Cupra
Tavascan drive by Steve Rogers
Have
we reached the stage where headlights are too bright? Should the main beam be
toned down?
It’s
becoming a topic of conversation and all stems from the power of the Matrix LED
lights system. Unlike conventional halogen headlights that dip to the left,
Matrix headlights use sensors and cameras to adjust the light beam and often
create a rolling spectacle of light.
They
are meant to adapt to the conditions and avoid dazzling oncoming vehicles. But
do they? I regularly drive cars with Matrix headlights and am often flashed by
drivers who think I haven’t dipped.
I
have just spent a week driving the electric Tavascan and was flashed so many
times I stopped counting. On a country road a driver in front kept turning on
his hazard warning lights obviously encouraging me to dip my lights which were
on automatic dipping.
The
irony is I, too, face excessively bright Matrix headlights but accept this is
now the norm. We clearly like being behind them, not facing them.
In
daylight Tavascan attracts attention for a more pleasing reason: It is
outrageously stylish. Designers have been given free rein to create frenetic
sweeps and curves, if ever a car showed emotive styling this is it.
In
the words of Cupra’s design director Jorge Diez, ‘the shape will not please
everyone’, but he does not mind. Taviscan, he says, is not a response to
change, it’s the vehicle that creates it’. He is bang on the money there.
And
the designers have been very creative inside as well. A big cabin helps because
there are some big features like the best light show you will ever see in a
car, and a dramatic central buttress that links the dashboard to the centre
console.
It
is an instant wow but I guess once the novelty wears off the need to find some
more space for oddments will have you wishing it could be swapped for a
cupboard! I liked it for its individuality and the imagination of the person
who designed it.
That
creative spark has brought Cupra’s own version of the Northern Lights into the
cabin. The door trims are covered in tiny LEDs, yes those devils are at it
again, mated with a beautiful lightshow across the dashboard with a choice of
five soft colours, obviously best seen at night.
Looking
at the dashboard we see another car where switches have been eliminated in
favour of a touchscreen, in this case a 15in whopper, not ideal but at least it
is easy to fathom with large icons accessible with one touch. There is a quick
key for heating, the screen can be customised for frequently used functions, or
you can use voice control, which I did.
You
could be forgiven for thinking this article is back to front. Surely the
electric story is the main line yet 500 words in and it has barely got a
mention.
So,
Taviscan, which gets its name from a village in the Pyrenees, is an electric
SUV coupe and shares a lot of the mechanicals with its cousins at Volkswagen,
Audi and Skoda. There is just one battery option, 77kW, which is a good size
and guarantees swift acceleration. The rear wheel drive model, driven here, has
a predicted range of 355 with 323 for the all wheel drive. I managed to top 300
with miles to spare so that would seem to be pretty accurate and for the
majority of my driving would ensure home charging so I would be looking at an
all nighter for a full charge from a 7kW AC home charge box.
Cupra
is the sporting arm of Seat so we expect dynamism and they have managed to deal
with the extra battery weight without losing too much of that driving spark.
The steering is sharp and direct and you can choose from three driving modes.
Like
many electric cars the brake pedal feels odd, not biting smoothly, but does the
job. Recovering battery energy is by way of steering wheel paddles but it is
disappointing that there is no one stop brake which is standard on quite a few
rivals. A heat pump that reduces the loss of range when the heating is on is an
option with the £1,335 winter pack.
Cupra
is built in China and is in the middle of a running battle with the authorities
over tariffs. The company is having its best ever year for sales but like
everyone else is baffled by the cut price Chinese electric brands flooding
Europe and the UK so a double whammy.
Ignoring
the price gap with the Chinese and Tavascan is one not to ignore with its
spectacular design, cutting edge technology, good range, big boot, and plenty
of room for a family of five.
Favourite
feature: Heated front seats that warm up in seconds.
Fast
facts
Tavascan
VZ1
£55,945
(starts £47,350)
Electric
motor: 77kWh
Range:
355 miles
DC
charge 135kW: 10-80% 28 mins
Zero
emissions. 1st tax £10.
Insurance
group 38
Boot
540 litres
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