Overview

Back in February, we attended the CUPRA Raval's exclusive media presentation, which let us get up close to the Spanish brand's new city EV – but not drive it. Now we're back in Barcelona, where the Raval was conceived, engineered and built, to finally get behind the wheel. We also know the price, and it's competitive: the range starts from £23,785 and tops out at £36,310.

CUPRA says the Raval isn't just another city car, but a "radical reinterpretation of urban electric mobility" that proves EVs can deliver design, performance and emotion in equal measure. That's a bold claim, and one car immediately springs to mind that already ticks those boxes: the Renault 5 E-Tech, which is over £2,000 cheaper.

Buyers wanting a sportier, more premium small EV might also look at the Alpine A290 and MINI Cooper Electric, though both cost more than the Raval. If budget is the priority, the Hyundai Inster,Fiat Grande Panda, Nissan Micra and Peugeot e-208 are all cheaper, but none deliver the same emotional design or engaging performance.

The Raval launches with three exclusive editions – Dynamic, Dynamic Plus and VZ Extreme – followed by four regular versions. The entry-level 85kW (114bhp) Raval and 99kW (133bhp) Raval Plus use a 37kWh LFP battery with DC fast charging as standard. Above them sit the 155kW (208bhp) Endurance and 166kW (223bhp) VZ, both with a larger 52kWh battery. There's also a wide range of personalisation options – a different approach to the one many Chinese rivals are taking.

Driving

The Raval sits on the Volkswagen Group's MEB+ platform but, unlike most of its siblings, it's front-wheel drive. A new APP290 motor and a cell-to-pack battery save weight and space, keeping the Raval to around 1,600kg.

We drove the range-topping VZ Extreme, which packs 223bhp and 214lb-ft of torque – perfectly judged for a car of this size. The 0-62mph sprint takes 6.8 seconds, and it feels punchy where it matters.

Sitting 15mm lower with a 10mm-wider track, the VZ is set up to reward keen drivers more than its Volkswagen ID. Polo, ID. Cross and Skoda Epiq siblings. It genuinely has the character of a Ford Fiesta ST: turn-in is eager, body control is excellent and there's barely any roll, yet it never feels twitchy. An electronic limited-slip differential and adjustable Dynamic Chassis Control help it power cleanly out of corners.

The Raval is also the first Volkswagen Group EV with rear disc brakes rather than drums, and the difference compared with the drum-braked CUPRA Born is night and day. The pedal is natural and consistent, with none of the awkward blending between regenerative and friction braking you get in many EVs. One-pedal driving is smooth and brings the car to a complete stop.

The variable-ratio steering offers real weight and feedback, something often missing in EVs. On 19-inch wheels the ride has a firm edge, but it's never fidgety and stays composed over bumps.

There are three drive modes – Comfort, Performance and CUPRA – plus a more relaxed ESC Sport setting, and ESC can be switched off entirely. A subtle Formula E-inspired synthetic sound adds engagement under acceleration without trying to mimic a petrol engine.

Range and running costs

The VZ we drove uses a 52kWh lithium-ion battery, good for an official range of up to 273 miles. That’s impressive for a small, performance-focused EV, and in mixed real-world driving we’d expect somewhere around 220-240 miles, dropping further in cold weather or if you make regular use of that eager acceleration.

DC rapid charging peaks at 105kW, which means a 10-80 per cent top-up takes around 24 minutes – enough time to grab a coffee. Plugged into an 11kW home wallbox or public AC charger, a full charge takes around five and a half hours. Cheaper versions get a smaller 37kWh LFP battery, which will offer less range but should suit buyers who mostly drive around town.

CUPRA is offering its own home charger, along with a monthly subscription that unlocks exclusive charging discounts. The Raval also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology, so you can power appliances from the car’s battery – handy for camping, or for making a cuppa during a power cut.

All models come with a five-year/90,000-mile vehicle warranty, which is more generous than the three years offered by many rivals.

Design

With its compact proportions, muscular stance and sharp lines, the Raval is a ballsy-looking thing that makes a bold statement on the road. Signature details include Matrix LED headlights, flush illuminated door handles and an illuminated CUPRA logo. The design is purposeful too: the Raval has the lowest aerodynamic drag of any CUPRA model, and its 235mm-wide tyres are the widest in its class, which helps both its stance and its grip. The VZ Extreme adds unique wheels and exterior details finished in a striking Sulphur colour.

Inside, the cabin is driver-focused and feels genuinely sporty. CUPRA has made a lot of fuss about the lighting. Smart Light Generation integrates lighting into the dashboard to give visual feedback from driver assistance systems, such as blind spot detection, and plays distinct animations during key performance moments, including the e-launch function. There’s also an Ambient Dash light with a cascade effect and selectable moods, plus dynamic door projections that CUPRA says are unique in the market. We wondered if they’d be distracting on the move but, in practice, they’re subtle enough to fade into the background. The suspended centre console is a neat touch, too, freeing up extra storage beneath.

Comfort and practicality

The Raval uses a new Android-powered 12.9-inch infotainment system with native apps. It’s slick and responsive, but the climate controls are integrated into the screen and operated via touch sliders, which proves not every Volkswagen Group lesson has been fully learned. Physical buttons for the temperature would be far easier to use on the move. On a more positive note, there’s an optional 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system with 475 watts of output, and you can unlock, start and even share the car using your smartphone.

Despite being only around four metres long, the Raval is surprisingly versatile inside. Our almost six-foot-tall tester had plenty of head and legroom in the back. The boot is a strong point too, offering 441 litres of space plus a double floor – more than many rivals in this class.

The VZ Extreme gets CUPRA’s supportive Ahead CUP bucket seats trimmed in 3D-knit textile, in place of the Feel or Immersive bucket seats fitted lower down the range. They hold you firmly in place in corners without being uncomfortable on longer journeys. This version also adds a top-view camera, Intelligent Park Assist with remote and trained parking functions, a tow hook pre-installation and Travel Assist 3.0, a semi-autonomous system with traffic jam and emergency assist.

Verdict

The CUPRA Raval feels like something genuinely special. It’s small, affordable and electric but, more importantly, it’s properly fun – it makes you smile when you look at it, and even more so when you’re behind the wheel. Sharp steering, superb body control and the best brake pedal we’ve tried in a Volkswagen Group EV make it a true hot hatch for the electric age.

The Renault 5 E-Tech remains a slightly cheaper alternative, and we’d like physical climate controls, but the Raval’s sub-£24,000 starting price, usable range and roomy cabin make it one of the most desirable affordable EVs on sale. It looks set to do something few small EVs have managed: make going electric feel like a want, not a compromise.

Key Specs

CUPRA Raval

Price (RRP OTR): From £23,785, £36,310 as tested
Top speed: 99–109 mph (dependent on model)
0-62mph: 6.8–7.1 seconds (dependent on model)
Power: 166kW (223bhp)
Torque: 214lb-ft
Driving range (combined): 273 miles
Charging time: 5.5hrs (11kW, 0-100%), 24min (105kW, 10-80%)
Insurance group: 20–22 (dependent on model)
Vehicle warranty: 5 years / 90,000 miles
Battery warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles