CUPRA TERRAMAR

Youth-focused Spanish SUV shows real depth of substance

- Darren Wilson [e-mail]

IN last week's issue (1,921), Phil McNamara reported on the Cupra success story, noting a rapid rise in sales since its 2018 launch, with 41,200 vehicles sold in the UK last year alone. I read with interest quotes from Cupra Boss Markus Haupt, who partly attributed the success to "eye-catching designs and a brand ecosystem with music, with sports, with culture."

Certainly, from my South London base, Cupra's branding is spot on. While the red and blue of local football shirts may belong to Crystal Palace rather than Barcelona, I still see Cupras everywhere. Fellow Cupra drivers appear youthful, often wearing sportswear, sometimes with children, but almost always with a preference for monochromatic colours.

The Cupras I see are invariably grey, black, or very occasionally white. They are easy to spot, because the distinctive triangular headlight pattern is as unique as any I've encountered.

But is it all style over function? The sales figures suggest not, and six months in our Timanfaya Grey Terramar in V2 specification has provided a definitive answer.