Watch out Qashqai, this is the new Cupra Terramar

This is the new Cupra Terramar, named after an old racing circuit in Spain from whence Cupra was born, and aimed at the most populous, shark-infested part of the UK’s automotive waters.

Perhaps it’s a good thing the new Cupra Terramar looks so… determined, then. Because this Spanish SUV will attempt to bite off a large chunk of money spent on stuff like the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Karoq and Kia Sportage and Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan and Toyota C-HR and Ford Kuga and… well, you get the gist.

Swimming further into this analogy, Cupra itself proclaims the new Terramar as a “powerful vehicle characterised by its shark nose”, noting how its grille points to this car’s more sporting bent. A shark with a bodykit, then.

Similar story out back, where the Terramar’s SUV silhouette tapers into a very sporty-looking rear diffuser said to give the car a “defiant character”. Looks good, as most Cupras tend to.

And like most VW Group cars of this ilk, it’s spun off the ‘MQB Evo’ platform. If you’re not a platform-code enthusiast, that’s the same set of oily bits that sits under things like the VW Tiguan, Golf, Audi Q6 and Cupra’s own Formentor.

Though here, it’s been lowered by 10mm across all versions of the Terramar versus what the platform offers. There are MacPherson struts up front, a multilink rear, and progressive steering as standard. Four-wheel-drive is available on some trims, while the PHEV Terramars get an electrical brake booster too. Naturally you get adaptive two-valve dampers and a variety of modes and driver assists.

Variety of powertrains, too. Five, in fact. The lowliest Terramar is a front-drive, 148bhp mild-hybrid 1.5-litre TSI petrol matched to a seven-speed DSG ‘box. Then come a pair of 2.0-litre TSI petrol engines – one with 200bhp and one with 261bhp called ‘VZ’. Both get 4WD and a seven-speed DSG, but the VZ is the faster one. Because it’s short for veloz. Which means ‘fast’.

Finally, you’ve a choice of two full-on plug-in hybrid cars that match a 1.5-litre TSI to a 19.7kWh battery. One offers 200bhp, but you don’t want that, because the other one offers 268bhp, is also named ‘VZ’ and becomes the fastest Cupra Terramar available on launch. Both claim around 62 miles of e-only range, and the ability to recharge at up to 50kW.

(Both those Fast cars – the VZs – can be optioned with Akenbono performance brakes if you want.)

Inside it’s as per the 2024 New Car Rules, which means: Screens! There’s a 10.25in display in front of the driver, while the few buttons that do exist now live mostly on the steering wheel, with everything else squirrelled away inside the 12.9in central screen. Sennheiser has taken care of the stereo, there’s wireless charging and even an app.

The wraparound bucket seats feature a material called ‘Seaqueal yarn’ (in ‘Deep Ocean’ spec), which is made from recycled marine plastics. Sharks hate plastic, anyway. ‘High Burgundy’ trims this same seat area in leather tanned by plant-based materials.

Very…. Cupra in here. Copper highlights. Dark, sportified colourways. Backlit door panels. Embossed logos and other small finishes. If you squeeze the second row of seats forward a bit, the boot space increases to 602 litres packed right up to the top of the backrests.

And Cupra of course, hopes this medium-sized shark will sit at the top of the sales lists. “The Cupra Terramar represents the next stage in our growth journey,” said Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths. “A sporty SUV that will bring the young and challenger mindset of Cupra to a broader audience, expanding the brand and appealing to new customers.”