Cupra Terramar long-term test
With its racy demeanour, does the Cupra Terramar put the sport in sport utility vehicle? We've got six months to find out.....
The car Cupra Terramar V2 1.5 e-Hybrid 204PS DSG Run by Stuart Milne, digital editor
Why it’s here To see if the Terramar could be a practical, low-cost Porsche Macan alternative
Needs to deliver the driving experience those looks promise, while being an economical family workhorse
Miles covered 2991 Price £47,195 Target price £40,890 Price as tested £47,890 Official economy 176.5mpg Test economy 84.3mpg
17 December 2025 – Cable guy
“I’m gonna get myself connected, the writing’s on the wall” sang Stereo MC’s way back in 1992. Of course, back then no one, particularly an electronic pop band, could've predicted the rise of the plug-in hybrid.
So it was almost prescient when the ‘MC’s hit shuffled into my Cupra Terramar’s Spotify playlist just as I crossed the pavement onto my driveway recently.
That’s because connecting it to the mains via my wallbox feels like more of a rigmarole than it does with other plug-in hybrids and electric cars I’ve owned. And that comes down to the position of the charging port.
Most other cars I’ve hooked up to my home EV charger wear their socket behind a flap on the nearside rear wing. That means I can reverse my car onto the drive, positioning the charging port close enough to the wallbox to conveniently plug in. It also means that when I disconnect it, I’m two steps away from the boot, where I can chuck the cable in and drive away.
The Cupra Terramar’s charging port is on the nearside front wing, which means I need to park the family SUV nose-in, and then stretch the cable right across my front door, creating an obvious trip hazard. It also means I need to reverse off my drive, which given how narrow my street is, and the number of parked cars, is something I prefer not to do.
Of course, whether that’s a problem depends entirely on where your charger is located relative to your driveway, and is something to consider if you're choosing a car with a plug. For me, it’s not insurmountable, but it is a mild irritation and is compounded by having to walk all the way around the car to unplug from both ends and chuck the cable in the boot.
Better is the Cupra app, which does much the same as other similar apps, but so far I’ve found it unerringly reliable – which isn’t a given with some other cars. The app lets me lock and unlock the car remotely, check the doors and windows are shut and – more importantly right now – pre-heat the interior so it’s toasty before I leave in the morning.
There’s also a ‘Tribe’ section, which allows you to enter ballots for free tickets to sports events, such as Baller League football matches and a raft of concerts – although the Stereo MC’s are – predictably – absent.
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