The Cupra Tavascan VZ Has One Obvious Advantage

STYLING – ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING EV'S UNDER $100K NZ?

The Tavascan VZ is one of the most striking electric SUVs on sale right now. Now, styling is subjective of course. But hear me out.

It doesn’t look like a softened, focus-grouped EV blob. Instead, it looks sharp, angular, and unapologetically futuristic — almost like a concept car that somehow made it into production unchanged.

Importantly, this isn’t a one-off design experiment. Because Cupra has already established a clear design language across the Formentor, Leon, and Terramar, the Tavascan feels like a natural extension of the brand rather than a "futurustic" gimmick. That consistency helps it feel credible, not try-hard.

There’s a strong sense of motion baked into the design. The body lines don’t just sit there; they sweep, converge, and then abruptly cut off at the rear in a way that creates real tension. Even standing still, it looks fast. Aggressive. Intentional.

Small details help it here — the sharp bonnet creases, the sculpted rear light signature, and the way black trim and body lines visually compress and stretch the car depending on angle.

As usual, Cupra has knocked it out of the park when it comes to styling, and it may be the most compelling reason to buy the Tavascan in an incredibly competitive EV market.

INTERIOR – FUTURISTIC, BUT NOT CHEAP

Step inside and the theme continues. This is a bold interior, full of sharp geometry and layered shapes that immediately separate it from more conservative rivals. It looks dramatic, and crucially, it doesn’t feel nasty.

Yes, you can tell where cost savings have been made. This isn’t dripping in soft-touch leather everywhere. But for the segment, Cupra has struck a smart balance between visual interest and material quality. And once again, this is typical of Cupra's products to date. It feels well thought-out rather than cheap.

The eye is immediately drawn to the central “spine,” with almost every interior line guiding you toward it. Naturally, you expect something significant at its centre — and there is: the hazard lights. I genuinely thought this would be the start button, and giving that much visual importance to hazards feels like a slightly misplaced design decision in an otherwise well-considered cabin.

The central infotainment screen is large — properly large — but its integration is handled better than most when it comes to a "traditoinal" central screen (rather than the new "panoramic" displays we're seeing from rivals). Subtle design elements under the climate controls help the entire unit feel like part of the dashboard rather than a tablet glued on at the last minute. That tiny detail matters.

The digital instrument cluster, however, is a bit of a misstep. It’s small, and some of the fonts are genuinely hard to read at a glance. This is the one place where Cupra's instrument cluster in the rest of the lineup is better.

Space, at least, is not an issue. Rear seats easily handle child seats, adults, or both, and the boot is generous for a coupeified design. This can defintely be a practical EV for small families, not just a stylish one.

PERFORMANCE – TYPCAL "EV FAST", BUT DIALED IN NICELY

On paper, the Tavascan VZ doesn’t appear to be outrageously quick compared to some petrol-powered Cupra siblings, despite having a touch more horsepower than both the Formentor and Leon VZ (2.0).

In reality, it feels faster than the numbers suggest.

We recorded a 0–100 km/h time quicker than Cupra’s official claim (5.22 vs 5.6), even with two people on board. But as with most EVs, the headline launch stat isn’t the most impressive part. The real party trick is mid-range acceleration.

Rolling on at 50 km/h and flooring it onto a motorway on-ramp is where this car shines. There’s no waiting, no building boost, no drama — just instant, sustained shove. The power band is effectively always there, and that makes real-world driving feel effortless and quick.

Through corners, the weight is noticeable — it is still an EV, after all — but the low centre of gravity works in its favour. It’s composed, confidence-inspiring, and genuinely enjoyable on a twisty road. You can have fun here.

You do start to notice the acceleration dropping off when going uphill, likely because of that extra EV weight. But that's quickly forgotten once you're back on level ground.

The tuning of its acceleratoin is nicely dialed - never jerky, well-mannered and easy to get on with from coasting around town to dynamic driving on a B road.

The range is perfectly acceptable coming in a touch under a claimed 500kms, although if you drive with a heavy right foot you can expect that to be a lot less.

The only real dynamic weakness is the braking. Under harder driving, the pedal feels a little spongy and lacks the bite you’d want when pushing on. It’s not dangerous, but it’s the one area where the performance doesn’t quite keep pace with the rest of the car.

VERDICT – A SERIOUSLY COMPELLING EV

The Cupra Tavascan VZ leads with design, presence, and performance — and lets the electric drivetrain quietly do its thing in the background.

If you’re already open to going electric, this is one of the most emotionally appealing options available right now. And if you’re not quite ready, this might be the car that at least makes you stop, look, and reconsider.

Yes, the price tag might be hard to swallow compared to some of the options coming out of China, but Cupra's range of products so far have all been compelling enough to warrant some of that brand-name equity in the European segment.

So it's definitely a TavasCAN, not a TavasCAN'T (sorry, I recently became a father so I have a pass to make lame closing comments like that).