What Do We Really Think of the New CUPRA Raval?

[emarsh7]

Just curious, are you two drivers or one? I just wonder how much a problem having just one physical key is going to be if you are the sole user, at least I can't say I've ever needed two keys with my previous cars but maybe I've missed something?

I bought a second key for my Raval simply because I did not want to be vulnerable to the possible consequences of losing my only key.

 

[emarsh7]

We've had the car for a few days now. I ordered one in preference to an ID.Polo because of the design features, the sportier suspension setup across the range and because of the tech features in the Launch Edition being included in the price.

First impressions were that we loved the car, the styling, especially the new instrument cluster, the handling, it's quiet and relatively comfortable and lower energy consumption than the Born we had previously. Then the software failed us. infotainment screen hung and the lovely instrument cluster just went black. Having had experience with the Born, I just left it overnight and it managed to recover most functions. A quick drive fixed the rest. Par for the VAG course.

What has really, seriously annoyed us is the penny-pinching lack of a second key and the false advertising of the mythical "digital key" nonsense. I was one of the first to pre-order the V2LE and at that time there was no online option to buy a second key. When I finalised the order I asked for a second key to be added, but VAG would not allow the dealer to add it because the original order would have to be cancelled and a new order submitted. At that point I wasn't too concerned because we expected to be able to use the Digital Key, we could always set up the Smart Keycard and we could order a second actual key later. Well, after taking delivery, we discovered that a second key would cost a total of £350.00, we can't use the Digital Key because neither of our Android phones is compatible and we can't set up the Keycard because you have to set up the Digital Key first, which we can't do, so Catch 22 applies.

The car itself is everything we expected and we both really enjoy driving it, but that enjoyment has been seriously dented by the second key/ digital key issues. Nowhere in the advertising blurb does Cupra tell buyers that they'll have to go and buy a £1000.00 phone if they want to use the digital key.

Do you, as dealers, let your customers know about this before they place their order, or at least recommend adding the second key as part of the order?

I totally get it. My dealer sold me a second key with programming for about €230. What they are asking of you sounds like an obscenity. When I got my second key the service manager casually dropped that a lot of people are doing that.

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

I bought a second key for my Raval simply because I did not want to be vulnerable to the possible consequences of losing my only key.

Are you able to open the door through the Cupra App though? And what about digital key, did it work for you at all or? I was under the impression most phones should be able to use at least NFC if they don't support the more fancy UWB option. My reasoning (don't have the car yet) I'm going to try cope with one key (too late now to get one for a 100€ extra when it's in production rn and don't fancy spending 450€ or whatever it costs as a post-launch order for something I might never end up needing) and would use digital unlock in the unlikely event of losing / breaking the only physical key until a new key has been recieved.

 

[Pmac16]

Well a new observation from myself up in Scotland, last couple of mornings ( leaving before 7) there has been frost on the car. I can obviously preheat which is good, but while driving I turned the heating on, to 19, and the guessometer predicted losing 40 miles of range by turning that on.

25 min journey, mixed roads 70,60,30 mph( I know short and car won't really heat up) got 3 miles p kWh previously getting 4 on milder mornings.

Initial impression is it's not a fan of short cold trips

 

[jezyg]

Well a new observation from myself up in Scotland, last couple of mornings ( leaving before 7) there has been frost on the car. I can obviously preheat which is good, but while driving I turned the heating on, to 19, and the guessometer predicted losing 40 miles of range by turning that on.

25 min journey, mixed roads 70,60,30 mph( I know short and car won't really heat up) got 3 miles p kWh previously getting 4 on milder mornings.

Initial impression is it's not a fan of short cold trips

I have noticed the same it uses quite a bit of power for battery conditioning as it will drop to about 2.3 kWh then steadily rise to 4+ kWh, almost like an ICE car that gets better after warm up and a longer run.

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

Wonder how heat pump will affect things. Being from colder climate (Finland) I decided to get the optional heat pump. I will likely schedule cabin heating automatically in the mornings, for 5 min or whatever is necessary.

 

[emarsh7]

Are you able to open the door through the Cupra App though? And what about digital key, did it work for you at all or? I was under the impression most phones should be able to use at least NFC if they don't support the more fancy UWB option. My reasoning (don't have the car yet) I'm going to try cope with one key (too late now to get one for a 100€ extra when it's in production rn and don't fancy spending 450€ or whatever it costs as a post-launch order for something I might never end up needing) and would use digital unlock in the unlikely event of losing / breaking the only physical key until a new key has been recieved.

I can open the car but the digital key doesn't work with my phone. I like my phone and don't think it's reasonable to find out that I am expected to buy something different after I paid for the car.

I have never lost a car key but if one is doing a risk analysis it falls into the low probability high consequences category.

 

[alanjs]

I totally get it. My dealer sold me a second key with programming for about €230. What they are asking of you sounds like an obscenity. When I got my second key the service manager casually dropped that a lot of people are doing that.

Well, we have Value Added Tax on top of the base price which comes in at about £260.00. Then an additional £90.00 to code the key to the car. Has your dealer quoted for that? Sure, I absolutely would have opted to pay for a second key at £90.00 at pre-order time, but it wasn't an option then. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[emarsh7]

Well, we have Value Added Tax on top of the base price which comes in at about £260.00. Then an additional £90.00 to code the key to the car. Has your dealer quoted for that? Sure, I absolutely would have opted to pay for a second key at £90.00 at pre-order time, but it wasn't an option then. Oh well, live and learn.

I was charged €135 for the fob, €50 for the programming and 21% VAT.

The learn part of live and learn I would probably get from what they charged you is to do business with another company in the future.

 

[alanjs]

I was charged €135 for the fob, €50 for the programming and 21% VAT.

Interesting. It comes as no surprise that we are overcharged in the UK.

The learn part of live and learn I would probably get from what they charged you is to do business with another company in the future.

Yup. Oddly, I believe that the ID.Polo comes with two keys so it looks like a Cupra initiative. It'll make for a more considered choice next time round.

 

[emarsh7]

Interesting. It comes as no surprise that we are overcharged in the UK.

Yup. Oddly, I believe that the ID.Polo comes with two keys so it looks like a Cupra initiative. It'll make for a more considered choice next time round.

Well, there was no real way to know. It sucks though.

 

[alanjs]

Well, there was no real way to know. It sucks though.

On the plus side, I must have been one of the first 100 people to order the Raval because they've just sent me a very fancy Harper Collective wheelie suitcase.
Swings and roundabouts I guess, although I'd rather have the second key!

 

[RA76VAL]

That’s a fair point, especially with your previous experience of VAG products. It sounds like the Raval is ticking a lot of the boxes in terms of styling, driving and overall quality, while some of the software and connectivity features have taken a little getting used to.


The media and key options are interesting though - I’d be curious to hear how you’ve found the phone-as-key setup in everyday use, and whether the software issues have improved with any updates since you first got the car?

Have you found anything about the Raval that has particularly impressed you since owning it?

Hello Swansway. This reply should be looked upon with a positive view and not as a negative moaners post. My Born came with two physical keys as most buyers would except. So a question - why don't your sales staff inform buyers of the Raval, before purchase, that the digital Android phone key may not work with certain Android phones because that would at least give them a choice. As has been stated in other posts, this is quite neglectful. Buyers have purchased Raval's without knowing this only to find out on delivery they only get one fob key. Even in the written order form/s state nothing about the digital phone key not working with certain models of Android phones, that do not have the new UWB technology. Also, although it is probably accepted in society that everybody has a Smartphone these days, many do not! And at £351 for another physical fob key, that price is exhorbitant, is it not. Okay, there is a Smartcard, but what use is that if it's lost or stolen, at least if there are two physical fob keys you have a back up.
Something I will say in your defence is, that out of the 4 different dealerships I visited before purchase, none of them said anything about this problem, and with a new Android phone costing around £800 that's not good sales policy. I look forward too, as I think many other would be purchasers will to your reply.

 

[emarsh7]

Hello Swansway. This reply should be looked upon with a positive view and not as a negative moaners post. My Born came with two physical keys as most buyers would except. So a question - why don't your sales staff inform buyers of the Raval, before purchase, that the digital Android phone key may not work with certain Android phones because that would at least give them a choice. As has been stated in other posts, this is quite neglectful. Buyers have purchased Raval's without knowing this only to find out on delivery they only get one fob key. Even in the written order form/s state nothing about the digital phone key not working with certain models of Android phones, that do not have the new UWB technology. Also, although it is probably accepted in society that everybody has a Smartphone these days, many do not! And at £351 for another physical fob key, that price is exhorbitant, is it not. Okay, there is a Smartcard, but what use is that if it's lost or stolen, at least if there are two physical fob keys you have a back up.
Something I will say in your defence is, that out of the 4 different dealerships I visited before purchase, none of them said anything about this problem, and with a new Android phone costing around £800 that's not good sales policy. I look forward too, as I think many other would be purchasers will to your reply.

It's worth mentioning that the smart card requires that a phone is used as a digital key. Without that it's useless.

I feel that the digital key thing is a clever idea that should be in addition to, not a replacement for, the second key.

 

[alanjs]

It's worth mentioning that the smart card requires that a phone is used as a digital key. Without that it's useless.

I feel that the digital key thing is a clever idea that should be in addition to, not a replacement for, the second key.

I really don't understand why Cupra went ahead with this on the Raval and now on the new Born.

In order for the Digital Key to work, you must have a very high end smartphone. Not just a new phone, but one of the flagship models at ridiculously high prices - around £1100.00 to £1300.00 each. I know there are some grey market versions a bit cheaper but I don't trust them.

European prices for the second key are about 230 Euros complete with coding. UK total price is around £350.00. Why?

 

[SRGTD]

I really don't understand why Cupra went ahead with this on the Raval and now on the new Born.

In order for the Digital Key to work, you must have a very high end smartphone. Not just a new phone, but one of the flagship models at ridiculously high prices - around £1100.00 to £1300.00 each. I know there are some grey market versions a bit cheaper but I don't trust them.

European prices for the second key are about 230 Euros complete with coding. UK total price is around £350.00. Why?

I agree with @RA76VAL; the limitations of the digital key ought be made clear to customers at point of sale when they order a new Raval - or any new car for that matter that has just one physical key. I see on the UK configurator that a second physical key is a £90 option if specified when ordering the car, so £350 does seem expensive if ordering one at a later date through the UK dealer. I accept that it needs to be coded, but does it really cost an extra £260 to do this (maybe it does)?

I don’t know who sets the price for items such as a second key and other post-sale accessories; presumably as the price varies by sales region, then the UK price will be set by Cupra UK. If, as this discussion topic suggests, many people would want a second physical key especially if more than one person drives the car, the cynic in me would say this does seem to be a licence to print money for Cupra UK.

 

[alanjs]

I don’t know who sets the price for items such as a second key and other post-sale accessories; presumably as the price varies by sales region, then the UK price will be set by Cupra UK. If, as this discussion topic suggests, many people would want a second physical key especially if more than one person drives the car, the cynic in me would say this does seem to be a licence to print money for Cupra UK.

I checked with my dealer (Cupra Coventry, whose service has been excellent) and I was quoted £128.92 for the transmitter (fob) plus £111.24 for the key blade that goes into it. There is also a £90.00 charge for coding the new key to the car. Neither my wife nor I have compatible smartphones so we're sharing the key until we see if we really need a second one. For various reasons it's inconvenient but workable so far. And a second key is cheaper than a new flagship phone.

Maybe Android phones will include UWB in later, lower-end models?

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

The cheapest one I could find is Pixel 10 Pro for 649€ (~£550) but it's a deal sort of so not permanent price but I didn't fancy going for Pixel due to the bulky camera setup / poor battery life Pixel phones are known for.

Eitherway it's one thing if UWB would be widely supported and it's probably matter of time, in similar way NFC at first but to give up one physical key fob for UWB at this time and age might be a bit soon but when say lots of ~300€ or thereabouts phones would support it, it would be much easier to be less critical about it, just feels Cupra is a bit ahead of its time with this decision is all. I think in 3-4 years or so it makes sense, probably not yet for majority of car manufacturers.

I hope Samsung will add UWB to their smallest S27 this time around (when since S21 it's been only available with S21+ and Ultra) which will probably sprinkle some acceleration towards UWB adoption (Pixel should be next to follow which also had this same strategy to offer with their larger expensier models only), at least Samsung's Exynos chip this time fully supports it unlike previously so therefore it makes sens to offer it from now on with the smallest model. The smallest Samsung S series flagship tends to drop like 300€ in a year or so.

 

[JonnyG]

I'm assuming this is an Android phone issue ?

I'm hoping my Iphone 17 should work OK

"Ultra Wideband (UWB) is supported on all iPhone 11 models and later, except for the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e.
According to the Apple Support Guide, Apple divides these devices by the generation of the UWB chip they contain:

Second-Generation UWB Chip

• iPhone 15 models (iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max)
• iPhone 16 models (excluding iPhone 16e)
• iPhone 17 models (excluding iPhone 17e)
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max"

 

[RA76VAL]

I'm assuming this is an Android phone issue ?

I'm hoping my Iphone 17 should work OK

"Ultra Wideband (UWB) is supported on all iPhone 11 models and later, except for the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e.
According to the Apple Support Guide, Apple divides these devices by the generation of the UWB chip they contain:

Second-Generation UWB Chip

• iPhone 15 models (iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max)
• iPhone 16 models (excluding iPhone 16e)
• iPhone 17 models (excluding iPhone 17e)
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max"

Hi JonnyG
Looks like you may be okay. Your phone should tell if you look for it in your phone details. But you can see how limited even the iphones are, and the high prices of the newer iphones are a sky high price. So catch 22 if your own an inconpatible phone - either buy a second physical key at about £350 programmed to the car or take out a mortgage for a new phone that is compatible.
Regarding Android. For all brands, compatible phones are few and far between, and the ones that are compatible are very expensive, so again catch 22.
I have spoken to my dealer about this and the answer was " Cupra future proofing technology" I replied " what about us poor buggers in the here and now"
My Android phone is only 2 years old, so that does not help me. I am also contract free, so don't get offered a nice new £1500 phone every year.
Whatever happened to the horse and cart. The horse never needed petrol, diesel or electric power, you just gave it a bag of hay and put the manure from it on your garden - now that was green technology