Cupra Terramar 2025 review

It’s likely you’re looking at Cupra Australia’s next best-selling model. For now, the Formentor midsize SUV is the Spanish brand’s favourite vehicle locally mainly due to its cool styling coupled with excellent sporty dynamics (because it’s essentially a slightly raised up hot-hatch).

But when it arrives early in 2025, the Terramar will land slap in the middle of the hotbed that is the premium midsize SUV market.

It has bags of the trademark Cupra design swagger including a new family resemblance that’s spreading to all models, plus there’s a heap of impressive new tech and it has a reasonable practical proposition too.

We were given a chance to drive the Terramar just hours after its global debut in Barcelona, Spain. And while it was only a short spin, it was enough to recognise its playful ride and handling, sporty engine and cool interior that are fast becoming trademarks of the brand.

Yet-to-be-confirmed pricing and exact specification will no doubt be the final deciding factors, but we’re inclined to think that the newest model to roll out of the Cupra sporty SUV stable has the right stuff to attract a strong following in Australia.

It’s important to point out that production of the Terramar had not yet started at the point we had our first drive and any build quality or other anomalies may be down to the hand-assembled pre-production vehicle we were offered – not that there was anything significant to report.

Pricing and specification are still to be confirmed but already shaping up ahead of a local launch at the end of the year. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a staring price of about $55,000 before on-road costs, we’re told.

Like the other models on sale in Australia the entry version will likely wear a V badge while pricier and sportier variants are likely to flesh out the range with VZ and VZx. There’s also the possibility of a VZe plug-in hybrid.

Our test car was equipped with a high-powered version of the widespread EA888 2.0-litre turbo engine sending 195kW to all four wheels – denoted by Cupra 4Drive – and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

There are five powertrain options depending on the regional market including a mild-hybrid 1.5-litre and more serious plug-in hybrid that has 200kW and a decent-sized 19.7kWh battery allowing it to travel more than 100km claimed on electric alone.

It’s also compatible with 50kW charging, which means it’s not just a relatively long-range PHEV but offers fast recharging as well.

Wheel sizes measure form 18-inch to 20 inches while special colours include Century Bronze and Enceladus Grey for the full satin Cupra look.

Adaptive dampers are available but may only be included as standard on the most performance focused VZx, while the same applies to an optional Akebono brake package with 375mm discs and six-pot calipers.

All versions have the full digital suite of 10.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.9-inch central screen along with head-up display. Wireless device charging is also included as is wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

A couple of sustainable materials are available for some Terramar interior upholstery with up to 100 percent recycled plastic used in the Seaqual textile that’s made from reclaimed maritime waste, or the Dynamic synthetic suede, which is up to 73 percent recycled PET bottles.

Meanwhile, higher-spec variants be fitted with a posh 390-watt Sennheiser 12-speaker sound system.

The plug-in hybrid is the really interesting powertrain, with the new Terramar offering a combined power output of 200kW and a decent dose of electric torque. We think it could be a compelling option as the ‘one car to do it all’ especially given its long pure-electric range.

However, that test will have to wait for a local arrival and, instead, we got to sample the 2.0-turbo which shares a drivetrain with the updated Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf GTI, albeit with all-wheel drive instead of front drive as found in the hot hatch.

Despite being housed in a heavier SUV shell, the eager engine delivers great performance with the 400Nm calibrated to come in low and fast, and the sensation with mid-gear acceleration has an almost electrified feel. Cupra claims a 0-100km/h in just 5.9 seconds.

Its platform – the ubiquitous MQB Evo – provides a supple and sporty basis to build a good allrounder as it has many times before. There’s a heap of Cupra’s signature sharp steering feel to differentiate this model from similar cars in the Volkswagen Group stables, such as the Tiguan and the Audi A3, and the nose has an excellent turn-in.

Generally speaking, the Terramar is quick on its feet, negotiating windy roads easily when pushed and plenty of confident grip but it can feel a little tall and narrow. It’s not manifested through excessive body roll but a strange sensation that the chassis is capable of changing direction faster than the rest of the car.

It’s only really present when really pushing on and for most spirited driving the Terramar strikes an excellent balance of fun and comfort – the cruising ability is really spot on with a ride that’s satisfyingly firm and never crashes through potholes or big bumps – despite the attractive large wheels.

A spell of wet weather also demonstrated that most owners would prefer the all-wheel-drive system, which had no issues with traction and, combined with the slick seven-speed dual-cutch auto, was capable of being aggressive and eager but also benign and smooth.

The drivetrain manages to be almost mute when pottering about but makes a lovely satisfying four-cylinder sound when working harder. There’s no fake engine sound that we could detect.

The Terramar’s interior is immediately recognisable as a Cupra cabin with pleasant geometric patterning on some surfaces and unusual fabrics on others. Refreshingly, nothing is trying to be something it isn’t such as fake leather or mock carbon-fibre with a focus on pleasant tactile surfaces that also happen to look good too.

There’s also a good dusting of the company’s signature copper highlights and some interesting colour choices although this will be largely dictated by the variant, spec and if Cupra will allow you to add flair with options.

It’s not the most outlandish interior you’ll find in a Cupra in terms of design or layout – for that, look no further than the Tavascan, but the Terramar interior still manages to be memorable but not for the wrong reasons.

Actually, it’s a lot like the layout and theme found in the Born and Formentor interiors with cool ambient lighting and some good ergonomic touches such as a central screen that’s angled to the driver.

Previous Cupra information and entertainment systems had been a little unorthodox with graphics that were agreeable but functionality that wasn’t quite so intuitive. However, the new version is much improved.

It took no time to work out where everything was – we’ve been spending a bit of time with the family lately – but the updated system is fast to function, we love the graphics and there are some good native features.

There are plenty of places to hide things about the cabin such as a deep central pocket below the screen with wireless charging and two USB-C points and we particularly liked the LED pinstripe that extends through the lower edge of the windscreen into both door trims in a continuous arc.

The seats in the front row of our test car were not the most deeply supportive encountered in a Cupra model but a fine balance of firm cushioning and adequate support for more daily duties. It’s a similar story in the second row where you’ll find good space for adults and small people.

At the very back there is more than 600 litres of storage and a generous boot which is not just voluminous but a good shape for tackling weird shaped or awkward items.

A full review of the various safety features on offer will have to wait until after the Terramar’s arrival in Australia when the full standard suite of passive and active systems will be known.

As a preview though, Cupra has included a respectable amount of kit and features to make every trip as safe as possible.

Available to the model are driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring (which works after the vehicle has been switched off for exiting passengers), pre-crash sensing (which prepares the vehicle for a potential impact by monitoring the vehicle’s dynamics) and parking sensors.

There are also seven airbags, and LED matrix headlights that can pinpoint potential hazards by directing a focused beam of light at them. Autonomous emergency braking with vulnerable road user detection is standard fitment in the lineup.

One feature we sampled and were impressed by was the predictive adaptive cruise control, which not only regulates the vehicle’s speed according to leading vehicles but can also use information from the navigation system and GPS location.

With ACC switched on, the Terramar will automatically slow down according to changes in the way ahead such as traffic congestion or approaching bends/roundabouts. This is an interesting evolution of the adaptive cruise control system found on many cars these days and another step toward more hands-off autonomous driving.

The Terramar is not the most radical or progressive model in the Cupra line-up. Instead, it leaves that mantle to vehicles like the Tavascan with its arresting design inside and out, along with a pure-electric powertrain.

Instead, the newest model in the range is all about offering a good dose of the typical Cupra styling as well as the company’s trademark sharp steering and handling, wrapped up in a more conventional package. And that’s not ‘conventional’ in a bad way.

It still manages to stand out from the crowd, especially when it’s dressed up in one of the cool satin metallic colours, copper flashes and rolling on the largest 20-inch wheels, but at no point will it punish the owner with compromises for choosing something a little bit different.

Critically though, the newest model fills arguably the largest gap in the brand’s current lineup with an option that’s not too divisive while still offering a number of unique USPs.

As the brand transitions into more electrified models, the Terramar will continue to offer something for almost everyone.