Cupra Tavascan
Specs, engines and history
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By Felix Hartmann, Automotive Technology & EV Contributor
Which Tavascan to choose
Our verdict · Felix Hartmann
- For the longest range: the Endurance, with up to 568 km WLTP and lower consumption.
- For all-weather traction and acceleration: the VZ, with all-wheel drive and 5.5 seconds to 100 km/h.
- For frequent long trips: either version; both charge at up to 135 kW DC.
- For the lowest price: the Endurance, listed in Spain from €52,010 in May 2024.
Cupra is the performance brand of SEAT, part of the Volkswagen Group, based in Martorell near Barcelona. The name is short for "Cup Racing" and first appeared in 1996 on the SEAT Ibiza GTI 2.0 16V Cupra Sport. For two decades it marked SEAT's fastest versions, until Cupra became a separate brand with a launch event on 22 February 2018. Its first model not shared with SEAT was the Formentor of 2020, and the range now includes the electric Born, the León, the Terramar and the Tavascan.
The Cupra Tavascan is an electric SUV coupé on the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform. It was unveiled in production form on 21 April 2023 and is built in China by Volkswagen Anhui, where the same car is sold as the Volkswagen ID.Unyx. Two versions are offered in Europe: the rear-wheel-drive Endurance with 210 kW (286 PS) and the all-wheel-drive VZ with 250 kW (340 PS). Both use a 77 kWh battery.
In short
- Concept shown at the IAA in Frankfurt in 2019; production from December 2023 in Hefei, China; sales from June 2024.
- 77 kWh net (82 kWh gross) battery, up to 568 km WLTP for the Endurance and 522 km for the VZ.
- 0–100 km/h in 6.8 s (Endurance) or 5.5 s (VZ); top speed 180 km/h for both.
- Euro NCAP 2024: five stars; in Spain the Endurance First Edition cost €52,010 in May 2024.
Cupra Tavascan at a glance
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Production | since December 2023, Volkswagen Anhui, Hefei, China |
| Platform | Volkswagen Group MEB |
| Body | five-door SUV coupé |
| Length / width / height | 4,644 / 1,861 / 1,597 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,766 mm |
| Battery | 77 kWh net, 82 kWh gross, NMC cells |
| Power | 210 kW (286 PS) RWD; 250 kW (340 PS) AWD |
| Range (WLTP) | 542–568 km (Endurance); 512–522 km (VZ) |
| Charging | 11 kW AC; 135 kW DC, 10–80 % in 28 minutes |
| Kerb weight | 2,178 kg (Endurance); 2,273 kg (VZ) |
| Boot | 540 litres |
| Drag coefficient | 0.27 |
| Chinese twin | Volkswagen ID.Unyx |
From the 2019 concept to Chinese production
Cupra showed the Tavascan as an SUV-coupé concept at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 2019. In September 2021 it presented the Tavascan Extreme E Concept, a racing study for the electric off-road series. The production car was unveiled on 21 April 2023.
The Tavascan is built in China. Production started in December 2023 at Volkswagen Anhui in Hefei, a joint venture in which Volkswagen holds 75 % and the JAC Group 25 %. In China, where Cupra has no dealer network, the car is sold with small changes as the Volkswagen ID.Unyx. European sales began in June 2024.
Electric drive, battery and performance
Both versions use a permanent-magnet synchronous motor at the rear. The VZ adds an asynchronous motor at the front, which gives it all-wheel drive. Figures are taken from Cupra's Spanish technical data sheet.
| Version | Drive | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | Kerb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance | rear-wheel | 210 kW (286 PS) | 545 Nm | 6.8 s | 180 km/h | 2,178 kg |
| VZ | all-wheel | 250 kW (340 PS) | 545 Nm rear + 134 Nm front | 5.5 s | 180 km/h | 2,273 kg |
German Wikipedia gives the outputs of the two motors as 210 kW (286 PS) at the rear and 80 kW (109 PS) at the front; the combined maximum of the VZ is 250 kW. The VZ weighs 95 kg more and is 1.3 seconds quicker to 100 km/h. Power-to-weight is about 96 kW per tonne for the Endurance and 110 kW per tonne for the VZ.
Range, consumption and charging
The battery holds 82 kWh gross, of which 77 kWh can be used. Cupra quotes the following WLTP values:
| Version | Consumption | Range (WLTP) |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | 15.2–16.0 kWh/100 km | 542–568 km |
| VZ | 16.5–16.8 kWh/100 km | 512–522 km |
German Wikipedia gives "up to 569 km", one kilometre more than the data sheet. A full charge on an 11 kW wallbox takes about eight hours. On a DC charger the Tavascan accepts up to 135 kW and goes from 10 to 80 % in 28 minutes. Electric models with longer range and bigger batteries are compared in our car rankings.
Design, body and practicality
The Tavascan is 4,644 mm long with a 2,766 mm wheelbase. The sloping roofline of an SUV coupé is combined with a 540-litre boot. The drag coefficient is 0.27. Its MEB platform is the same one used by the Volkswagen ID.4.
Safety: Euro NCAP rating
Euro NCAP tested the Tavascan in November 2024 and awarded five stars. It scored 89 % for adult occupants, 86 % for children, 80 % for vulnerable road users and 79 % for safety assist. Crash-test results for other models are collected in our car safety section.
Prices and sales
In Spain, Cupra's home market, the Tavascan Endurance First Edition was listed at €52,010 in May 2024, before discounts and promotions, according to Motor.es. The same report gave Spanish prices in 2024 of €51,510 for the Volkswagen ID.5 and €60,320 for the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron.
Germany registered 1,601 Tavascans in the first sales year. In China, where it is sold as the ID.Unyx, sales were 2,341 in 2024 and 9,434 in 2025. Cupra's line-up lists a facelift for 2026.
The Cupra brand and the Formentor
Cupra's growth came mostly from the Formentor. Brand sales rose from 81,839 in 2021 to 170,632 in 2022 and 246,749 in 2023, and the Formentor accounted for 124,670 of the 2023 total. The compact SUV has its own article on the site: the Cupra Formentor guide. SEAT's background is in our history of SEAT, and all models are listed in the Cupra catalogue.
The Tavascan name also has a racing side. Cupra Racing, the former SEAT Sport, lists three electric projects: the E-TCR touring car of 2018, the E-Racer of 2020 and the Tavascan Extreme E of 2021. In March 2024 Cupra announced plans to enter the United States by the end of the decade, with a next-generation electric Formentor and a larger electric model built in Mexico. Markus Haupt is the brand's chief executive.
Photo gallery
FAQ
Where is the Cupra Tavascan built?
In Hefei, China, by Volkswagen Anhui, a joint venture of Volkswagen and JAC.
What is the range of the Cupra Tavascan?
Up to 568 km WLTP for the rear-wheel-drive Endurance and up to 522 km for the all-wheel-drive VZ.
How fast does the Tavascan charge?
Up to 135 kW DC, which takes the battery from 10 to 80 % in 28 minutes; AC charging is 11 kW.
Is the Cupra Tavascan the same as the VW ID.Unyx?
Yes. In China the car is sold with small changes as the Volkswagen ID.Unyx.
Is the Cupra Tavascan safe?
Euro NCAP gave it five stars in November 2024, with 89 % for adult occupant protection.
