No longer a SEAT trim level, the Cupra brand is going from strength to strength.
Cupra cars stand out with angular styling and copper accents, giving them a sportier flavour than other VW Group cars that they share parts with. There’s usually a sensible-sized engine in lower-spec Cupra models, and a big, powerful one at the top of the range.
At the same time, Cupra models are practical and family friendly. Perhaps the best bit is that you can enjoy the qualities of a Cupra without breaking the bank, as the brand’s cars are generally in line with an equivalent Volkswagen or Audi. Here’s how to pick the best Cupra model for you.
Cupra hatchback range
Cupra Leon
Cupra’s origin story starts here, and you can see that this car is heavily based on the SEAT Leon. SEAT offers lower-powered engines, while Cupra uses more powerful engines – although there’s some crossover as both Leons come with a 150hp petrol engine and a 204hp plug-in-hybrid engine. The Cupra Leon also got a midlife facelift which introduced the brand’s triangle obsession – the SEAT Leon didn't, so now the two cars look very different.
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Cupra SUV range
Cupra Formentor
The Formentor was the first Cupra that didn’t have a corresponding SEAT model, although there’s a lot of Leon in the Formentor. That’s no bad thing, and the Formentor improves the recipe by adding greater practicality and a slightly higher up driving position.
Like the Leon, there are a couple of modestly powered engines that give you the sporty looks without sports car running costs, or you can upgrade to fast petrol and plug-in-hybrid versions. All are fun to drive and spacious.
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Cupra Ateca
When Cupra was spun off from SEAT, a hotted up version of the Ateca was one of the first orders of business. It took the mechanicals from the SEAT Leon Cupra and Volkswagen Golf R, and wrapped them in a practical SUV body. The result is a 300hp family hauler that can sprint from 0-62mph in under five seconds, thanks to a slick DSG automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. A more sedate 150hp model was later added to the lineup – but you might as well just buy the cheaper SEAT Ateca instead. The Cupra Ateca was retired in 2026.
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Cupra Terramar
Roughly Volkswagen Tiguan sized, the Cupra Terramar takes the baton from the Ateca as Cupra’s sporty family SUV. From the front, it looks very similar to the Formentor, but the Terramar’s squarer body shape and bigger boot make it a more practical choice. Again, you can buy a standard version with decent fuel economy, or a 265hp petrol engine that’s been used in both the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Porsche Macan. Alternatively, the eHybrid plug-in option gives you around 70 miles of pure electric range, plus a petrol engine for longer journeys.
Shop used Cupra Terramar cars for sale or read our Cupra Terramar review
Cupra estate range
Cupra Leon estate
The Cupra Leon estate is for you if you like big boots and you cannot lie. Whereas the hatchback makes do with 380 litres, the estate version offers up to 620 litres – and considerably more again if you fold the seats down. This is another car where, if you wish, you can combine impressive load-lugging capacity with a laugh-out-loud driving experience.
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Cupra electric car range
Cupra Raval
Cupra’s ‘Urban Rebel’ is related to the Volkswagen ID. Polo: both are new cars on VW’s latest small car platform. Despite being the brand’s smallest and cheapest car, the Raval offers up to 277 miles of range and all the sporty characteristics Cupra is known for. There’s even a fast VZ model with 225hp – which is more than enough in a small car like this. The Raval is only four metres long, but its 441-litre boot is bigger than the Born’s and the Leon’s.
Read more about the Cupra Raval here
Cupra Born
Cupra’s first-ever electric car, named after a Barcelona neighbourhood, gave a resounding confirmation that EV hot hatches could be a thing. It could be dismissed as a tarted up Volkswagen ID.3, but in fact the Born is fun to drive and very chuckable – feeling like it loves fast direction changes. Every Born feels nippy and sporty, but the VZ model is the one to go for if you want high performance. Yet, with a large 79kWh battery under its floor, the Born can travel up to 388 miles before needing to be plugged in. The Born has recently been facelifted.
Shop used Cupra Born cars for sale or read our Cupra Born review
Cupra Tavascan
The Tavascan shares its mechanicals with the Born, but presents it in a fashionable coupe-SUV body style. Even with its sleek sloping roofline, the Tavascan is still a practical car – and its interior is arguably more appealing than the Ford Capri and Volkswagen ID.5 that the Tavascan is so closely related to. The Tavascan is the only Cupra not to be made in Europe; it’s actually built in China – where the Tavascan is marketed as the Volkswagen ID. Unyx 06. You’d never know that, though – the Tavascan feels just as sporty and as well built as every other Cupra model.
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