Even when that runs out, it will be possible to top up at 7p per kWh; based on the 3.3mi/kWh efficiency we achieved when we tested the car in the chilly early spring, that means 10,000 miles of driving would cost £212. Factor in warmer summer months when efficiency improves, and that cost should fall even lower. A petrol car averaging 40mpg and fuelled at £1.40 a litre would cost £1,591 over the same distance. But all this doesn’t compensate enough for the fact that the Tavascan is very pricey to buy.
Electric range, battery life and charge time
Our 3.3mi/kWh figure for the Tavascan came in cold weather and with a mix of urban, A/B-roads and motorway miles. If you do more low-speed and suburban driving, that figure will improve, and summer months will see the efficiency increase significantly, too, to the point that a 300-mile real-world range should be entirely achievable. Charging speeds peak at 135kW on each model, which isn’t as fast as some MEB-based cars, but still enables a 10-80 per cent top-up in 28 minutes.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| Cupra Tavascan V1 | 77kWh | 337 miles | 34 |
| Cupra Tavascan VZ1 4Drive | 77kWh | 318 miles | 38 |
Insurance groups
Insurance groups are higher for the Tavascan than for rivals such as the Ford Capri, with the Cupra ranging from group 34 to 39.
Tax
The Tavascan’s three per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) banding makes it a cheap option for company car drivers, although this rate applies to all zero-emission vehicles. The Cupra will also be eligible for vehicle excise duty (VED) road tax, with the high list prices meaning an annual cost of £620 for the first five years of paying it.
Depreciation
With three-year residual values estimated to vary between 46-49 per cent according to the trim level, the Tavascan is about average for the class. Rivals, including the Ford Capri and Renault Scenic, hold their value slightly better, but the Cupra’s depreciation figures are lower than for the majority of other VW Group electric vehicles.
A distinctive design and user-friendly infotainment mean the Tavascan gets a lot right inside
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A striking design ensures the cabin is one of the most desirable in its class, while vastly improved infotainment tech makes the Tavascan far easier to recommend than Cupra models from even a couple of years ago.
Interior and dashboard design
When the Tavascan concept was first revealed to the public, its cabin matched the exterior for drama. The sweeping dashboard connected to the centre console through a floating Y-shaped central spine that looked like it had been beamed back from the future.
