Cupra Terramar

The family version

Formentor has been a sales success, however, Cupra needed a bigger and more family orientated SUV. With more room inside and keeping the original styling, both from the outside and inside. Terramar was the answer.

At Cupra they say “Formentor is the car that defines Cupra” so that gives Terramar the role to help in that mission. Made on an evolution of the platform used by Formentor, now called MQB Evo SUV, Terramar is available with the same engine line up, from an economical renewed 1.5 eTSI, toa pair of plug-in hybrid 1.5 eHybrid with two power levels, but there is no Diesel engine on sight.

What Terramar adds to the Formentor is more room inside, taking benefit from the bigger length by 70 mm and higherroof line, by 54 mm. There’san original center console plus a new infotainment system, the option for adaptative dampers and moveable backs for the rear bench, that can change the trunk capacity from 400 liters to 490 liters are other news.

Terramar has a more conventional styling, more of a SUV and much less of a SUV-Coupe. It also features the new day light Cupra signature, made from three triangles each side.

On the engine side, the more relevant news is the bigger battery in the eHybrid versions, with 19,7 kWh usefull. This allows the system to drive im 100% electric mode for 118 km, says Cupra. This new battery weights 298 kg, the good thing is that it contributes to a better weight distribution of 53,4/46,6 front to rear. It can be charged at 11kW AC (0 to 100% in 2h30) or a fast charging at 50 kW DC (0 a 80% in 26 min.).

Surprisingly, Cupra also made some specific changes to the suspension and steering, compared to the new VW Tiguan, that shares the same platform. There’s an extra steering arm to increase stiffness, feel and precision. The standard sports suspension is 10 mm lower and all Terramar versions have adaptative dampers, that Volkswagen calls DCC. There are 15 levels to choose from, divided in Three areas: comfort, normal, sport. Dampers have two valves each to reach all the available adjustment levels. The use of this dampers lead to a slight increase in front wheel camber. Terramar has front wheel drive and brakes have also been improved with opcional Akebono perforated discs and six piston calipers at the front, while discs diameter goes from 310 mm, in the rear and 375 mm at the front. Even the automatic dual clutch gearbox has a specific calibration.

As to what concerns driving, there are several driving modes available that are choosen from a page in the infotaiment, the same that happens to choose the intensity of regenerative braking in thee levels.

The new infotaiment system uses a 12,9” touchscreen, while there’s also a digital instrument panel and a head-up display. There are mainly digital buttons inserted in the infotainment system, for example the clima controls are positioned at the base of the touchscreen. There’s also plastic keys in the steering wheel. Gearbox is controlled by a rotary lever in the steering column, as in most of the recent electrified cars in the group. In the

interior there are a pair of sports seats at the fontand several types of high quality materials around the cabin, like Alcantara, synthetic leather with coloured stiches and soft plastics.

The rear bench slides 16 cm to increase the luggage compartment or increase rear passenger’s leg room. There are no shortage of room in the first row of seats.

Terramar is the name of an oval race track from 1923, located in Sitges, near Barcelona, the land of Cupra. A very appropriated name for such a car, produce by Audi in Györ, in Hungary.