In association with Pod
Electric Car Awards 2025: Readers' choice
What Car? readers were given a 14-car shortlist, and asked to vote for the upcoming electric model that they're most excited about seeing in showrooms...
Cupra Raval
On sale Early 2026 | Price from £25,000 (est)
It was neck and neck between the Cupra Raval and Renault Twingo in the early days of voting for the most exciting electric car coming soon. Ultimately, though, Cupra’s answer to the Mini Cooper Electric and Renault 5 (R5) garnered a third of all the votes cast, to see off not only the Twingo but also 12 other electric contenders that are due to arrive in showrooms within the next year.
So, what’s so special about the Raval? Well, it’s certainly eye-catching. In keeping with Cupra’s sporty image, it has an aggressive look that combines sharp lines with sleek, triangular headlights and a prominent front grille.
And while we’re yet to see the interior of the finished car, the concept that previewed it featured a striking floating centre console (similar to the one in the Cupra Tavascan SUV), a wide central touchscreen and video game console-style physical controls on the steering wheel.
This last feature, in particular, is one that we hope is retained, because it should improve usability compared with the Cupra Born, with its fiddly touch-sensitive controls.
The Raval is part of a trio of sister models that will be built alongside each other and use the same underpinnings; the other siblings are the Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID 2.
Like its relatives, the Raval should be available with 38kWh and 56kWh battery options, with the latter likely to deliver an official range of more than 270 miles.
As for power, we expect a 231bhp version to top the initial line-up, with a nippy 0-62mph time of 6.9sec. However, Cupra will later introduce a hotter VZ variant to take on the Alpine A290 and Cooper Electric JCW.
It has long been promised that the Raval/Epiq/ID 2 trio will cost from around €20,000 (£17,500), which would see them undercut the cheapest Cooper Electric (£26,905) and R5 (£22,995).
However, more recently Cupra has confirmed that – in line with the brand’s more upmarket positioning – it will ask a premium for the Raval over the equivalent Skoda and Volkswagen. With that in mind, a £25,000 starting price seems more realistic when order books open.
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