► 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.
Like the Born, the Raval’s name comes from a neighbourhood in Barcelona: El Raval. If we’re being honest here, El Raval is a rather notorious one with its historical links to crime and the stereotype of being a bit of a seedy underbelly of the city. More recently, though, it’s bloomed into a hub of nightlife, theatres, street art and cultural expression; these are the themes Cupra wants to lean in on.
The Raval takes plenty of Cupra’s design details and evolves them a bit, including its own version of the triangular DRL motif in the headlights and an aggressive stance. The front end is beset with angles that make it look almost shark-like, with squat proportions and a rear end that incorporates a now-familiar-for-Cupra full-width light bar. Other details include flush doorhandles and, depending on spec, wildly intricate alloy wheel designs.
Cupra is also keen to point out the range of paint colours for the Raval, including satin colours like the greenish-grey Manganese and the tint-shifting Plasma Iridescent (both pictured) that shifts between light blue, purple and a pinkish red depending on what light hits it.
What’s it like inside?
There are some familiar Cupra bits from other cars, and some details that make their debut on the Raval.
Elements like the button-heavy steering wheel from other Cupra models remains. As well as myriad controls for the new-generation instrument cluster and its revised graphics, there are specific drive mode and Cupra mode buttons for quick access to settings for changing the Raval’s dynamics.
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.
Depending on your spec, you’ll be able to choose from a range of interior upholstery types. Particular highlights include a vegan ‘leather’ and an intricate fabric weave on the sportiest Cup bucket seats that’s inspired by the breathable ‘flyknit’ fabric used by the likes of Nike for its trainers. Those top-spec Cup seats are pretty serious, too, with firm bolstering and good adjustment.
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.
Two battery sizes are confirmed: a 37kWh LFP battery pack for cheaper trims and a 52kWh NMC one for more luxe ones. The LFP battery charges at a max 11kW AC or 90kW DC, while the larger battery pack can charge at a quicker 130kW on a DC fast charge – and you can spec vehicle-to-load technology that powers devices from the car.
Core starts the spec off, using a 114bhp electric motor and the 37kWh battery. The brand claims a 186-mile WLTP range here, which is very close to the 192-mile claim for the base-spec Renault 5 ‘Urban Range’ variant.
V1 and V2 specs can use either battery pack. If you choose the smaller battery, it’s mated to a 133bhp e-motor for a claimed range potential of around 186 miles. Choose the bigger battery and the power jumps to 208bhp and a 280-mile claimed range, making this the longest-range version of the Raval you can choose.
What’s so special about the Raval VZ model?
This is Cupra’s focus for the Raval’s unveiling, making plenty of fuss about this top version. As a reminder, VZ is short for ‘veloz’ in Spanish (literally meaning ‘speed’ in English) and is the brand’s performance-focused tag.
Naturally, the Raval VZ is the most powerful – it develops 223bhp – and it uses the larger (and faster charging) 52kWh battery pack for around 249 miles of claimed range. Cupra offers us some other performance stats for the VZ, including confirming a sub-seven-second 0-62mph sprint and a top speed of 109mph.
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.
