Overview
OFFBEAT promoting, lush styling, and whispered “if , ” word-of-mouth referrals have been adequate to make the Volkswagen Group (VAG)’s Catalonian marque Cupra recognized to 60 per cent of Australian new automotive patrons.
When VAG’s Czech worth play Skoda launched domestically, in-tune GTI followers found they might purchase the identical driveline in an Octavia RS for lots much less cash. Cupra’s play – stuffing the very best Golf/Tiguan oily bits into the super-svelte Formentor crossover – has drawn Aussie followers of its personal.
However ‘three-fifths’ shopper recognition is just off the tempo if Cupra is to hit its goal of 7000 gross sales, self-imposed when the model launched domestically in 2023. Whereas that demand from headquarters in Martorell, Spain, has now been relaxed, the model’s 2024 results of 2339 wasn’t adequate.
A pivot is now underway to push Cupra into family-friendly, volume-rich segments with out dropping the Barcelonan aptitude that lets this VAG outlet stand out. With the Tavascan midsize BEV producing modest outcomes, the mission sits atop the shoulders of the brand new combustion-powered Terramar.
Shrewd Cupra Australia product planners have squeezed unimaginable ranges of ordinary package from their Spanish paymasters, and whereas the 4519mm-long, Tiguan-sized Terramar just isn’t almost the most cost effective midsize SUV on the Australian market, it’s brilliantly specified from base.
Actually, the bottom Terramar S ($58,490 driveaway) is so compelling, sans choices, that few might want to stroll previous its stylish but democratic provide.
Customary is the mix of 18-inch wheels and passive dampers, LED headlights, a ‘coast-to-coast’ LED rear mild bar, energy tailgate, Dinamica/synthetic leather-based upholstery, heated/power-adjustable entrance seats (with driver’s reminiscence), and a heated leather-based steering wheel.
Customary specification additionally takes in a nine-speaker stereo, 12.9-inch touchscreen/10.25-inch instrument cluster, wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, good entry and push-button begin, tri-zone local weather management (with rear air vents), and selectable drive modes.
Presumably objectionable stands out as the Terramar S’s front-wheel drive format, matched to a VAG ‘EA211 Evo’ 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine and 48-volt gentle hybrid system making 110kW/250Nm.
The large drawcard of the mid-tier Terramar V ($66,490 d/a) is an improve to a 2.0T/AWD powertrain of 150kW/320Nm, with the V additionally including 19-inch copper/black wheels, hill descent management, and greater entrance brakes.
Many S and V clients will go for the Leather-based and Sound Package deal ($1600) including deep burgundy leather-based and a 12-speaker Sennheiser stereo, and a gap panoramic sunroof with blind ($2000).
High-tier Terramar VZ ($73,490 d/a) makes the Leather-based and Sound Package deal normal whereas including 20-inch rims, 15-stage DCC Professional adaptive dampers, matrix LED headlight tech, huge rear brakes and an all-out Cupra drive mode.
Earlier than Christmas, the 200kW/400Nm Terramar VZe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will land in Australia promising 111-115km electrical driving vary (WLTP). Exact specification, and pricing, are but unknown for the PHEV.
Most colors are at no cost with solely Darkish Void (purple) and Graphene Gray attracting a $620 premium whereas two matte hues – Century Bronze, and Enceladus Gray – might be added later at a hefty $2900 upcharge.
Claimed gasoline financial system kicks off at 5.7L/100km (S), with the bigger-engine AWD fashions ingesting extra (7.2L/100km V, 8.2L/100km VZ). The latter pair additionally rating a bigger gasoline tank (60L vs 55L).
Pre-paid service plans price $1490 (three years/45,000km) or $2590 (5 years/75,000km) whereas guarantee is 5 years with limitless kilometres.
Driving Impressions
In pictures, the Terramar appears upright, even staid, in comparison with the slick Formentor. Within the metallic, this extra pragmatic Cupra SUV nonetheless gives visible aptitude and curiosity, with intensive use of triangular motifs; the one ‘Terramar’ branding is a tiny label within the crystal LED taillights.
Nonetheless, the extra estate-like roofline of the Terramar alerts this Cupra’s family-first credentials, and boot house (508-642L, relying on the sliding rear bench place) and rear headroom alike are simply superior to the compromised Formentor, or Leon hatch.
We wouldn’t name it frumpy, even on the bottom mannequin’s sensibly sized 18-inch wheels wrapped in chunky tyres. It’s gracefully grown up; Cupra advertising and marketing may main on “younger, city rebels”, however the Terramar exhibits it’s doable to retain some cool issue, at the same time as a mum or dad…
The place the Terramar has retained loads of soul is within the cabin, which nonetheless feels fairly selfishly driver-focussed up entrance with a lush, wrap-around centre console with 3D-printed texture and a beautiful, thin-rimmed perforated leather-based steering wheel.
Seat consolation (and fabric high quality) is of the best order, combining VAG’s sometimes agency however supportive pew shaping with aesthetic aptitude; the Excessive Canyon inside theme that options on leather-trimmed vehicles is gorgeous, eschewing boring black for the deepest doable burgundy.
VAG has taken complaints about HMI/ergonomics on board in recent times and whereas the Terramar sports activities a touch-capacitive temperature slider, it’s redundant because the clear important display screen has an always-on local weather bar. The steering wheel’s bodily controls are a delight to make use of.
There’s maturity right here: key controls fall shut at hand, controls are evenly weighted, and menu buildings are intuitive. There’s little studying curve to the Terramar, you’ll be able to bounce in and get began with it rapidly.
Whereas the Terramar is a concession to household life, and the again bench does match two six-footers positive, its tight dimensions keep away from the bloat seen in lots of rival crossovers (such because the next-gen Mazda CX-5), making the Cupra a good selection for inner-city dwellers with tiny parking areas.
Cupra is aware of it has a spot in its lineup for a correctly huge SUV and it’s engaged on that. For now, Terramar (and the marginally greater Tavascan BEV) are as capacious because it will get.
Whereas household pursuits are sorted, we like the very fact the Terramar biases the motive force and makes clear that dynamics are of central significance. This isn’t one other household SUV that sweeps trip, dealing with and powertrain excellence below the rug in favour of the tasteless.
The excessive enhance 195kW VZ is severely fast, bordering on the frenetic. It combines speedy torque with excessive grip ranges, although a better centre of gravity and further 150kg means the quickest Terramar falls about 20 per cent wanting a smaller Formentor VZx’s enjoyable issue.
We discovered the entry Terramar S to really feel most comfy in its personal pores and skin. It too enjoys the Cupra’s nice chassis, which provides eager drivers choices, however the base model’s mix of 18s, high-profile tyres, and agency however compliant passive dampers, hits a dynamic candy spot.
The 1.5-litre gentle hybrid powertrain is a complicated quiet achiever, showing to outpunch its academically modest outputs whereas liberally filling within the driveline’s off-boost gaps and shift factors with fill-in torque from the 48-volt, upgraded alternator.
Dropping the AWD system and avoiding the EA888 2.0-litre’s well-established thirst, the front-drive Terramar S additionally chalks up spectacular effectivity in the true world: we noticed 5.3L/100km on the freeway for theoretical vary of 1037km.
Mixed consumption is barely thirstier than widespread series-parallel hybrids, however this modest gentle hybrid sips gasoline whereas providing fluency and European dynamic prowess in spades.
The 150kW/320Nm V lands quickly. Within the associated Volkswagen Tiguan, this powertrain is the candy spot, and it could be too within the Terramar.
Against this to the slick tuning of the Cupra’s Journey Help system, a strengthened adaptive cruise management/lane centring mode which fortunately drives semi-autonomously on highways with only a palm on the steering wheel, oversensitive driver displays are a disappointment.
Encroaching security rules enforces such blight, however the Terramar’s too-vigilant driver consideration monitor is particularly annoying. Fortunately, audible pace warning beeps will be silenced with two faucets of the steering wheel, although this must be carried out each time you drive the SUV.
The Terramar enters the Australian market concurrently with new-brand SUVs promising larger ranges of electrification for much less and fewer cash, seemingly miraculous worth equations seem nearly day by day.
Cupra (and VAG usually) doesn’t seem to wish to compete within the race to the underside. As a substitute, the Terramar goes again to fundamentals. Potential homeowners pay a bit extra, however they obtain a automobile with real polish in return.
