Living with a Cupra Terramar: my honest thoughts on this SUV after three months

This is my Cupra Terramar, and it’s the sort of car you might be considering if you like the look of a Volkswagen Tiguan, but want something with a bit of added zing.

I recently put my Cupra head-to-head with global content director Iain Reid’s Tiguan, and it was clear that the Terramar is the car to choose if you’re after something with more focus on fun than comfort. But what’s it actually like to live with?

Well I’ve been using this car for the last three months for everything from long drives to Carwow video shoots, to pottering around the potholed streets of North London. There are a lot of things I like about this car, and a few things which grind my gears. Here are three pros and cons of living with a Cupra Terramar.

Three things I like about my Cupra Terramar

Let’s start with the positives, because overall I really like my Cupra Terramar. I’ve spoken before about the awesome design and sporty driving experience, so these are some more niche features which just make life easier.

1. The lights are really clever

Adaptive Matrix headlights are nothing new, but the ones fitted to my Cupra are a bit special. Not only do they do a great job of blanking out the beam to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers, they can also project things onto the road.

I noticed while driving on a country road at night that they project two lines onto the road which move as you turn the steering wheel, which makes it easier to position yourself around corners. It’s properly clever.

2. The interior has plenty of clever features

The Terramar may be a sporty family car, but that doesn’t mean Cupra has forgotten about practicality. The rear seats slide forwards and backwards to give you either more rear legroom or better boot space, and they recline as well so your passengers can nap on the go.

I also like having the gear selector on the steering column instead of in the middle. Not only is it easier to switch between gears when you’re manoeuvring in tight spaces, it also frees up space in the centre console for storage.

Another little touch I like is the supercar-style starter button on the steering wheel. It adds nothing in terms of practicality, I just enjoy it.

3. The infotainment system is great

Cupra has got the infotainment system right in the Terramar. Not only is it bright and responsive, it’s also angled towards the driver which makes it easier to use on the move. The wireless Android Auto also reduces the need for messy cables in the cabin.

I also like the quick-access menu for the driver assistance systems. You just swipe down from the top and you can switch off the speed limit warning and lane-keeping assist. A button would make it even easier, but this is still nice to have.

Three annoying things about my Cupra Terramar

As much as I like my Cupra, there are still a few features which have annoyed me over the last few months.

1. We need more buttons

The infotainment system may be easy to use, but that doesn’t change the fact I would like some more proper buttons in the cabin. Adjusting the climate control using a knob is more practical than prodding around on a touchscreen.

2. A couple of interior niggles

I love the way the Terramar’s interior looks, but there are a couple of things which are annoying. The first is the position of the USB-C ports, which lead to your charging cables being draped over the centre console.

The other is the door bins, which while large enough have no lining to stop things rattling about. Iain’s Tiguan has felt-lined door pockets which make it feel a bit more premium.

3. Driver assistance systems

I mentioned that I like how easy it is to turn off the driver assistance systems, and that’s because they are so dramatic. If you drift even vaguely close to the white lines it’ll freak out, which is really annoying around town when you’re trying to move around parked cars. The first thing I do when getting in is turn them all off.

But small gripes aside, the Terramar has been a great daily driver so far. It goes back to Cupra in a few weeks though, so stay tuned for my final verdict.

Report 1: First impressions

This is my new Cupra Terramar, a stylish, sporty and fast SUV which has quite a lot in common with my colleague’s Volkswagen Tiguan.

You see, head of editorial Iain Reid is currently running a 2.0-litre petrol Tiguan with 265hp and four-wheel drive, and my new Cupra has the exact same engine.

It makes sense seeing as these two cars are basically the same under the skin, but Iain was a bit confused as to why you’d want this powerful engine in the comfy, sensible Tiguan. Surely if you’re after something a bit spicy, you’d buy the Cupra Terramar, right?

Well that’s why I’m going to be living with the Terramar for the next few months, to find out if it’s worth considering over the posher VW. Here’s a quick lowdown on my car’s specs.

That 2.0-litre engine means this car is good for 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, which is exactly the same as a Volkswagen Golf GTI, as well as Iain’s Tiguan. It shares the VW’s 151mph top speed as well.

This Terramar is a VZ2 model, which sits at the top of the range. It has 20-inch alloy wheels, quad tailpipes, burgundy leather seats which are heated, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control and a 12.9-inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

It also has adaptive dampers, which come as standard on the 265hp version, to allow you to stiffen things up for spirited driving, or soften the ride for pootling around town.

I ticked a few options on this car as well. The “Dark Void” metallic pain costs an extra £995, and I also went for the £600 Sennheiser sound system because I love my tunes. This car also has uprated Akebono brakes for additional stopping power, which could come in handy in the brake test if we end up drag racing this car. That was an extra £2,035. Finally, I fancied some additional light in the cabin so spent another £995 of Cupra’s money on a panoramic sunroof.

All-in, this car costs £55,220 as it sits. That’s almost £3,000 less than Iain’s Tiguan, so my car is already on the front foot.

I’ve been driving this Terramar for a few weeks now, and on first impressions I’m quite impressed. Despite having a sporty edge to it, the Cupra is pretty comfy over the bumps of North London. I also think it looks smarter than the Tiguan. The triangular lights are cool, and it looks pretty muscular as well thanks to the wide rear arches.

Having the start button on the steering wheel gives this SUV some Audi R8 vibes, but I would like a few more physical buttons throughout the cabin. The screen is proving easy to use so far, but I’d still rather twist a knob to change the cabin temperature.

Stay tuned for a detailed twin test between my Terramar and Iain’s Tiguan in the next few weeks, and I’ll also be reporting back on how this car is treating me after a month or so behind the wheel.

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