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Cupra Terramar

2025 Cupra Terrama – The Tiguan's more athletic cousin 

16 May 2025

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By Ryan Bos

In keeping with Cupra tradition, the all-new Terramar (pronounced "TEH-rah-MAR") takes its name from a small Spanish settlement near Barcelona. Roughly translated to 'land and sea', the name reflects a watershed moment in Cupra's transformation into a fully developed standalone brand.

In keeping with Cupra tradition, the all-new Terramar (pronounced "TEH-rah-MAR") takes its name from a small Spanish settlement near Barcelona. Roughly translated to 'land and sea', the name reflects a watershed moment in Cupra's transformation into a fully developed standalone brand.

The Terramar is built on Volkswagen's MQB platform, meaning its foundation is identical to that of its German cousin, the Tiguan. Still, Cupra is certain that its sharp-edged aesthetics and sportier driving experience will attract people looking for a more performance-focused car. 

The Terramar delivers performance and efficiency through four powertrain options, incorporating petrol and hybrid-petrol engine options. Initially, only two variants are available, with the other two coming later this year. The first option is the $70,500 Terramar V, which is an entry-level 1.5-litre mild hybrid engine producing 110kW. The second option is the sportier AWD Terramar VZ, starting from $91,900 and coming with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that delivers 195kW.

The latter two options are the four-wheel drive variant of the entry-level V, featuring a 2.0 litre turbo petrol producing 150kW, and a PHEV with a 150kW output from the combined petrol and electric motors. Cupra states that the e-hybrid will have a 100km range from the electric motor and will recharge from empty to 80% in just 20 minutes using DC fast charging.

Following Cupra's refreshed design blueprint, the Terramar's low-slung shape features a long, wide bonnet with a "shark" style nose that manifests a powerful road presence. The Terramar features an illuminated Cupra badge and an infinity bar on the rear. Like the new Formentor and Leon Sportstourer, this makes it easily recognisable as a Cupra, especially at night. The Terramar also features rear diffusers that reinforce the car's performance potential.

Cupra invited the AA to the Terramar's evening launch at Hotel Britomart, this was unusual for car launches typically take place during the day when we can see the car properly. However, it quickly became clear why Cupra wanted us to experience driving the Terramar at night.  

The new Terramar features optional Ultra HD Matrix Headlights with an impressive 25,000 pixels, previously found only on high-end vehicles like Audi. The headlights feature Cupra's iconic triangular design and are intelligent enough to identify and adapt to different driving conditions and hazards. They can detect and illuminate pedestrians and road signs and automatically dim portions of the beam if it recognises oncoming cars. Additionally, the headlights feature a unique welcome ceremony that illuminates the area in front of the vehicle with a Cupra logo animation.

Once the sun had set and the last stragglers of the evening commute had made their way home, the roads were finally clear for us to set off from our downtown location and onto the motorway. We snaked through Auckland, experiencing a mix of motorway, arterial, and local roads - the future home of this family-sized SUV.

Due to its raised dimensions as an SUV, stepping into the car is a breeze. Once inside, you're comforted by sports seats embossed with the Cupra logo and iconic copper stitching as standard. If you want an even more exciting driving experience, the VZ option includes sports bucket seats and a 12-speaker Sennheiser audio system. With a focus on sustainability, you can choose between 73% recycled microfibre textile in various colours or bold plant-tanned leather in bright burgundy for the brave.

The inside boasts Cupra's driver-oriented "digital cockpit", including a wraparound LED strip with 20 customisable colours. The VZ variant also includes triangular lights on the front door panels that change colour and vibrance depending on your driving style. The dashboard features a bright 12.9" tablet-like touchscreen and an optional heads-up display.

 

The VZ feels noticeably more relaxed than the Fomenter VZ we drove a few weeks ago. Sticking it in Cupra mode allows you to drive around without having to reel it back every time you go near the accelerator. Nevertheless, the engine was still punchy and dynamic, with plenty of grunt, and a devilish exhaust note. Switching to the V halfway through the night, the 110kW dialled things down even more. While the hybrid makes it efficient, it's definitely less punchy off the line, and you have to give it more of a nudge to get moving. Still, it felt right at home cruising smoothly through Auckland's inner-city suburbs.

All the cars we drove were equipped with Cupra's Dynamic Chassis Control (standard on the VZ but optional on the others), delivering an authentic and compelling ride at its firmest setting while providing a smooth and refined experience when set in a softer mode. The dynamic steering, standard across the range, felt responsive on the motorway but was heavier in city traffic. However, switching to comfort mode made the steering much lighter and easier, making navigating suburban roads more effortless.

Overall, the new Terramar offers an alternative experience to the Tiguan despite sharing the same components. It appeals to people who want to stand out and are after a beefier, stauncher driving experience that will excite you every time you drive it – in essence, it's a Tiguan on steroids.

Terramar model lineup:

Model RRP Power Drive Availability
V mild-hybrid $70,500 +ORCs 110kW FWD Arriving soon
V 4Drive $81,900 +ORCs 150kW AWD Expected Q2, 2025
V e-Hybrid $87,900 +ORCs 150kW FWD Expected Q2, 2025
VZ 195kW $91,900 +ORCs 195kW AWD Arriving soon

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