Cupra Raval VZ Extreme long-term test: month one

It’s been all change Chez Allan in recent weeks. After six months, Matt’s beloved Renault 5 long-termer has been reclaimed, and in its place sits something altogether spicier: a Cupra Raval in range-topping VZ Extreme trim.

It’s the first time Matt has run a hot hatch as a long-term test car, so the next six months should be fun.

Gunning for the Alpine

Fundamentally, the Raval and the Renault 5 are rivals. Lower-spec versions track pretty close to the R5 on price, performance and kit. This one, though, is aimed squarely at the Renault’s sporty cousin, the Alpine A290.

It also faces off against the Vauxhall Corsa GSE, Mini JCW, Peugeot E-208 GTI and Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI in a suddenly burgeoning compact electric hot hatch class. It’s related to that Polo GTI, but positioned as the edgier, more rebellious member of the VW Group family.

That edge is in the name, too. Barcelona’s Raval district is famous, and a little infamous, for mixing trendy boutiques and bars with some of the more “colourful” sides of city life.

A big deal for Cupra

The Raval is the first time Cupra has led development of a model family for the whole VW Group, so there’s a lot riding on it.

Under its Manganese Green Matte paint, the VZ Extreme swaps the standard car’s 207bhp motor for a 222bhp unit, good for 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds. Cupra wants it to be about more than raw speed, so it gets the latest Dynamic Chassis Control tuned for the MEB+ platform, an electronic limited-slip differential and unique steering hardware.

Extreme spec also means the full whack of kit, from Matrix LED headlights to a Sennheiser sound system and 3D-printed trim, plus an optional panoramic sunroof. Matt’s youngest has already declared the Cupra e-Sound the coolest thing about the car.

First impressions

Matt was hugely impressed by the Raval on smooth Spanish roads around Barcelona earlier this year. Early signs on British Tarmac are good, with a lively feel even in Comfort mode and suspension that copes surprisingly well with what the local council calls “roads”.

The big question is range. Cupra claims 238 miles from the 52kWh battery, while the trip computer is estimating around 200 miles on a full charge. How that holds up with hot hatch driving and falling temperatures will be one to watch.