Cupra understands the market, and it will get not everybody desires a coupe-style swoopy SUV just like the Formentor.
And that’s why there’s a Terramar, which is a Volkswagen Tiguan-sized, boxier SUV – however nonetheless with the Spanish model’s beautiful design ethos utilized, in and out.
Certainly, it’s a styling- and smarts-focused mannequin, with a five-seat structure, a large boot, and a intelligent inside with sliding second-row seats and a heap of sensible inside stuff, too.
This new-generation five-seat SUV is intently associated to the upcoming all-new Audi Q3, which the Terramar will likely be constructed alongside in the identical Hungarian manufacturing unit. It shares the MQB Evo underpinnings discovered beneath the brand new VW Tiguan, in addition to the overall powertrain lineup globally.
That’s proper – that is an all-new automobile that isn’t absolutely electrical – it has a collection of petrol choices, together with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure inside combustion. We drove the latter simply sooner or later after the automotive was revealed in Barcelona, and nicely forward of the worldwide launch drive.
How does the Cupra Terramar examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Cupra Terramar in opposition to equally sized autos.
Cupra
Terramar
How a lot does the Cupra Terramar value?
Cupra hasn’t but confirmed precise pricing, however native execs have indicated a beginning worth “within the $50,000s” is probably going.
The bottom mannequin, possible with the brand new 1.5-litre eTSI mild-hybrid engine and front-wheel drive, will kind the idea of proceedings.
You’ll be able to anticipate it to sit down alongside the Formentor by way of the complete vary, too – so, the confirmed 195kW 2.0-litre TSI may very well be round $60k, and the plug-in hybrid about $65k. However, that’s all nonetheless to be confirmed.
What’s the Cupra Terramar like on the within?
Cupra has clearly determined that it wants comparable, however not equivalent, cabins throughout its mannequin strains, and so there’s an air of familiarity to the Terramar’s inside.
As an illustration, there are copper trim highlights in abundance, quality-feeling supplies and – fortunately – a leather-lined steering wheel with bodily buttons and scroll dials reasonably than haptic controls.
The dashboard design consists of some textural parts with a horizontal bar to make the cabin look wider, and there’s a giant 12.9-inch touchscreen show which has a extra logical menu design than in earlier Cupra fashions, however nonetheless has haptic quantity and temperature management sliders beneath the display screen which merely aren’t as straightforward to make use of as bodily buttons or dials.
That media display screen options the stuff you’d anticipate, like wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; in addition to built-in satellite tv for pc navigation. It’s additionally the management centre for a great deal of the necessary interactions you would possibly wish to have with the automotive.
It responds rapidly, and incorporates a ‘pull down’ favourites menu so you may make quick changes to sure parts of the automotive – as an illustration, if you happen to don’t need the pace signal recognition or the lane-keeping on, you possibly can arrange fast ‘off’ buttons there.
Moreover, if you happen to choose to make use of the steering wheel controls to do this, you possibly can by hitting the protection techniques button on the steering wheel, after which turning off those self same nannies utilizing buttons there. That was my most popular approach, because it means you don’t have to dilly-dally.
My time within the Terramar was temporary, so we’ll go into extra element on the display screen for our native launch drive sooner or later.
However the normal cabin practicality is nice, with massive bottle holders within the doorways, a pair of cupholders between the entrance seats, a wi-fi telephone charger and USB-C ports beneath the centre stack, and a nifty ‘boomerang’ formed divider between the entrance seats to delineate the driving force’s zone and passenger area.
Within the second row there’s a useful sliding seat to permit extra boot or passenger area if required, plus the seat backs characteristic recline adjustment as nicely.
My 182cm body may slide in behind my most popular driving place with ample area to wiggle my legs and toes, whereas headroom was additionally spectacular contemplating the automotive had a big panoramic glass roof with a shade.
There’s, nevertheless, a transmission tunnel to deal with, so three big-footers throughout the again is perhaps a squish.
In fact there are ISOFIX baby seat anchor factors and three high tethers, and facilities are family-friendly resembling bottle holders within the doorways; a flip-down armrest with cupholders within the center’ and even a 3rd zone of local weather management with directional air-vents; plus USB-C cost ports. However, there are not any map pockets on the seat backs.
One factor that allow the back-seat expertise down a tad, although, was the scratchy exhausting plastics on the door tops. Good for folks with grubby youngsters, nevertheless, because it’s simpler to wipe that form of trim down.
Boot area is nice at 540 litres with the rear seats of their rearmost place, and that will increase to 630 litres if you happen to slide the rear seats ahead. The PHEV is anticipated to have a smaller boot space, as a consequence of battery storage being positioned below within the boot space (UK reviews counsel 400-490L).
No spare wheel – only a tyre restore package, mixed with tyre stress monitoring as customary – within the automobile I examined, however it’s not confirmed but what the Aussie-spec vary may have.
What’s below the bonnet?
Assured for our market is similar 195kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine seen within the up to date VW Golf GTI and the new-gen Tiguan, which gives up peak torque of 400Nm. The usual transmission is a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch unit, and it has all-wheel drive as customary.
In any other case, you possibly can financial institution on the brand new 1.5 TSI plug-in hybrid (PHEV) too, with 200kW of energy and an anticipated EV vary declare of greater than 100km. That mannequin will supply 11kW AC and 50kW DC charging, and you’ll anticipate the claimed gasoline use determine to be very low.
Base engine? You wager there’ll be one, however it’ll even have a type of electrification. The model is rolling out the 1.5 eTSI unit throughout its mannequin strains, with the 110kW/250Nm powertrain including 48V mild-hybrid tech to cut back consumption and emissions. That one remains to be but to be formally locked in for Australia, however our intel suggests it’s possible.
How does the Cupra Terramar drive?
The factor about Cupra’s fashions is that they have a particular driving dynamic to them.
The Terramar? It’s not fairly like the opposite Cupras – and that’s completely superb, as a result of it is going to attraction to a distinct viewers, and a distinct kind of driver, too.
Anticipate all fashions to return with selectable drive modes, and the automotive I drove had an Particular person mode to tailor issues to your preferences, together with 15-stage damper adjustment for a stage of trip fine-tuning that isn’t supplied in lots of different automobiles.
And even utilizing the preset modes, the suspension and chassis settings all impressed by way of providing consolation, management and convincing dealing with in corners. I truly favored the way in which the automotive was in Consolation mode, with a smoothness and pillowy nature that no different Cupra is imbued with.
It steers actually, and fewer pointily than another Cupra fashions.
That’s no dangerous factor – different Cupras could be a bit twitchy on the tiller – however the Terramar has a contact extra of a Volkswagen-style really feel to the steering. Belief me, I drove 10 completely different Cupra, Skoda and VW fashions over 10 days as a part of the journey that led me to this conclusion.
The 195kW 2.0 TSI petrol engine is a candy little bit of package too, with a heap of smooth-revving pulling energy and a dollop of torque for simple going driving while you’re not hustling.
When you do have to get someplace swiftly, it has ample tempo and feels sturdy by way of the rev vary, with the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch auto providing snappy adjustments with that typical intelligence you’d anticipate from being teamed to a high-output turbo-petrol engine – the model, although younger, has a powerful file of getting its powertrains (borrowed from the VW Group) proper in most each occasion.
Admittedly there’s some low-rev lag while you’re in stop-start visitors, when the engine’s idle-stop tech, transmission and turbo lag work collectively to supply a slight hesitancy in some conditions – however actually, it’s far much less of a problem than in earlier merchandise from the VW Group.
We would have to order judgement on the street noise intrusion, because the roads in Spain weren’t equivalent to the coarse-chip highways and nation roads of Australia – however initially I discovered it to be fairly hushed over blended street surfaces.
On the entire I got here away feeling that whereas the Terramar has a extra sedate and approachable drive expertise that isn’t as dynamic or dramatic as different Cupra fashions, that might work in its favour. It’ll very a lot hit the mark for an SUV purchaser who desires a very sporty wanting automobile, whereas not punishing them for having precisely that.
What do you get?
Closing specs for the Australian-market Cupra Terramar are set to be revealed subsequent 12 months. There’ll possible be a number of grades, however it’s too early to say precisely what will be supplied by way of customary spec.
Right here’s a information of what to anticipate to be supplied, relying on the grade:
Matrix LED headlightsLED daytime working lightsLED tail lights Keyless entry with proximity (walk-up) unlock, lockPush-button startElectric tailgate19- and 20-inch wheelsPanoramic glass roof to be offeredSEAQUAL YARN trim, or Dinamica micro-suede Utilizing recycled textiles or leather-based with plant-based tanningElectric seat adjustmentDual-zone local weather controlHeated and ventilated entrance seatsHeated steering wheelHeated rear seats Digital cockpit 12.9-inch touchscreen media system Satellite tv for pc navigationWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoWireless telephone charging4 x USB-C portsCharging cables (PHEV)
Is the Cupra Terramar secure?
There’s no Euro NCAP or ANCAP ranking for the Terramar simply but, however it has the complete suite of security expertise and tools you’ll anticipate of a new-generation automobile.
Commonplace security tools in Europe consists of:
Autonomous emergency braking Pedestrian, bike owner, junction detectionAdaptive cruise management with Visitors Jam AssistLane maintain assistBlind-spot assistRear cross-traffic assistSurround-view camerasFront, rear parking sensorsIntelligent pace signal recognitionDriver consideration monitoring
How a lot does the Cupra Terramar value to run?
No particulars on the specifics but, however you can be getting a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee for the automotive itself, and an eight-year guarantee for the battery pack if you happen to select the plug-in hybrid.
If it’s like different Cupra fashions, there will likely be a pay as you go service plan on supply, with upkeep intervals anticipated to be each 12 months/15,000km for all variations. The present vary has the selection of three- and five-year service packs.
Cupra is increasing its community of service places throughout the nation as a way of gearing up for its mannequin growth, so within the years to return you ought to be nearer to a Cupra-ready workshop than within the preliminary launch section for the model.
And if you happen to’re in an eligible catchment space, if you happen to prepay for a five-year plan you’ll additionally get concierge service, which means the workshop will gather and return your automotive to you.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Cupra Terramar
All of the substances appear to have come collectively for the Terramar – it’s trendy, swanky, sensible, and {smooth} to drive.
That is going to be a significant addition to the Spanish model’s lineup in Australia, and will nicely show to be the preferred automobile within the vary, supplied it’s priced proper when it lands within the new 12 months.
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MORE: 2025 Cupra Terramar: Sporty Tiguan cousin confirmed for Australia with plug-in energy
