Cupra Terramar 2025 review
Our Verdict
In a market chock-full of mid-size SUVs, the Cupra Terramar stands out with distinctive design, a stylish interior and – if you opt for the 2.0 TSI petrol version – lively performance and handling. Prices are on the high side, although a five-year/90,000-mile warranty offers some peace of mind.
- Sharp-edged styling
- Punchy GTI-derived petrol engine
- Agile and enjoyable to drive
- Priced in line with some premium brands
- Hesitant DSG automatic gearbox
- Engine sounds uninspiring
My eagerness to test the new Cupra Terramar (‘Landsea’ if translated from Spanish) was curbed when I realised this mid-size SUV isn’t as amphibious as its name suggests. Still, after hastily cancelling a trip to the Lake District, I pressed the start button and my enthusiasm returned as the familiar – yet increasingly rare – rumble of a ‘real’ engine reverberated through the cabin.
The Terramar also comes as a hybrid, but my test car did without electrical assistance, and arrived in range-topping VZ2 trim. Its 2.0-litre TSI engine also serves in some lower-spec models, but here power increases by 61hp to 265hp.
- Check out lease deals on the Cupra Terramar
In Cupra’s ever-expanding lineup, the Terramar sits above the compact Formentor and is cheaper than the fully electricTavascan. It's sometimes tricky to distinguish between them; the design language is quite alike, and each SUV just has 'CUPRA' emblazoned across the rear. The version we reviewed came to a grand total of £53,185, which included £2,590 of extras such as 'Dark Void' purple paint, a Sennheiser sound system, and a glass roof.
A question of sport
It seemed fitting to put the most athletic Terramar through its paces, considering Cupra's brand image. The firm backs FC Barcelona, La Liga, and the World Padel Tour, which establishes a performance-oriented vibe for its vehicles. The Terramar follows suit. A prominent button on the steering wheel invites you to engage Performance or Cupra modes, both of which firm up the suspension, sharpen the steering, and make the gearbox hold onto gears for a longer period.
For a large car, the Terramar ably resists body-roll, aided by the fact it isn’t lugging around a heavy battery. Four-wheel drive also contributes to this safe and planted feel. Acceleration out of the blocks is good, although the seven-speed DSG auto gearbox’s hesitancy actually made me miss driving an EV around town.
Once I had the chance to really let the Terramar show what it could do, it was a pleasure to experience this reliable and familiar engine (the same one used in theVolkswagen Golf GTI) and change gears yourself with the paddle shifters.
Inside the Cupra Terramar
You hear real engine noise as you reach higher revs, supplemented by synthetic notes piped through the speakers. These are about as convincing as one of the FC Barcelona players’ dives for a penalty: a situation not helped by the real exhausts being hidden away behind a diffuser (which I suspect is about as useful as I’d be in the Catalan starting XI).
Perhaps more importantly, the diffuser enhances the Terramar's bold and...eye-catching stylingTriangular headlamps, a prominent bonnet, slanted vents and defined lines give it a look that suggests it's just one "Vamos" away from a hyper-focused Alcaraz during a tennis match.
The Cupra's distinctive 'Cup Copper' accents appear on the emblems and inside the car. These, along with a light strip running along the top of the dashboard, help to lighten the otherwise dark and atmospheric driver's area. That light strip is clearly inspired by the interior design aesthetic of Darth Vader.
Making some space
The inside is nice and cosy, and my car came with all the gadgets and up-to-date features you'd anticipate from a top-of-the-line model, including a head-up display, sunroof, and plenty of parking assistance systems.
I initially believed the sensors had malfunctioned when the car abruptly stopped while I was reversing into a parking spot. I prepared myself for an embarrassing conversation with Cupra HQ, certain I'd just redesigned the diffuser, assisted by a lamppost. Luckily, it transpired the radar was switched off, not my driving ability. Perhaps.CupraTerramar could do with borrowing Xavi or Iniesta to get their spatial awareness back on track…
The hard work Cupra has invested in the Terramar's strength and conditioning is clear. It appears resolute and its performance is sufficient to live up to the sporty image Cupra has worked to create.
While I'd prefer the 2.0-litre TSI engine to have a more distinctive sound, its performance is a strong argument in its favour over the...hybrid version if you enjoy driving.
Judgement: Cupra Terramar 2.0 TSI
The dietary plan, crafted by the nutritionist and free from lithium, also yields positive results, particularly when tackling bends. This contributes to a general feeling of nimbleness and involvement. Naturally, there's room for further development, but sport has ever been about striving for flawlessness, not achieving it outright.
Consequently, the Cupra Terramar is a spirited and agreeable vehicle, emanating from the fitter, more performance-oriented branch of the Volkswagen Group family.
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