Living with a Cupra Terramar: my final verdict after six months

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and the last six months with my Cupra Terramar has certainly flown by. I’ve covered more than 5,000 miles in this sporty SUV, and that’s given me a chance to really get to know its helpful features and annoying quirks.

You can see a full rundown of everything I love and hate about this car in my penultimate report, but here’s a summary of my time with the Cupra Terramar, as well as my final verdict.

My honest verdict on the Cupra Terramar

When I first took delivery of the Cupra Terramar six months ago, I wanted to find out if it was worth considering over the mechanically-similar Volkswagen Tiguan. After spending plenty of time with the car, and even testing it against our Tiguan long term test car, I think I would choose the Cupra.

The Tiguan is a smart-looking car, especially in R-Line trim like ours, but the Cupra is still a more striking-looking thing. I like the intricate LED lights and the aggressive front bumper, it just helps it stand out.

This theme continues inside as well, where the copper accents and sweeping centre console make you feel like you’re sat in a sports car, not a sensible SUV. The infotainment system is also easy to use, but the lack of buttons is a bit annoying.

Out on the road, the Terramar feels sporty to drive without too much of a trade-off in terms of comfort. The Tiguan is a bit more compliant over bumps, but I’ve spent several hours at a time commuting in the Cupra and it’s still a relaxing thing for eating up miles. It’s just a shame the driver assistance systems are so intrusive. This car does love to beep at you.

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Cupra Terramar. It’s a car which can handle pretty much anything you throw at it, whether that’s a boot full of luggage, a car full of passengers, a long stint on the motorway or a spirited country road drive. I’ve even managed to average around 35mpg over the last six months, which is pretty much bang on what Cupra claims.

If you’re after a sensible family SUV, but don’t want to abandon your desires for something sporty, the Cupra Terramar offers the best of both worlds. I’m sad to see it go.

Report 2, February 2026: pros and cons

After a few months with my Cupra Terramar, I’ve gotten to know this car quite well. There are plenty of things I like about it, but there are also a few things which grind my gears. Here are three pros and three cons of the 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, December 2025: 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 paint 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.

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