This Cute Spanish Whip, the Cupra Terramar, Will Be On US Roads Soon. Here’s What It’s All About
It's cute, it hails from Spain and it'll set your family drives apart with panache.
Not familiar with the 2025 Cupra Terramar, or even the Cupra brand? It’s OK. That’s about to change in a big way.
Cupra is a car brand from Barcelona, Spain and part of the Volkswagen family. And it’s poised to make its entry into the US market by the end of the decade (which actually isn’t that far away if you’re keeping tabs). The Terramar, an SUV whose name blends land and sea, is itself a perfect blend of sportiness with practicality.
Pricing is not yet known for the US-bound models as the company works through the logistics of launching in the largest automotive market in the world, but the brand’s inception was based on filling the white space in the market between mainstream brands like VW and more upscale offerings like Audi and Genesis.
What we do know about the Terramar is that it is a compact SUV that offers three engine options: a base 1.5L mild hybrid 4-cylinder, a 1.5L plug-in hybrid with up to 55 miles of electric-only driving thanks to its 19.7 kWh battery, and the 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder. I had the pleasure of driving through the sunny streets of Miami this past weekend and got to experience this fun little SUV and test out its drive experience.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was Cupra’s guest for this test drive, but all opinions are my own.
First Things First: Getting To Know the Cupra Terramar
From the moment I got behind the wheel of the Cupra Terramar, perfect to tour the beaches and over bridges of South Florida, it was clear that this is not your normal start-up car company. Parent company Volkswagen brings expertise in parts and manufacturing, allowing Cupra’s designers and engineers time to focus on making this SUV stand out.
I’m a marketer by day and was immediately drawn to the brand’s dynamic culture and bold initiatives. They see “impossible” as a dare and a personal challenge to prove critics wrong. They do not take no for an answer, and the phrase “there is no second,” echoing the famous words uttered to Queen Victoria after a commanding victory by the yacht America in the 1851 America’s Cup boat race, is a mantra.
Cupra Has a Solid Foundation For a Design Departure
In keeping with the idea of excellence, Cupra’s designers started with a platform that is used by other VW Group products like the Audi A3 and VW Tiguan, then made it into a work of art that stands on its own. If you park a Terramar next to a Tiguan, you would not be able to see the family resemblance that’s typical when vehicles share a platform.
The design of the Terramar is sharp and angular, both inside and out, a defining characteristic of the brand. The interior uses parametric molding on the plastic interior pieces to step up the style, as well as copper detailing around the vents and on the doors and door handles.
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Lights, Screens and Cupra’s Unique Design Define the Interior
Despite the shared platform, Cupra has minimal part sharing with other VW products, something you’ll see inside the SUV. However, the large 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia screen is instantly familiar to anyone who has test-driven recent VW EVs, though on screen the graphics and function are unique; the software powering the user interface was designed for the Cupra brand.
Other thoughtful touches like the wraparound ambient LED light strip that spans from the driver’s door across the dash to the passenger and doubles as the blind spot indicator, along with a parametric design cut into all four doors with ambient backlights really make this interior an inviting place to spend time.
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And, Race Seats! In an SUV? Yup.
For me, the standout design detail across the entire SUV was the race-inspired seats. Slipping into them felt effortlessly cool… like channeling my inner race car driver but with way more style and comfort.
The seats feature deep bolsters that give you a nice hug as you sit down. The seating material is embossed with the angular Cupra logo and the design repeats, cascading down the backrest onto the seat. The materials used are sustainably sourced with either recycled microfiber (73% recycled!), or plant-tanned leather.
A Small SUV With Passenger-Sized Space
The rear 40/20/40 split-back seat is less aggressively styled but offers a fold-down armrest with cupholders and features a sliding mechanism, allowing you to prioritize space in the trunk or rear seat legroom.
Rear storage space is plentiful for families or drivers with pets or guests, offering up to 22 cubic feet of storage space in the gas-powered models. Hybrid drivers will notice slightly less space; the battery reduces cargo space to about 19 cubic feet.
Cupra’s Love Language is Chiseled and Sharp
The Cupra Terramar’s look is very European and it really stood out on the streets of Miami. The sharp edges and parametric design that dazzled me on the inside are even more prominent on the exterior.
Its angular lines echo the same bold parametric patterns found inside, with Cupra’s signature three-triangle LED lights leading the way. The front grille is assertive but elegant, and the bronze details, including the logo and wheels, elevate the design to something that feels truly luxe. This is not your typical SUV.
3D Lighting Is Cupra Terramar’s Signature
The Cupra Terramar’s side profile is defined by sharp design lines that span the side of the SUV, making it feel smaller and edgier. The tasteful use of bronze on the black wheels further sets off the look of the Terramar, while the rear of the SUV may house the coolest feature of all: 3D lighting elements.
The “coast to coast” full-width LED light bar on the back of the Terramar houses triangular brake lights that are staggered in their depth and positioning, giving the back of the Cupra SUV an upscale look unlike any of its competition. In the middle of the tailgate and LED light bar is an illuminated Cupra logo that sits above a bronze “C-U-P-R-A” that adorns the hatch, letting anyone you just passed know exactly what it was that blew by them.
You’ll Turn Heads in This Thing. I Did.
Driving the Terramar in South Florida made me feel like I belonged in the fast land, literally and figuratively, not only because I was turning heads everywhere I went but also because my test car’s 2.0L turbocharged engine had plenty of power when I wanted or needed to go faster.
I did not get the chance to test the PHEV variant, but the 2.0L turbo model I spent the morning with definitely fit the race-born personality of the brand. US regulations could change exactly what we get when the brand officially goes on sale here stateside, but my tester made 261 horsepower and was more than eager to get up and go when I asked it to. The 7-speed DSG transmission was also always in the right gear, never leaving me waiting for a gear change before executing a passing maneuver.
And Then, Put it in Performance Mode
The steering was not sports car-tight but didn’t leave me driving with my fingertips either. It felt perfectly adjusted for the task at hand. The suspension with their DCC, Dynamic Chassis Control, was on the firmer side but did not beat me up even through construction on the Miami highways.
Between the five different drive modes, which can be toggled through with a push of the Cupra button on the steering wheel, I found myself using Comfort mode the most, though the others included Performance, Cupra, Off-road, and Individual which allows you to customize your settings through the infotainment screen.
Live the Cupra Life Through Cupra Design House
To bring future buyer into the Cupra life, the brand is carving out its own lane through passion, style, and innovation that guest will see at the Cupra Design House, a curated lifestyle space where driving a Cupra is just the beginning.
Beyond that you’ll see collaborations with visionary creatives across fashion, technology, and art to bring Cupra’s distinct, unconventional energy to a fresh new space. From fashion-forward apparel to thoughtful jewelry pieces, they’re infusing Cupra’s edgy, elevated aesthetic.
There’s even jewelry: each new Cupra owner receives a custom metallic bracelet designed by Cupra as a symbol of this shared identity. It’s more than just a car; it’s a community and a celebration of individual style.
Cars, Jewelry and … Yachts and Race Tracks
Cupra recently made waves, literally, with its sponsorship of the 37th America’s Cup yacht race in the company’s hometown of Barcelona. Embracing the brand’s “there is no second” spirit, they created a Cupra village to immerse attendees in its bold vision. The launch of the Terramar SUV, they even unveiled an amphibious version, bringing its “sea” name to life.
To bring the brand’s “land” moniker to life, the brand is also immersed in Cup Racing—which is what Cupra stands for. A competitor in Formula E, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship all-electric racing series, the brand takes away technology from the track, such as regenerative braking and battery efficiency, improving what is already being used in their street cars. The track acts like a research & development lab for the company.
Cupra Went From Concept to Reality, Quickly
If it seems like Cupra is busy that’s nothing; the brand went from being a concept in 2017 to a reality just one year later. And the strategy is paying off. Globally, the brand sold over 248,000 SUVs in 2024, which is about half of what boutique brand Mazda sold in the US in the same year. Cupra is sold globally, with Germany currently holding the title of their largest market. The closest you could get to owning one today would be to head down to Mexico City to pick one up before trying to import it.
However, the brand intends to enter the US market by the end of the decade. Current plans are to target the big cities on the coasts and through the Midwest, but not all 50 states immediately. The brand also wishes to keep its autonomy from the other VW Group brands, so they don’t anticipate sharing dealerships with any of the other VW brands.
Clearly, they need their own stage. Luckily, they’re ready for the spotlight.
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