CUPRA Raval VZ - First Drive: Is This The EV Hot Hatch We've Been Waiting For?

The CUPRA Raval is finally here, and in its sportiest VZ form, it arrives with a clear mission: to offer driver appeal and sharp design without breaking the bank. John Marcar has driven the new car in Barcelona.

What is the Raval VZ?

The Raval is CUPRA's latest small EV, based on VW's MEB+ platform. Positioned as the performance-focused version of CUPRA's new urban electric hatchback, the Raval VZ combines aggressive styling, a tech-heavy interior and a more engaging driving setup than most cars in this segment.

Made in Barcelona

In February, I was one of the fortunate few to fly out to Barcelona and see the Raval ahead of its global launch. The striking design, intuitive interior tech, and new lighting features all did a fantastic job of whetting the appetite, and the PR team did a great job of hyping the model while making exciting claims about the driving experience. But without the opportunity to get behind the wheel, the evidence of those claims had to wait until now.

I arrived in Barcelona, the city where the new model is made, to be greeted by a Raval VZ finished in what is arguably the best colour combination: Manganese Matt (assuming you like green, of course). The paint has a satin finish, contrasted by copper accents on the wheels and interior trim. Other colour options include blue, white, grey and even purple, all of which complement the new car's styling.

The bold design theme continues inside the car with striking panels, pleasing touchpoints, a large 12.9-inch infotainment screen and sublime bucket seats, all of which come as standard in VZ trim. Once sat in the driver's seat, the Raval VZ feels very hot-hatch-esq, and on a mixture of city centre and surrounding country roads, it was time to see if the car's sporty visuals matched the driving experience.

An unexpected competition comparison

A key fact that's very hard to ignore is that this isn't the only small-city-focused electric CUPRA launched in the past few months. The updated CUPRA Born VZ was also released very recently, offering, on paper, many similarities in size, performance, and practicality. But there is one significant financial difference between the Born and Raval... amounting to around £11,000.

The Price

The Raval VZ is being launched in the UK with an On The Road Recommended Retail Price of £34,995 before options. By contrast, the Born VZ has an OTR retail price of £45,995, and with options added, the price can easily reach £47,300.

At £11,000 less than the Born, it is reasonable to assume the Raval has cut a few corners; however, in reality, that doesn't seem to be the case at all.

Other models and variant prices

If the most powerful and polished trim levels aren't what you need, the good news is that there are cheaper Raval models available.

The entry-level car, named 'Origin', has an OTR RRP of £23,785. Above the Origin, 'V1' trim is priced from £26,995; 'V2', from £29,580; and above the VZ is the 'VZ Extreme', an 'all options ticked' performance version with stiffer suspension and the capability to disable traction control for track use. The VZ Extreme is priced from £36,310.

Dimentions

The Raval in all trims measures 4,046 mm in length, 1,784 mm in width and 1,518 mm in height, with a 2,600 mm wheelbase, making it a practical option in the city without feeling too small on the faster roads and motorways.

Fast Charging Times

Thanks to the larger-capacity battery and fast charging capability, the Raval VZ can charge from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes at 105kW.

Driving the Raval VZ

The Raval's interior is very driver-focused. The Bucket seats feel great, and the steering wheel position is adjustable far beyond most of the competition. Each driver mode unlocks a new colour scheme inside, with ambient lighting and projected animations displayed on the door cards.

Starting my drive in the city, I opted for the most economical driving mode, which prioritises the maximum possible range. Powering the Raval VZ is a 52kWh NMC battery, which sends its power to a single 166kW motor. The result is a maximum power output of 226 PS (222 HP), which is sent exclusively to the front wheels. If driven sedately, the Raval VZ should return around 270 miles of range. If the performance driving modes are selected to unlock the higher performance figures on the road, the downside is a significant reduction in overall range.

The Joy of Sound

On the road, the Raval VZ is incredibly quiet. Both wind noise and road rumble are reduced to a whisper. A bonus of the quiet cabin is the luxury of making the most of CUPRA's Sennheiser 12-speaker audio system. As I discovered in both the Leon VZ and Born VZ recently, the system is fantastic and offers a superb range of audio quality.

Chassis and Handling

In the corners, the front-wheel-drive characteristics can be felt, but without any compromise to performance. At the wheel, the Raval VZ genuinely feels like a hot hatch, and thanks to the instant power delivery from the motor, it takes off like one, too.

The steering feels nicely weighted and precise in the sporty modes, and in city use, it becomes beautifully light, aiding tighter, more technical movements. Another party trick is the model's superb turning circle (10.6 metres), which allows easy turns on the road and navigation of inner-city car parks.

The suspension and chassis are one-size-fits-all on the Raval VZ, with no adjustments in rigidity or softness across the selected driver modes. The suspension feels very well-balanced for both city and rural use at all speeds and complements the sportier modes on the faster, twisty sections of road.

One-pedal driving is an option, and the regen aggressiveness can be adjusted via paddles on the back of the steering wheel. Driving the Raval VZ with just the throttle pedal alone quickly becomes intuitive and enjoyable. For times when the brake pedal is needed, the pedal feel is reassuringly direct, and the stopping power from higher speeds is excellent.

Comfort in the back seats is another pleasant surprise, with ample legroom and headroom for rear passengers. A further bonus is the boot space, which can accommodate up to 441 litres of luggage.

Raval VZ Conclusion: 5/5

We don't tend to do star ratings here, but if we did, the Raval VZ would be a clear 5 out of 5. At £35k, the price in VZ trim might sound steep to some, but take a glance at competitor prices from the likes of Mini, MG, Volvo and Alpine, and you'll realise the CUPRA is a very viable option. The added bonus for buyers who are less fussed about the hardest and fastest variant is that the less powerful options are available for up to £10k less, with little lost in terms of styling and handling.

words by John Marcar
photography courtesy of CUPRA