The new Cupra Terramar is actually a Volkswagen Tiguan with a layer of romesco, a spicy Spanish sauce from the Catalonia region, where Cupra was founded. Does the Cupra Terramar live up to its ‘hot’ promises despite its German influences?
What is striking about the Cupra Terramar?
Cupra announced a model offensive in June 2022 and now launches more models into the world than many Chinese brands. After the new Cupra Leon, Cupra Formentor and Cupra Tavascan, it is now the turn of the Cupra Terramar. We are not there yet, in 2025 the Cupra UrbanRebel will also join the Spanish team.
As a Volkswagen subsidiary, Cupra is not 100% Spanish, but its roots are certainly in the country that gave singer Imca Marina her biggest hit. Cupra was born at the Terramar circuit, located in the seaside resort of Sitges, just south of Barcelona. First as a Seat sports label, but since 2018 as an independent car brand.
Terramar is actually a bowl orbit. But it is the oldest in the world, from 1923. And where racing cars with the tires of a modern fat bike were once stuck to the steep curve wall, there are now Spanish wall geckos and the weeds are rampant. Cupra still uses it for events, such as the press presentation of the Cupra Terramar at which we were present.
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The Cupra Terramar itself is as Spanish as a Bockwurst with goulash sauce. He has the Volkswagen Tiguan as a basis and is produced at the Hungarian Audi factory in Györ. An SUV in the C-segment, with a length of 4.51 meters (Tiguan: 4.53 meters). The wheelbase is 2.68 meters (Tiguan: 2.67 meters).
What is good about the Cupra Terramar (2024)?
The big plus of the Cupra Terramar 1.5 TSI e-Hybrid that we drove is without a doubt its electric range of 120 kilometers (WLTP). Peanuts for an EV, but leading for a plug-in hybrid. This puts the Terramar at the top of its segment.
The 20 kWh net battery will be full again in just half an hour (10-80 percent) at a fast charger (up to 50 kW). The charging port is on the front left. We condone the fact that in our case the loading flap did not close properly. With another Terramar it closed as it should.
Cupra knows how to disguise the fact that the Cupra Terramar is actually a Volkswagen Tiguan. The Spanish SUV certainly looks sportier and more aggressive than its German counterpart. Just check out that huge grille. The daytime running lights in the shape of triangles have now become a Cupra family trait. You can see the small pyramids in the rear lights. The Cupra logo is illuminated.
The Terramar sits 10 millimeters lower above the road than the Tiguan and is equipped with a sports suspension as standard. The alloy wheels have a diameter of at least 18 inches, 1 inch more than on Volkswagen. In the interior you will find standard bucket seats with fixed headrests. They fit excellently and provide sufficient support.
If you choose one of the two VZ versions with 272 hp (as we do in this review), the Terramar is equipped with dynamic chassis control including a Cupra driving mode, the wildest of four.
The 12.9-inch screen is oriented towards the driver. You set the temperature with sliders, but at the same time they are buttons that you can press. We still prefer rotary knobs, but we can live with them. It is useful that you can create a shortcut for certain menus. For example, the driving modes. Naturally, you get the most dynamic driving experience in the sportiest mode (Cupra).
In normal mode the Cupra Terramar drives very pleasantly. With sufficient comfort without becoming soft. Actually like the Tiguan and even more SUVs. The space on the back seat is excellent, even with the thick bucket seats for your knees.
What could be improved about the Cupra Terramar?
Cupra shouts from the rooftops that it is different. Sportier, more aggressive and more rebellious. The danger when you emphasize something is that it can sometimes be disappointing in real life. We don’t want to go that far with the Terramar, but to say that the handling in the Cupra driving mode is as hardcore as the track videos we were presented with suggest… Well, no.
But in itself we don’t mind that at all. In the sportiest driving mode, the Terramar steers more directly and the suspension is firmer, but there is still sufficient comfort. However, the front wheels have some difficulty in transferring the power to the road when accelerating sharply and the car is a bit searchy. We had to grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands to keep the car in line. Furthermore, the 6-speed automatic transmission sometimes does not respond as quickly as you would hope.
The engine noise you hear is cool. As fake as the teeth of the Roelvink brothers, but it is fun.
The Cupra Terramar is sportier than the Tiguan, but that is more about the overall picture and not so much about the driving characteristics alone. Cupra gives the Terramar a sporty look, making the overall experience sportier. We do miss some thick end pipes, like the Cupra Formentor VZ has.
A practical downside is that only the narrow middle part of the rear seat backrest can be folded down from the luggage compartment. For the other two parts you have to walk to the door. We don’t think it’s the nicest solution that you then have to pull a loop, but… it get the job done.
What is the price of the Cupra Terramar?
If you’re a little confused as to where to place the Terramar in Cupra’s model range, you’re forgiven. We always have to think for a moment. The price of the Cupra Terramar is 48,990 euros. That’s more than the Formentor.
The Formentor causes the confusion for us. That is also a plug-in hybrid SUV/crossover and only slightly shorter than the Terramar (4.45 meters). The Cupra Formentor must raise at least 44,990 euros. Then you also have the Cupra Tavascanbut this SUV/crossover is fully electric.
The entry-level Terramar has the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as our test sample, but with 204 hp. The mild hybrid 1.5 TSI with 150 hp will not come to the Netherlands because it is not commercially interesting due to its higher CO2 emissions and therefore higher BPM surcharge. Strangely enough, you can buy the Volkswagen Tiguan as a mild hybrid, even with 131 hp. We think that the sporty Cupra simply does not want to be seen with such ‘low’ power. These are below the standard of the brand.
The Tiguan as a plug-in hybrid with 204 hp costs 50,990 euros. The Terramar is therefore slightly cheaper. And you get 18-inch alloy instead of 17 inches. The version we drove with 272 hp is priced from 53,990 euros (Tiguan: 57,490 euros, but as a complete R-Line Edition).
What do I think of the Cupra Terramar?
Cupra is doing well. In my opinion, the Terramar is one of the sportiest SUVs in its segment. Although the driving characteristics are better than its wild appearance suggests. Only in the Cupra mode does he flex his muscles. It’s more about the total package and not so much about the handling alone.
But this will make the Terramar appeal to a broader target group. Because at the same time it is a spacious car that drives pleasantly and comfortably. Although the design with its copper-colored accents is tasteful.
The Cupra Terramar is too big and too heavy (1804 kg for the 272 hp version) to be a real sporty bomb. I have therefore pinned my hopes on the smaller Cupra UrbanRebel. That doesn’t change the fact that I prefer the Terramar to the more well-behaved Tiguan.
Source: www.autoreview.nl
