The Terramar SUV might not be the most rousing model from the Spanish performance brand, but it can be quite intoxicating in its own way
Singapore has seen plenty of new cars flooding our streets, especially over the last two years-ish. Needless to say, a majority of them were electric cars, silently swift and clinically capable.
Until not long ago, three ICE (internal combustion engine) models from Cupra reached Singapore’s shores. While it might look like a strange pivot opposite of the market’s electrical direction, it is also a deliberate reminder of what still feels familiar. Given the transition era the motoring universe is currently in, and considering the diverse range of today’s car buyers, it makes sense for a brand to show its ability to straddle multiple worlds.
I recently dipped my first toe into the waters of Cupra’s take on gritty, gutsy, petrol power, starting with the Terramar, a 5-seater compact SUV.
A splash of dashing looks
The SEAT offshoot shouts boldness, through extroverted design cues, and unique copper accenting. Specific to this review, give the family-friendly VW Tiguan a riotous cousin with shades, boots and a biker jacket, and the Terramar emerges.
The Terramar integrates Cupra’s signature design cues, including a continuous rear light strip, a shark-nosed front on a massive grille, triangular headlight and taillight inserts, and a lit Cupra emblem in the centre, that you won’t get tired of admiring.
The name ‘Terramar’ means “land and sea”, which has a few clever references. Namely, the Mediterranean Sea, the historic racing circuit Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar in Barcelona, and the city of Barcelona itself. I suppose they felt they weren’t clear enough about their Spanish roots.
To really emphasise that namesake, the C-Pillar of the Terramar is modelled after a keel, the bottom-most structural element of a boat that keeps it balanced and stable. For those of us non-sailors, it’s just an aesthetic easter egg, so even if your eyes or heart don’t catch on, you won’t walk the plank. And the car balances on four 19-inch wheels just fine.
All aboard!
The interior of the Terramar is well-compatible to its handsome exterior, with the structure of the cabin obviously driver-centric. Much of the surface materials and dashes of copper elements enhance a sense of fierce athleticism.
To make the Terramar even more driver-focused, the 10.25-inch digital cluster gives you torque and power readings on the left, and a G-force meter on the right. Sure, your journey won’t be any different if it just showed your music or navigation instead, but it’s just awesome to look at.
The rest of the deal is pretty much rugged sophistication. Dinamica microfibre sports seats are plush yet supportive, the physical controls and 12.9-inch infotainment are sensibly easy to navigate, rear seating space is adequate, and the 508 litres of boot space is plenty for daily errands, that can also expand to 1,210 litres with the rear seats down. If I had to be a little nitpicky, I would have liked the entry/exit space of the rear seating to be a tad bigger.
It’s a… speedboat-cum-yacht?
Yeah nah… The Terramar is powered by a 1.5 litre Mild Hybrid engine that puts out 150hp and 250Nm of torque, allowing you to finish the 0-100km/hr dash in 9.3 seconds. This would be the same powertrain you would find in Skoda’s Superb Combi that was recently unveiled. While these numbers are sufficient for daily commutes and city driving, and are still better than the Category A Volkswagen Tiguan, they are also far from Earth-shattering numbers that don’t seem very Cupra-esque.
Blame it on our ridiculous COE environment, which brings about impossibly high car prices; therefore this is the weakest Terramar out there. Sadly, in its case, it feels unfocused and vague on its target audience. Or, if you may, your friends sticking a ‘M’ badge or ‘AMG’ badge on their respective base-level cars, and then telling you they’re as good as the real thing. On the other hand, it’s multi-talented and pleases everyone in some way at the end.
Being the base car, it lacks the signature ‘Cupra’ button on the steering wheel that toggles driving modes. Because ‘Cupra’ mode, which indicates the highest performance mode, is absent from this model, so you make do with ‘Comfort’, ‘Performance’, and ‘Individual’.
This might raise some eyebrows. But then again, if you approach the Terramar prioritising practicality and economy, you might be onto something.
It’s nonetheless fun to spin it about
But all that said, compliments are in the way of the Terramar’s handling. This part, happy to report, is more Cupra-esque. Steering is nicely-weighted and it’s stable at higher speeds. It takes corners and turns pretty confidently as well.
Power delivery is commendable too. It starts comfortably, climbs smoothly, and is ready to sprint harder without threatening you with whiplash. That makes its ability to haul its 2 tons of weight feel less like an agonising haul, and more like a confident piggyback.
Overall thoughts after disembarking this ship…
Despite its output numbers being on the modest side, the Terramar compensates with impressive looks and respectable handling to make sure it still earns the Cupra badge. With overall hauling capabilities and decent comfort, it adapts well to being a more-than-adequate family car… Perhaps not the best Cupra-esque toolkit, but nonetheless a powertrain which is par excellence, according to my Ed.
Cupra might be a new and obscure name for the majority of car buyers, but if they continue sailing down these rivers of striking looks with practicality and lively handling, favourable winds can push the brand to estuaries of eminence.
Text: Titus Tang
Photos: Kalani
Edits for Both: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Brilliant drive | Un-Cupra-like powertrain |
| Good build quality both inside and out | Škoda Kodiaq money with change |
| Economical engine |
2025 Cupra Terramar V 1.5 eTSI Mild Hybrid
| Drivetrain | Petrol-electric mild hybrid |
| Layout | 1,498cc, inline 4 |
| Power / torque | 150hp / 250Nm |
| Transmission | 7-Speed Dual-Clutch |
| Efficiency | 16.4km/l |
| Fuel Capacity | 58 Litres |
| 0-100km/h | 9.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 205km/h |
| VES Band | B |
| Dealer | Cupra Centre Singapore |
| Price | S$259,900 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | A not-so-fast Cupra SUV, that’s practical, and economical. |
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