CUPRA Raval VZ First Look (Video)

[Syphon]

We have now had our first proper look around the new CUPRA Raval, and on first impressions, it feels like CUPRA has put a lot of effort into making sure this is not just another small electric car.









This is the VZ version, so the top-spec car, and straight away it makes an impression. The paint on this launch car is called Plasma Iridescent, and it is one of those finishes that really changes depending on the light. In some conditions, it looks almost grey, but then you start to pick up hints of cyan, blue and even red as you move around it. It certainly helps the Raval stand out.







At around four metres long, the Raval sits firmly in the small car class, but it does not look like a basic urban runabout. It has a much more planted stance than that, and although the design is clearly new...

Continue reading...

 

[Syphon]

Finally we can share this with you all, what do you think?

 

[Syphon]

Direct link to the video:

 

[jezyg]

Does look really good and many of the annoying elements such as haptic buttons and too much scratchy plastic has been addressed. Also agree the rear looks really nice and makes the car look much more expensive than it actually is. Has a bit of Porsche Taycan to the front too and overall a very handsome looking car.

Still top of my list to order once I have prices and specification as does seem nicer overall than an Alpine A290 or Nissan Micra Evolve EV also on my list. Thanks for an ace initial review really informative and useful!

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[jezyg]

You can download a English brochure on Cupra.com, has two version Endurance and VZ, but gives you an idea of spec including wheels and colours. https://www.cupra.com/en/

 

[Tell]

Naughty door handles. Thomas (spelling) in the Autogefuhl video covers the phasing out of the retractable door in the video. Will be banned by China in new cars and since they lead the motor industry it will be global in a few years time. Think I mentioned that elsewhere but at the time didnt know Cupra was getting them.

Looks a nice car. Has that Spanish earth snake ripple effect on the inside plastic that goes across recent Cupras. Those handles were on the VW Unyx wonder if they will come (someone will probably say they have) to other European Vag cars or whether this will be only a Cupra thing, to this model. Downside your getting a car with door handles PRC dont like since they were not opening in accidents. Raval rebel.

I quite like the smartie paint work on the Skoda (disguise). I see they still don't like to put what model of car it is on the back. Saves paying extra to have it removed. Top of the range badge gets on thou... that's allowed. Had to walk round the front of one car at the weekend to check whether it was a Cupra, it wasnt. Perhaps thats the secret Cupras say what they are at the back but not the model.

BTW I see Scott's got more technical detail than Thomas... QAed them both. I still wouldn't trust getting the door handles out in an accident mind you... answer to what VW said unless it opens the doors before the body crumbles. Side impact, it would not know.

BTW2 taking the brochure link above I see it gets its own full rear wheel arch unlike the Ateca. They didnt have a need to push the cabin backwards to get rear leg space. May be with the battery taking up room they cant do that trick anymore ? or just decided negative comments about that are too great.

 

[SRGTD]

I like it. I think it will appeal to quite a broad customer segment - both young and more mature drivers. The design is much more adventurous (better) than VW’s ID2 Polo and it’s pretty true to the early concept car pictures. I look forward to @Syphon’s forthcoming road test in due course.

As for the Plasma Iridescent paint colour on the launch car - I quite like it but it’s still a very subtle colour. I think Cupra have missed a trick by not having some brighter, more vibrant colour options as small cars can carry off brighter colours - e.g. Renault’s R5 where the colour choices include Pop Yellow and Pop Green, and Alpine’s signature blue colour (Blue Alpine). Looking at the Raval’s paint colour options in the brochure at the link posted by @jezyg, it’s pretty much the same (IMHO dull) range of colours that we’ve become accustomed to from Cupra.

Would I be an early adopter of the Raval? No I wouldn’t, but then I wouldn’t be an early adopter of any new car model to the market. I’d wait a couple of years to let the early adopters be the beta testers and give Cupra time to resolve any teething issues that are identified before I’d consider buying one.

 

[Tell]

On reliability we hope VAG have learnt their lesson with the 2020-2022 period with Mib3 and MQB Evo platform. You could kick your car down the road in buying a new one but a couple of developments coming on that new distributed central control brain across parts of the car rather than one central control. That American company that VAG have bought into and then the Chinese company VAG have bought into also, more automous driving and safety systems. Presumably the thinking is partnerships to spread the risk. Best brains and all that. I posted those up in the other section for info since they will have a bearing. The platform one is after this current one which has been said. Guess that's 2030 ish. So if waiting till then you'd be looking at those.

Then we have the Android based system in this. I know its suppose to be Linux based but I guess they are using tool kits to purpose the infotainment system in Android rather than low level coding. Bit like those Android implementation you can put on top of Windows. An Android toolkit that locks into the hardware below.

These "ID" ones which includes the Raval are the recovery new cars from when the wheels dropped of the VAG brand(s) and management became aware they had an issue as customers found they had those reliability issues of the early 2020s plus all the rest. Chief Exec sent down the plank and the VAG toolbox got refreshed after a re think. Cupra brings the design, the toolbox has the parts in it. Skoda has the new materiel design and VW has the ID design. All dip into the cherished VAG toolbox of parts. As for the toolbox and Seat it trundles until 2030 then gets a look in at the new parts is my understanding. Pass on what Audi are doing. So the Raval is part of the refreshed thinking taking bits out of the toolbox labelled Vag (VW) ID with Cupra Tribe design. Now that's EV only.

I'm more interested in developments on the Tavascan whether any on the Unyx models badged as Cupra will make it here or whether the Chinese build was a one off. Raval is a bit too small for me. Not too sure about seating height, I'd have to try it out. Would it replace an Arona or is it lower ?.

 

[Syphon]

Naughty door handles. Thomas (spelling) in the Autogefuhl video covers the phasing out of the retractable door in the video. Will be banned by China in new cars and since they lead the motor industry it will be global in a few years time. Think I mentioned that elsewhere but at the time didnt know Cupra was getting them.

Looks a nice car. Has that Spanish earth snake ripple effect on the inside plastic that goes across recent Cupras. Those handles were on the VW Unyx wonder if they will come (someone will probably say they have) to other European Vag cars or whether this will be only a Cupra thing, to this model. Downside your getting a car with door handles PRC dont like since they were not opening in accidents. Raval rebel.

I quite like the smartie paint work on the Skoda (disguise). I see they still don't like to put what model of car it is on the back. Saves paying extra to have it removed. Top of the range badge gets on thou... that's allowed. Had to walk round the front of one car at the weekend to check whether it was a Cupra, it wasnt. Perhaps thats the secret Cupras say what they are at the back but not the model.

BTW I see Scott's got more technical detail than Thomas... QAed them both. I still wouldn't trust getting the door handles out in an accident mind you... answer to what VW said unless it opens the doors before the body crumbles. Side impact, it would not know.

BTW2 taking the brochure link above I see it gets its own full rear wheel arch unlike the Ateca. They didnt have a need to push the cabin backwards to get rear leg space. May be with the battery taking up room they cant do that trick anymore ? or just decided negative comments about that are too great.

Yeah I asked CUPRA about the handles and safety I think I was the only person that did that was at the launch - jump to the point in the video where I mention CUPRA have it covered: