• All versions equipped with same battery
• Decent electric range
• But a heat pump is optional on every car

What are the running costs? 

Every Tavascan uses the same 77kWh battery, which allows for a maximum claimed range of 353 miles on the rear-wheel-drive models, dropping to 299 miles for the VZ2. If range is even remotely a criteria, we think those extra 50 miles from the most efficient version are worth choosing. 

During our long-term test in a Tavascan VZ2, over more than 4,000 miles, our accumulated efficiency average was 3.0 miles per kWh (mpk), giving a real-world range of around 230 miles. Though we saw big improvements in summer, it struggled for 200 miles in summer, which isn’t very impressive on a £60,000 SUV. We also think a heat pump, which is able to heat the car more efficiently in cold weather and helps save range, should be included as an option, rather than only as a £1,335 option, though that price also includes a heated windscreen.

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The Tavascan supports 135kW DC rapid charging. The tech can thrash its battery from 10 to 80% capacity in just 28 minutes. That’s not bad, but the Kia EV6 can achieve the same state of charge in just 18 minutes thanks to its support for 350kW DC rapid charging.

It also supports 11kW AC charging, meaning a full charge can take eight hours, though on the more common 7.4kW home charging, a full charge will take between 10 and 11 hours. 

Servicing and warranty

Interestingly Cupra’s warranty lasts longer than other Volkswagen Group models, covering the car for up to five years or up to 90,000 miles. Skoda, VW and Audi’s warranty is all capped at three years/60,000 miles. The car’s battery is also separately covered for eight years and 100,000 miles, which is commonplace on every EV. 

Service intervals on the Tavascan are every two years or 20,000 miles, though it’s worth keeping on regular maintenance checks yourself in that time, especially tyre wear. A service at a Cupra main dealer will cost £306 upfront, including an inspection service including a battery state of health check, brake fluid change and pollen filter replacement. You are also able to spread the cost with a Cupra service plan. 

Reliability

• We had a breakdown with our Tavascan long-termer
• Lots of small software niggles
• We expect better

Let’s start out by saying our personal experience with the Cupra Tavascan’s reliability has been poor. On the first day of getting our long-term version, it suffered a breakdown caused by an issue with the 12-volt battery that left the car without power and unable to be driven. In the end it had to be towed back to Cupra for it to be fixed. Other 12-volt battery issues are also common across cars based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform. 

We also had numerous other issues with our Tavascan that tainted our experience. It had a weird issue where the steering would be heavy at ultra slow speeds (such as when parking) and the electric boot was temperamental, sometimes only half opening for no reason. Other screen-related gremlins also existed. It very much felt to us like a car that still needed some fine-tuning before it should be sold to customers.