and road noise from the occupants’ ears. Even when the petrol engine is required, it’s never raucous. And with up to 272hp at your disposal, it lives up to the Cupra image when you feel the need.
Pricing
The entry-level Terramar is priced at €44,900. It’s powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine making 150hp and like all versions uses a dual-clutch automatic transmission. There’s a 204hp eHybrid PHEV in the same specification for €53,340, or the more powerful hybrid variant as tested in the sportier ‘VZ’
trim line at €57,045. In between is the sole all-wheel-drive model, also in VZ spec, but using a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine for a peak of 265hp – that costs €55,385. Some will lament the lack of a diesel option, but Cupra is a forward-looking brand and expects demand for diesel to wane while PHEVs gain popularity. Given its evolution to date, we wouldn’t bet against Cupra’s assessment of the market.
