Cupra Raval revealed, coming to Australia with entry-level and VZ hot hatch grades

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Today’s premiere of the Cupra Raval electric hot hatch is far more important than it seems.

The feistily styled, Spanish-built Raval represents the tip of the spear of the Volkswagen Group’s long-promised fight-back against small, accessible Chinese EVs.

@chasingcarsaustralia

$40K for an electric hot hatch, and it looks like this 👀 The CUPRA RAVAL has e-LSD, 19-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, sports steering knuckles and around 1550kg weight (not bad for an EV). We’ll drive it soon, but what are your thoughts? #cupra #cupraraval #cars #hothatch #carsoftiktok

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Sitting beneath the Raval is an all-new platform that is much cheaper to assemble and one that is paired with LFP and NMC batteries made in-house by the Volkswagen Group — right next to the Raval’s assembly line.

Raval is the start of Cupra and Volkswagen’s affordable EV strategy

While Cupra designed the underpinnings of the MEB Entry platform used by the Raval, the same chassis will soon slot beneath Volkswagen’s ID Polo hatch and ID Cross small SUV, plus the Skoda Epiq crossover.

Set to launch in the coming months in Europe with an entry price of 26,000 euros ($42,000 AUD at the time of writing), the Raval targets cars like the BYD Dolphin and MG4 while promising to justify a slightly higher price point than those vehicles.

The new Raval tells us a great deal about where the Volkswagen Group is going next in terms of the affordable part of its lineup.

A bid to cut down on cabling costs sees the Raval run a front-wheel drive layout rather than the rear-driven nature of Cupra’s other EVs — the Born hatch and Tavascan midsize SUV.

Wide choice of Raval grades with between 85kW and 166kW of power

While the cheapest versions will offer just 85kW of power, paired with a 37kWh LFP battery for around 300km range (WLTP estimate), hotter and rangier versions will be on offer.

These include the Raval Endurance, which makes 155kW and wrings 450km WLTP (est) from its 52kWh NMC battery, and the Raval VZ, which has 166kW, an e-LSD, progressive steering, adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels in stickier tyres, while claiming 400km range.

While 11kW AC charging is standard, DC charging speeds range from 90kW peak for the LFP pack (27 minutes 10-80%) to 130kW peak for the NMC battery (23 minutes 10-80%). 

The quickest Raval, the VZ, will accelerate from 0-100km/h in a reasonably snappy 6.9 seconds. The Raval will offer strong one-pedal driving via a ‘one box’ integrated braking system, while the VZ will allow drivers to fully deactivate stability control if they choose to.

Cupra Australia is hoping to launch the Raval possibly in late 2027 though an early 2028 arrival could be more realistic, as strong European demand needs to be satisfied first.

Plans are being made for the local lineup to include top-and-tail models at different price points.

“With the Raval, similar to the normal range that we have, you will have the entry, and you will have the [166kW] VZ,” Cupra Australia brand director Jerome Figuiere told Chasing Cars.

“We know there is a lot of demand for the VZ in Australia. Any model we do, the VZ is always the [most] popular model. People understand that’s the performance model.

“[With Raval], we will have a small model that will help us with NVES [emissions laws] and help us with those customers with a smaller garage who want a smaller car,” said Figuere. 

Just over four metres long, Raval is one of the smallest EV options

Measuring 4046mm in length, 1784mm in width and 1518mm in height, the Raval rides on a 2600mm wheelbase and weighs around 1550kg with either the 37kWh LFP or 52kWh NMC batteries — both of which use cell-to-pack construction to boost density.

Outside, the Raval retains most of the proportions of the Urban Rebel concept car, including prominent triangular headlights (with available matrix LED tech), illuminated badgework front and rear, and alloys of between 17- and 19-inches pushed right to the corners.

Seven paint colours, including a range of mattes, will be available, while Cupra says the Raval has the best coefficient of drag of any of its models. This is in part thanks to illuminated, retracting door handles.

Four distinct ‘themes’ will be available globally inside the Raval, primarily revolving around different seat and dash materials, culminating with the ‘Ahead’ package for VZ grades, which includes CUP Bucket front seats in full 3D knit upholstery.

While the sporty VZ is likely to feature prominently, including in Australia, softer and more premium themes are available by way of the ‘Immersive’ and ‘Feel’ trims, with power-adjustable memory seats and respective use of Dinamica or vegan leather upholstery.

Ambient lighting in the cabin is extensive, and Cupra has retained physical shortcut buttons for the steering wheel. Premium audio is a 12-speaker, 475-watt Sennheiser system.

Infotainment projected across a 12.9-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster now runs on an Android-based system that will give Australian buyers access to full connectivity features for the first time.

The Raval is a five-seater and offers a 430-litre boot with dual-height floor. Significant space in the chassis left between the two rear wheels is big enough to accommodate a spare wheel in future, insiders say.

Raval nabs some specific hardware atop to the MEB Entry platform

While the Raval will effectively donate its Cupra-developed platform to the ID Polo, ID Cross and Epiq, Cupra has kept some of the best bits to itself — for now.

All Raval models sit 15mm lower than the platform standard — meaning a regular ID Polo variant — while the track is 10mm wider. The VZ grade goes further with progressive steering and specific steering knuckles.

Cupra will also fit all Raval units with front and rear disc brakes (not necessarily standard for the MEB Entry platform).

Other available specification will include a 15-watt wireless device charger, high-powered USB-C charging ports (with up to 90W), dual-zone climate control, full keyless entry with digital key, a 360-degree parking camera and interior camera.