Cupra adds £23,785 Raval to growing EV lineup

Cupra has only been in existence since 2018, yet the reveal of its stylish new urban electric vehicle, Raval, signals “the beginning of a new era”, according to the brand.

Available from £23,785, the Barcelona-built Cupra Raval is based on Volkswagen’s MEB+ platform and will hit the UK market this summer in Origin, V1, V2, and VZ trims.

Exterior

The compact Cupra Raval measures 4,046 mm in length, 1,784 mm in width and 1,518 mm in height, with a 2,600 mm wheelbase. The dynamic exterior shape is helmet-inspired, with a low-hanging chassis and sporty character.

The front of the car has a ‘shark nose’ design and sharp lines extending to the sides, and revealing touches like hidden flush illuminated door handles. There are also additional high-tech lighting features in its Matrix LED headlights and illuminated Cupra logo on the rear.

The Raval can sit on the extensive choice of alloy wheels, with up to eight designs, including one 17-inch, two 18-inch and up to five 19-inch options. Customers can also choose between seven exterior colours.

Powertrain Options, Performance Figures & Range

The entry-level Origin model comes with a 37kWh battery, delivering 113bhp, while V1 and V2 trims have the option of a 37kWh or 52kWh battery, producing 133bhp and 207bhp, respectively. The longest range — 280 miles — is found in the 52kWh battery Raval version, and expect a 10-80% charge to take around 23 minutes, four minutes quicker than the smaller battery option.

The VZ trim option will only be available with the larger 52kWh battery, and delivers 221bhp and 250 miles of range. This trim is where peak performance in the Raval range will be found, with a 0-62mph taking just under seven seconds and an overall top speed of 108mph. It also comes with added driver-focused features like an electronic limited slip differential and Dynamic Chassis Control.

Interior

Inside, the Raval has a brand new integrated digital instrument cluster featuring a 10.25-inch digital cockpit and a 12.9-inch infotainment system, containing all the vital features in one place.

The driver sits in an elevated cabin position on sporty bucket seats and is met with a redesigned steering wheel that comes with physical buttons, satellite buttons for driving modes and regenerative braking padels.

Also found inside the Raval is a new standard 7-speaker system that can be upgraded to an optional Sennheiser Sound System, featuring 12 loudspeakers and 475W. Ambient lighting throughout and Formula E-inspired sounds activated in Performance and Cupra driving modes, creating a more immersive experience.

There’s plenty of safety tech to be found as standard in the new Cupra Raval, including Multifunction Interior Camera, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, Intelligent Park Assist, Remote Park Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, Top View Camera providing a 360-degree view and a new Pre-Crash function, which prepares the car for any potential impact.

In terms of storage, the Raval offers a generous 430 litres of boot capacity, helped by the rear of the car being free of any electrical components.

“Reimagines what an urban EV can be for a new generation of drivers”

Marcus Gossen, managing director of SEAT and CUPRA UK, said: “The Cupra Raval is the culmination of an immense amount of hard work, dedication, and effort on all fronts.

“Raval is the pinnacle of all things Cupra – advanced, forward thinking, dynamic. It pushes the boundaries in automotive and encourages drivers to form a real emotional connection to the drive itself. The combination of striking design, electrifying performance and unconventional features, reimagines what an urban EV can be for a new generation of drivers. This is a fully electric car designed to redefine urban mobility with Cupra’s emotional and challenger DNA.”

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words: Mike Booth
pictures: Cupra