Takeaways
- The Cupra Raval is the first MEB+ production EV, built in Spain with a €26,000 entry price and two battery options (37 kWh LFP, 52 kWh NMC).
- The entry‑grade model does not arrive until summer 2026; launch editions start at €37,250. The Raval competes directly with the Renault 5 E‑Tech and the Kia EV2.
According to Cupra, the Raval was unveiled on 9 April 2026 as the first production model on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ platform. The vehicle is built at the Martorell plant in Spain and will launch in European markets starting summer 2026.
The entry‑level version carries a base price of approximately €26,000, with UK pricing starting from £22,785. The car measures 4,046 mm in length with a 2,600 mm wheelbase and a 441‑litre boot.
Two Batteries and Four Power Outputs
The Raval is available with a 37 kWh LFP battery (300 km WLTP, 114 hp or 133 hp) and a 52 kWh NMC battery (444 km or 400 km WLTP, 208 hp or 222 hp). DC fast charging peaks at 88 kW for the LFP pack and 105 kW for the NMC pack, enabling a 10‑80% recharge in approximately 24 minutes.
The performance VZ variant adds an electronic limited‑slip differential, adaptive dampers, a 15 mm lower suspension and a 10 mm wider track, reaching 0‑100 km/h in 6.8 seconds.
Phased Availability and Competitive Segment
Cupra has confirmed that the entry‑grade Raval will not arrive until summer 2026. Launch editions are already available from €37,250. The Raval directly competes with the Renault 5 E‑Tech, the Kia EV2 (€26,600) and the forthcoming VW ID. Polo.
Because it is assembled in Spain, the vehicle is exempt from EU countervailing duties. It will be joined by the VW ID. Cross, ID. Polo and Skoda Epiq, all built on the same MEB+ architecture.
The Open Question
The Raval arrives at the same price point where Chinese imports have been most competitive, but its standard‑range entry model is still months away.
Can VW Group’s MEB+ platform hold its own against Chinese technology assembled in Europe, and will the Raval’s brand personality create differentiation that spec sheets alone cannot deliver?
