Cupra Raval Takes Aim at Europe’s Boring Small EV Problem

• Cupra teases the production Raval electric hatchback under revealing camouflage.
• The prototype in the photos has its production body and lights, giving us a good look at the car before next year’s debut.
• The Cupra Raval will launch in early 2026 with its sights set on the popular Renault 5 E-Tech.

Cupra is the sporty Seat spinoff that wants to inject some fun and attitude into the Volkswagen Group’s smaller cars. It already sells two compact electric crossovers, but it wants to take its EVs even smaller with the Cupra Raval, which it is teasing with its production body under light camouflage.

Set to be fully revealed and enter production in early 2026, the Raval is named after an area of Barcelona defined by “constant movement, raw energy and fearless urban character” and mostly known for its vibrant nightlife. This is Cupra’s way of hinting at its slightly mischievous character, so it will hopefully be fun to drive.

Gallery: Cupra Raval Prototype

It is mechanically related to the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo and ID. Cross, as well as the Skoda Epiq, all of which will be built on the MEB+ platform in the same factory in Spain. Unlike the regular MEB platform, MEB+ is front-wheel-drive, and it’s designed with affordability in mind, specifically for use in subcompact city cars.

With a lower ride height than all the other vehicles built on this platform, as well as stiffer suspension, Cupra says it will offer the most exciting driving experience. We don’t know how much power the base model will have, but so far, Cupra has confirmed that it will have 208 hp or 223 hp in the hot Vz model, which gets lower and stiffer suspension as well as an electronic limited-slip differential to rival the Alpine A290.

Its biggest rival in Europe will be the Renault 5 E-Tech, which today is the continent’s most popular subcompact electric hatchback. The 5 mixes nostalgic design with good tech and genuine capability, making it a very hard rival in the segment. When I drove it, it was good enough to restore my faith in all European automakers threatened by cheap (and good) Chinese imports.

Unlike the French car, the Raval doesn’t try to mimic a retro design icon. Its focus is firmly on sharp, modern styling. The triangular headlights give it an angry expression, and a crisp crease runs along the sides into the rear lights. You won’t confuse it for anything else on the road. It still looks a bit like a crossover, with its tall body still having to hide a thick battery in its floor.

With a projected starting price of €26,000 ($30,100), it will just undercut its main rival from France, and base variants will be offered with a sub-40-kWh LFP battery pack. The long-range Raval and the spicy Vz will feature a 58 kWh NMC pack, which will give them a WLTP range of 278 miles (450 km) and 249 miles (400 km), respectively, in the hot hatch variant