The Cupra Raval is a little car with a big attitude – Steve Fowler took a look around (Cupra)
If you still think electric cars are expensive, the new Cupra Raval is here to challenge that idea. Unveiled ahead of a summer 2026 launch, this compact all-electric hatchback is expected to start at around £23,000, putting it right at the centre of the increasingly competitive small EV market.
That’s a space that’s filling up quickly. Models such as the BYD Dolphin Surf, Fiat Grande Panda and Citroen e-C3 are already lowering the barrier to entry, while the Volkswagen Group is preparing its own family of small electric cars. The Raval shares its underpinnings with Volkswagen’s ID. Polo and ID. Cross, plus the Skoda Epiq. However, the Cupra is taking a very different approach.
Rather than focusing purely on affordability and simplicity, Cupra is pitching the Raval as something more expressive. The brand talks about “challenging convention” and bringing emotion and performance into a segment that’s often defined by sensible choices. And having spent time walking around the car and sitting inside it, that intent is clear.
The new Cupra Raval is just over four meters long and shares its advanced tech with other Volkswagen Group small cars (Cupra)
Despite measuring just over four metres long – 4,046mm to be precise – the Raval has far more presence than you might expect from a car of this size. The proportions are low and wide, helped by a chassis that sits 15mm lower than the standard MEB+ platform, which other Volkswagen family members share, while the track has also been widened to give it a more planted stance – the Raval is a small car, but it doesn’t really look or feel like one.
The front end is dominated by a sharp, almost aggressive ‘shark nose’ design, with slim Matrix LED headlights and an illuminated Cupra badge.
I’m a bit of a lighting geek, and the Raval leans heavily into that. There’s a proper welcome ceremony front and rear, and around the back you’ll even spot ‘Raval’ script integrated into the light signatures. It sounds like a small thing, but it adds to the sense that this is a car designed to stand out – and one designed as if it comes from a segment above.
The rear styling is particularly effective, with a full-width light bar, strong shoulder lines and a prominent diffuser on sportier models. The launch car’s Plasma paint is another highlight, shifting between colours depending on the light, while copper accents underline the brand’s usual design cues.
Crucially, though, this isn’t just about style. Cupra makes a big claim about the Raval combining the agility of a hatchback with the space of a larger car, and having had a proper look at it, there’s some substance behind that.
The boot is a case in point. At 430 litres, it’s properly generous for a car of this size, and more importantly it’s deep and usable for real-life situations. That’s helped by the way the battery is packaged flat under the floor, freeing up space in the back and not robbing rear headroom.
The Cupra Raval interior impresses with its quality and lighting tech, but an old-school touchscreen still has old-school problems (Cupra)
Inside, the same mix of theatre and usability continues. The dashboard is clean but distinctive, with a strong driver focus and a raised centre console that frees up additional storage space. I spent time checking over the materials and layout, and in this top-spec car at least, it feels more premium than you might expect at this price point.
The driving position is good, the steering wheel is chunky, and crucially there are proper physical buttons rather than a reliance on touch-sensitive controls. It’s a small detail, but it makes a difference to everyday usability.
Lighting is once again a key feature of the interior. Ambient lighting runs across the dashboard and around the cabin, but the standout feature is the projection system that casts animated graphics onto the door panels. It’s pure theatre, but it’s also something that genuinely sets the car apart in this segment.
The Cupra Raval is just over four meters long, yet has plenty of room for adults in the back (Cupra)
There’s more going on beneath the surface, too. The top-spec seats use a 3D-knitting process with 100 per cent recycled materials, while parts of the dashboard are 3D-printed. It’s the sort of detail that adds a bit of technical credibility to the premium feel.
Technology is another strong point. A 10.25-inch digital driver display sits ahead of you, while a 12.9-inch central touchscreen runs a new Android-based operating system – the first time this has been used in a Cupra. It brings access to more than 130 apps directly through the car, along with improved connectivity and voice control.
There’s also the option of a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, which should deliver a level of audio performance you wouldn’t normally expect in a small hatchback.
That said, it’s not all perfect. The infotainment hardware is familiar from other Volkswagen Group models, and it still has one of the same frustrations: Rest your thumb in the wrong place and you can easily change the volume or temperature by mistake. It’s a small issue, but a noticeable one.
The Cupra Raval’s boot is almost big enough to stand in! (Cupra)
Space in the back is another pleasant surprise. Sitting behind my own driving position, there’s enough legroom for adults, and headroom is decent even with the lovely panoramic roof. The flat floor and the ability to slide your feet under the front seats make a real difference, too. The only drawback is that the chunky front seats restrict the view forward slightly.
Under the skin, the Raval uses Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ platform, but with several tweaks to give it a more distinctive character. There’s a choice of two battery sizes: 37kWh and 52kWh. In real-world terms, that equates to roughly 180 miles of range for the smaller battery and up to around 280 miles for the larger one.
The larger battery also benefits from a cell-to-pack design, which improves energy density by around 10 per cent, helping to maximise both range and efficiency.
Charging performance is competitive for the class. The 52kWh battery supports DC rapid charging at up to 130kW, allowing a 10 to 80 per cent charge in around 23 minutes, while the smaller battery can achieve the same in 27 minutes at up to 90kW.
Illuminated LEDs at the front and the back perform a ‘welcome ceremony’ (Cupra)
Power outputs range from 114bhp to 223bhp, depending on the version. The range-topping VZ model – the one I’ve been looking around – gets the full 223bhp, along with a sportier chassis set-up that includes adaptive dampers with up to 15 levels of adjustment, an electronic differential to improve handling and a more focused suspension set-up.
There are also features designed to add a bit more character to the driving experience, including one-pedal driving and a bespoke ‘e-Launch’ function that combines lighting, sound and acceleration to create a more dramatic start from standstill.
Even without driving it, it’s clear that Cupra is aiming to make this the more engaging option in a class that often prioritises efficiency over enjoyment.
3D kitted seats and projected light on the doors elevate the Cupra Raval to almost premium car levels (Cupra)
That philosophy extends to the technology and safety systems, too. The Raval comes with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including Intelligent Park Assist, Remote Park Assist and Emergency Assist, along with a 360-degree camera system to make urban driving easier.
All of which helps position the Raval as more than just an entry-level EV. With prices expected to range from around £23,000 to roughly £35,000, it spans a broad part of the market, from affordable first EV to something approaching a small premium hatchback.
Based on this early look, it feels like Cupra has managed to combine style, substance and usability in a way that could make the Raval one of the more interesting small electric cars when it arrives in the UK next year. It looks good, feels well thought out inside and offers the sort of practicality buyers will need day to day.
The final piece of the puzzle will be how it drives. But if it delivers on the promise suggested by the design, engineering and attention to detail, the Raval could do exactly what Cupra intends – bring a bit more emotion into the affordable end of the EV market.
