2026 Cupra Raval review: sporty small hatchback put through its paces

On sale Autumn 2026 | Price £23,000 (est)

In a boy band, each member typically has their own trait. You’ll typically find an easily-recognised frontman who holds the band together, a heartthrob, a sensitive, artistic sort, and a bad boy.

You can say the same thing about VW Group’s ‘Fab Four’. You see, the brand is launching a quartet of small electric models in 2026 that share the same underpinnings but will be targeted towards different types of car buyer. There’s the Skoda Epiq, the sensible one; the Volkswagen ID Cross, the attractive, rugged one, and the Volkswagen ID Polo, the friendly, easily recognisable one.

And then there’s the Cupra Raval – the rebellious one. It’s aimed at buyers who want a sportier, more premium electric small car, meaning it will rival cars including the Alpine A290 and Mini Cooper Electric JCW. Indeed, Cupra hopes it will become its best-selling car in the UK.

Cupra Raval video review

From launch, buyers will be able to choose from two versions of the Raval. The cheaper V2 Launch Edition comes with a 208bhp electric motor that drives the front wheels. That’s more power than you get in an entry-level Alpine A290 (183bhp) or Mini Cooper Electric (187bhp).

The range-topping Raval VZ Extreme has a more powerful 223bhp electric motor, which helps it sprint from 0-62mph in less than 7.0sec. That’s slightly slower than an Alpine A290 GTS (6.4sec) and a Mini Cooper Electric JCW (5.9sec).

However, to help it feel sportier, the Raval VZ Extreme comes with a number of features missing on its key rivals. For instance, it has a limited slip differential (LSD) for better grip around corners, and adaptive suspension.

From the get-go, every Raval will feature a 52kWh (usable capacity) battery, which gives the Raval V2 Launch Edition an estimated 280-mile range. Because of its extra power, the VZ Extreme will likely only cover about 250 miles between charges, but that’s still an improvement on the Alpine A290’s official range (223 miles). In time, Cupra will release a cheaper version of the Raval, which will use a smaller 37kWh (usable capacity) battery and a less powerful motor.

In addition to trim levels, the Raval is also set to be one of the most customisable cars in the Cupra range. Drivers will be able to choose from up to eight wheel designs – spanning from 17in to 19in – and a hefty palette of colours. This includes a ‘Plasma Iridescent’ paint option, which changes shade from blue to red depending on light conditions.

What’s the Cupra Raval prototype like to drive?

Before it was officially revealed, we visited Cupra’s HQ in Barcelona to drive an early prototype of the Raval – specifically the range-topping VZ Extreme. 

We found the Raval puts down its power well, and without making the steering wheel writhe about in your hands under hard acceleration like the A290 does. Mind you, we’d actually prefer a bit more communication from the Raval’s steering – perhaps there’s a happy medium that could be achieved here. The steering is precise, sure, but judging the limits of front-end grip is not as easy as it is in the A290.

At least the Raval has plenty of front-end grip. There’s bucketloads, actually. The LSD works wonders at pulling you out of corners with great ferocity, while the rear feels planted and even manoeuvrable at the limit. The Raval does feel like it has more of a playful side to it than the A290.

You see, body control is that bit tighter here, aided by the VZ’s adaptive suspension. This feature gives the Raval a vast breadth of ability. You can stiffen the suspension up for when you find yourself on a twisty road or slacken it off for everyday, casual driving – and you really can feel the difference.  

When in Comfort mode, or if you’ve selected the softest setting via the configurable Individual mode, the ride is compliant and soft. We can see the Raval – like the A290 – being an easy car to drive and live with day-to-day. Certainly more so than firmer, busier rivals like the Mini Cooper Electric JCW and even small SUV alternatives, such as the Abarth 600e and Vauxhall Mokka GSE.  

The Raval also whips up a bit less road noise than those cars, while wind noise is nothing to worry about, either. There's a faint whine from the electric motor, but that can be covered up by the VZ's synthetic engine-like sound. Or not, if you prefer the tune of a light hum.

Oh, and a special mention goes out to the brake pedal. A fair few VW-group EVs (including the Cupra Tavascan) suffer from spongy brake pedals that result in a grabby response, but the Raval’s is much firmer and easier to modulate to achieve a smooth stop. Hallelujah!

What’s the Cupra Raval like inside?

The Raval’s interior shares more than a few design cues with larger Cupra models, including copper-coloured elements and a curvaceous dashboard. Despite having its fair share of hard plastics, the surfaces you most commonly touch are clad in reasonably plush materials. 

It certainly has plenty of visual appeal, too, with ambient lighting spanning across the dashboard and a variety of patterns being projected onto the front doors.

As standard, the Raval features a set of sports seats, which can be upgraded to a set of bucket seats which offer more side support around tight corners. These seats are clad in a 3D-knitted fabric made entirely from recycled materials.

Every Raval features a 12.9in touchscreen which uses a new Android-based infotainment system. It’s more intuitive and customisable than systems in larger Cupras, and has access to more than 130 different apps, including video streaming services such as Netflix.

Unfortunately, the Raval’s dashboard exchanges physical buttons for touch-sensitive sliders, which can be harder to operate while driving. Unlike the larger Cupra Born, however, the Raval’s steering wheel does feature tactile buttons.

The Raval offers plenty of room for passengers in the front, and more space for rear occupants than you get in an A290 or Mini Cooper Electric. Even so, six-footers will likely find their knees up against the front setbacks and their hair touching the headlining.

The Raval’s 430-litre boot is larger than an Alpine A290’s or Mini Cooper Electric’s. It comes with a height-adjustable floor as standard, and even in its lowest position still has space underneath for a charging cable.

Cupra Raval verdict

While we'd have appreciated some more communication from the steering, the prototype  showed positive signs all round. The driving experience in the range-topping VZ Extreme version gives the hot Alpine A290 a real run for its money, while soundly seeing off the Mini Cooper Electric JCW. 

What’s more, it offers more interior and boot space than those rivals, and enough plush materials and standard features to give it plenty of showroom appeal. 

Cupra has yet to announce official pricing for the Raval. However, it’s predicted that the V2 Launch Edition will cost around £28,000. That would make the Raval cheaper to buy than any A290 or an equivalent Mini Cooper Electric. 

What’s more, the subsequent entry-level version is anticipated to be priced at about £23,000, making the Raval closer in price to more affordable small EVs, including the Fiat Grande Panda and Renault 5.

Price £35,000 (est) Engine Electric motor Power 223bhp Torque 214lb ft Gearbox 1-spd automatic 0-62mph N/A Top speed N/A Official range 250 miles (est) CO2/tax 0g/km, 3%

Key rivals:

Alpine A290
Mini Cooper Electric JCW

Read more: The best electric cars

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