2025 CUPRA Tavascan VZ Extreme

Design: a concept car brought to life

One thing is certain: the Tavascan is a striking car. Its design stays remarkably close to the concept that CUPRA first revealed back in 2019. The front end looks sharp and futuristic, with aggressive LED lighting and the now familiar illuminated CUPRA badge. The whole design feels almost concept-car-like.

Our test car looked particularly impressive in Century Bronze Matt, combined with the HERO interior in Enceladus Grey and optional CUP bucket seats. A configuration that perfectly emphasizes the sporty ambitions of the VZ Extreme. From the side, the Tavascan stands out with its wide shoulders, muscular stance and large 21-inch wheels. The sloping roofline gives it the typical SUV-coupé silhouette.

At the rear, a full-width LED light strip completes the design. Visually, this is easily one of the most distinctive electric SUVs currently on the market. In short: the Tavascan looks genuinely cool.

Platform: familiar Volkswagen Group technology

Beneath the bold design lies familiar hardware. The Tavascan is built on the MEB platform from the Volkswagen Group, which it shares with models like the Volkswagen ID.5.

The VZ Extreme version features two electric motors and all-wheel drive, producing 340 hp and 545 Nm of torque. That allows the SUV to accelerate from 0–100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 km/h.

Power comes from a 77 kWh battery, which officially delivers a WLTP range of up to 507 km. On paper, the numbers look quite impressive.

Interior: futuristic but not always practical

Inside, CUPRA clearly tried to create something different compared to other Volkswagen Group models. The most striking feature is the central structure that runs from the center console into the dashboard, resembling an alien-like spine. Visually it’s dramatic and futuristic.

However, it’s not always the most practical design. Your smartphone, for example, tends to disappear underneath this structure, making it surprisingly difficult to grab while driving. Space inside the cabin is excellent though. Both front and rear passengers benefit from generous room, and despite the sloping roofline, rear headroom remains impressive.

Our VZ Extreme test car featured the optional CUP bucket seats with leather (heated and ventilated), which not only look fantastic but also remain comfortable even on longer journeys.

Build quality: strong overall, but some compromises

The interior generally feels well put together, with nice materials such as leather and Alcantara on key surfaces.

However, there are also areas where hard plastic panels are clearly visible, especially on parts of the dashboard and door trims. At this price point, that’s slightly disappointing. The contrast between premium materials and simpler plastics becomes noticeable.

Infotainment and controls

The 15-inch infotainment display works well. It’s based on Volkswagen’s latest software, which is now faster and easier to navigate than earlier versions. CUPRA also provides convenient shortcuts to disable certain driver assistance warnings quickly, which is appreciated.

Less convincing are the haptic touch controls on the steering wheel, finished in glossy black. They look sleek, but traditional physical buttons would still be more intuitive. Hopefully CUPRA will return to real buttons in future models.

Driving experience: comfortable rather than sporty

Despite carrying the VZ badge, which usually represents CUPRA’s most performance-oriented versions, the Tavascan VZ Extreme doesn’t really feel like a particularly sporty car.

On the highway it excels. The car is quiet, stable and extremely comfortable, making it a great long-distance cruiser. Even with the large 21-inch wheels, ride comfort remains surprisingly good.

However, things change once the road becomes more challenging. With a weight of over 2,300 kg, the Tavascan can feel quite heavy in tighter corners. Understeer appears fairly quickly and the steering offers limited feedback about what the front wheels are doing.

On paper the drivetrain is rear-biased with front axle assistance, but in practice it often feels like the front wheels are handling too much of the workload. The result is a driving experience that doesn’t quite match the aggressive styling.

Performance & Range: not that explosive

With 340 hp and a 0–100 km/h time of 5.5 seconds, the Tavascan VZ Extreme is certainly not slow. But it doesn’t feel especially explosive either.

In today’s EV landscape there are several electric SUVs that deliver more dramatic acceleration and a more engaging driving experience.

CUPRA claims a WLTP range of 507 km. In real-world driving, our experience was closer to around 400 km. For a battery with 77 kWh capacity, we had honestly expected a bit more.

Verdict: stylish cruiser, but less sporty than expected

The CUPRA Tavascan VZ Extreme is without question a striking electric SUV. The design is bold, the interior futuristic and long-distance comfort is excellent.

However, drivers expecting a genuinely sporty experience may find it slightly underwhelming. With its 2.3-ton weight, the Tavascan feels more like a stylish cruiser than a dynamic performance SUV. And considering the price bracket it occupies, there are electric SUVs that deliver stronger performance or better efficiency.

For many buyers, the Tavascan Endurance might actually be the more sensible option. It’s significantly cheaper, still powerful enough and even offers a slightly longer range. But if you’re looking for an electric SUV that truly stands out visually, the Tavascan remains one of the most distinctive choices available today.