Cupra makes big claims as it grants a sneaky look at its upcoming affordable 2026 Raval electric car as a rival to the likes of the BYD Dolphin and Mini Cooper

Cupra has headlined its arrival at Munich's 2025 motor show - IAA Mobility - with its new small Raval hatch it says will “democratise electric mobility” making EVs more accessible to more people.

The Raval, which won’t launch until 2026, was given a thinly disguised showing at the show wearing a camouflaged wrap featuring the map of the Raval district in Barcelona after which the new hatch has been named.

According to Cupra the Raval is the first of four models that makes up the “Electric Urban Car Family" from parent company Volkswagen Group and will later be joined by the Volkswagen ID.Polo. The city-focussed cars are being heralded by Cupra and Volkswagen as being “more accessible to a wider range of people”.

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“The Cupra Raval is now shaping our future,” said Markus Haupt, Interim CEO of Cupra.  

“Because with it, we’ve brought together everything Cupra stands for: emotion, striking design, electrifying performance and as always, driver focused. 

“For us, the Cupra Raval is more than a car. What truly makes it special is the project behind it- the Electric Urban Car Family- which we are proud to be leading from Spain. We are strengthening synergies within the Brand Group Core and turning the country into a hub for electric mobility, making these cars accessible to millions.”

How accessible the new hatch becomes will largely depend on the Raval’s price and for those in Europe it could be affordable indeed with Cupra planning to build the vehicle at its Martorell factory in Spain.

The name of Cupra’s hatch echoes the Spanish company’s pride with Raval being a district in Barcelona known for its urban, creative and edgy atmosphere, something which the company is hoping will appeal to new buyers that value the same attributes.

The Raval’s dimensions are compact at 4046mm in length, 1784mm wide, 1518mm tall, although the wheelbase is comparatively lengthy at 2600mm for a maximum amount of battery space.

The hatchback will be built on Volkswagen Group's MEB+ front-wheel drive electric platform and while the battery capacity has not been announced Cupra says there will be two battery sizes on offer.

The Raval launch in 2026 will also mark the eighth anniversary of the company and the four-door electric hatch will feature sporty elements the brand is known for including a sports chassis, tuned suspension, progressive steering and ESC Sport for better driving dynamics.

The range-topping Raval VZ will have a higher output of 166kW and score CUPBucket seats, DCC Sport Suspension, ESC OFF, electronic slip differential and 19-inch alloy wheels with 235mm wide tyres.

Cupra is also equipping the Raval with advanced safety technology with an urban focus featuring traffic light recognition and auto parking.   

Cupra currently has six models on sale in Australia following the brand’s launch here in 2022. The Formentor small SUV is Cupra’s best-selling vehicle in Australia with 1013 units sold year-to-date.