Cupra Tavascan VZ Drive Review : Rebel Rouser

However, its former performance diffusion brand, Cupra, is now represented by Volkswagen Group Singapore, alongside VW and Skoda.

These days though, Cupra isn’t just a model derivative, but has become a brand in its own right, and offers a diverse mix of ICE and fully-electric models.

In fact, Cupra is touted as the rebel of the Volkswagen Group, and we’re wondering if there’s some poetic justice at work to be driving around its all-electric crossover upstart, the Tavascan VZ, over Singapore’s election weekend.

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True to the Barcelona-based brand’s practice of naming its models after cities in Spain, the Tavascan is no exception, as it is named after a Catalonian town in the Spanish Pyrenees.

Most notably, Tavascan features one of the most unconventional hydroelectric power plants in the territory, which is located 500m deep inside the mountain and ties in with Cupra’s sustainability shebang.

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The Tavascan takes the form of a compact crossover coupe, and is Cupra’s second all-electric model after the Born. It’s designed and engineered in Barcelona, but produced at VW’s Anhui plant in China.

The high-powered, all-wheel-driven VZ model we’re testing features dual-motors and thunders to the tune of 340hp, 545Nm and a 5.5seconds 0-100km/h time. However, there’s a lot more going for the top-of-the-range Tavascan VZ that far surpasses its hard statistics.

This edgy crossover coupe boasts aggressive styling and an evil glint that brooks no nonsense.

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Design-wise, the Tavascan is a welcome departure from VW’s serious and Skoda’s sensible, and is touted to define the design language for Cupra’s future models.

Whatever you think of its sporty slashes and sharp cuts, the Tavascan isn’t a car for wallflowers, because it’ll get you noticed.

In fact, during our week with the car, we had our fair share of challengers from those who wanted to suss out if its performance matched its posturing.

Like its other electric Group-mates, the Skoda Enyaq, VW ID models and Audi Q4 e-tron, the Tavascan is built on the Volkswagen Group’s modular MEB (or Modularer E-Antriebs Baukasten) platform.

The Tavascan certainly puts on a good show as it awakens to life, which includes a glowing brand emblem (of intersecting triangles) on its bonnet and a twinkling of front and rear light segments.

Mind you, there is no overt model badging apart from the logo on the bonnet, as well as the “Cupra” and “VZ” tags.

Where’s the “Tavascan” model name, you ask? Well, it’s discreetly positioned in the tail-light cluster and can’t be seen (unless you know it’s there) and it’s lit.

And surprisingly, this rebel with a cause seemed to attract its fair share of recognition from random passers-by, no mean feat considering the Cupra brand was just (re)-introduced to Singapore some months ago.

It is bold with the “Dark Night” cabin trim choice as well, which complements the Atacama Desert metallic body colour perfectly. This writer is definitely biased, because I’m very partial to blue.

The seats are clad in a recycled microfibre that is Alcantara-like to the touch and feel, and the seats prove amply supportive when you’re hustling the car with gusto.

With an elegantly sculpted “floating’ central “bridge” in the front-and-centre, the cockpit is suitably dramatic, and properly differentiated from its VW and Skoda counterparts.

It doesn’t feel overly digital and there are striking design elements that give it a sense of purpose beyond mere beast of burden status.

With its contrasting rose gold trim accents around the cabin and tiny brand motifs in the seat fabric, there are enough little details to keep one’s eyes occupied. It isn’t just a crossover in form, but also in function.

There is plenty of space for five adults on the electoral roll and even more thoughtful hideaways for knick-knacks that aren’t just out of sight from prying eyes, but within easy reach for quick grab-and-go. A large glass-roof lets ample light in to create an airy cabin.

It was especially therapeutic to park and lounge with the front seats fully-reclined to watch the fat raindrops pitter-pattering on the roof as one took a moment to enjoy the brief interlude from the hustle of daily life.

The Tavascan’s driver ergonomics cannot be faulted, with primary and secondary controls logically located for easy operation.

It’s all familiar ground, especially since the logic to the controls follows the Group’s convention.

Despite the platform sharing with the Skoda and VW EVs, there’s an urgency to the Tavascan VZ’s dynamics that gives credibility to its performance claims.

It isn’t just quick, but entertaining as well, with one toggle for the different drive modes and another dedicated one for ‘Cupra’ mode mounted on the steering wheel for easy access.

We like that you can vary the DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) settings so the Tavascan’s damping poise can remain perfectly civilised over the worst road surfaces.

We would have preferred a more consistent and confidence-inspiring brake feel under deep, hard braking, but this isn’t a track machine so it is perfectly adequate for fast-road use. With the variable regen effect, the brakes are more than capable of reining-in a Tavascan at full flight.

We are already quite familiar with the perky Seat Cupra variants from before, so the prospect of a standalone Cupra brand was quite intriguing.

Suffice to say, we can see this rebel rousing quite a ruckus within the ranks of its Skoda and VW brethren. In any case, the tempestuous Tavascan VZ is as compelling a model as any to break bread with the rest of the Cupra tribe.

CUPRA TAVASCAN VZ
Battery 77kWh, Lithium-Ion
Front Motor 80kW
Rear Motor 210kW
System Power 340hp
System Torque 545Nm
0-100km/h 5.5secs
Top Speed 180km/h
Range (WLTP) 512-522km (combined)