► New Cupra Raval officially revealed
► Prices start at £23k for base Core model…
► …while hot VZ model will fight Alpine and Abarth
Cupra has officially revealed its new electric Raval supermini. The Raval is the brand’s smallest production car yet, and one that’s designed to fight everything from the base-spec Renault 5 right up to electric hot hatches like the Alpine A290 and Abarth 600e.
The new Raval is the first in a line of small electric cars launching from the VW Group, with the youthful and design-focused Spanish brand beating both Volkswagen (with its ID. Polo) and Skoda (with the new Epiq) to the punch. That makes sense, though, as Cupra (and, to a wider extent, the whole Seat S.A. group) have taken the lead on platform development for these small cars and manufactures them in Martorell, Spain.
Keep scrolling for our full Cupra Raval debrief.
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Haven’t we seen the Raval before?
In a few places, yes. We first saw a supermini wearing Cupra clothes via the UrbanRebel concept in 2021, which was a fever dream from the mind of former CEO Wayne Griffiths of a sporty car that we’d all be racing in the metaverse. The whole metaverse thing quickly fizzled out, but then Cupra formally unveiled the Raval concept car in 2023 to cement its intentions of making a small EV to sit below the Born.
Shame the screen is largely the same as other Cupras, too. It’s big and glossy, but clings on to the touch panel temperature sliders for climate control that have plagued VW Group products for some time. This marks a departure from the Raval and the upcoming ID. Polo, which has an interior concept that brings back physical controls for certain functions. This is the first Cupra with a Google Android-based OS, though, and the brand has enabled the installation of various apps like YouTube, so you have something to watch while you charge.
Rear space is pretty good for tall adults (having sat in the back myself at 6’2” with my driving position set), making the Raval a better option for those regularly carrying taller or adults in the second row. Packaging benefits from the new MEB Plus platform means a big boot space, too;
Any specs or performance details?
Plenty. The Raval is designed as a B-segment supermini, measuring 4046mm in length, 1784mm wide and 1518mm tall – and all Raval models are front-wheel drive using the VW Group’s new MEB Plus architecture that aims to lower the cost of EV manufacturing and improve packaging. The Raval is the first car to launch on this platform, with VW’s new ID. Polo and ID. Cross inbound soon, as well as the Skoda Epiq launching in the summer of 2026.
Like the Formentor and Born, Cupra is positioning the Raval to compete with low-cost examples in its segment right up to high-performance ones. That means the range starts with a base Raval ‘Core’ model that’s designed to fight base-spec Renault 5 trims, raises through V1 and V2 specifications and tops out with a high-performance hot hatch VZ flagship you see pictured that aims to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Alpine A290 or upcoming Corsa GSE.
Pretty reasonable, if not spectacular, performance then. But Cupra says it’s more about the sensation, with details like dynamic chassis control-enabled suspension, larger 19-inch wheels with wider tyres applied, launch control (nicknamed E-Launch) and the ability to turn the traction control completely off all included to make the Raval feel chuckable. The real kicker, though, is the inclusion of a limited-slip differential – something the likes of the Alpine A290 doesn’t have.
A lot of this tech will also end up on the new VW ID. Polo GTI, so it will be interesting to see how Volkswagen differentiates that from the Raval. Either way, we’ve already driven a prototype of the new Cupra Raval and came away very impressed; new cars editor Ted Welford said that the Raval ‘feels like a strong contender in the electric hot hatch class.’
How much is the new Cupra Raval – and when can I buy one?
Cupra has confirmed that prices for the Raval will start from £23,000 for that base Core model, with our intel suggesting a price north of £35k for that flagship VZ model. The first models will arrive in the summer of 2026.
Note those prices are before any UK Government electric car grant is applied and, given much of the Raval is designed and engineered in Europe, there’s a decent chance it will qualify for the higher amount – shaving more off the price.
Beyond that, Cupra is launching a pair of special editions at the start of sales: the V2 Launch Edition and VZ Extreme. Both come with a tonne of options list boxes ticked.
Context:
Cupra's new Raval starts at £23k and aims to compete with Alpine A290 and Abarth 600e hot hatches.
Context:
This marks VW Group's first small EV launch, potentially reshaping the affordable electric hot hatch market.
Context:
The Raval name comes from Barcelona's El Raval neighborhood, known for its vibrant street art and nightlife scene.