Top billing for this star of the road

Every car has its appeal and Cupras are no exception.

Behind the wheel it’s one of the first thoughts – who will buy this particular model, which customers were the manufacturers thinking of when they designed this latest model?

It’s no surprise then that the sporty brand of SEAT, Cupra, sponsors so many TV films because the latest incarnation is a movie blockbuster of a motor.

Tavascan is the new electric SUV in the stable and is something Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron in the Transformers franchise, would be happy to inhabit.

The ‘Transformers’ badge on the bonnet, boot and steering wheel are dead giveaways that something special lurks below the skin.

But at the risk of mixing my movie franchises, the interior would go down just as well with DC super crimefighter Batman.

Inside and out Tavascan is something akin to a sci-fi special, the elite transport of a leading light of the film world.

First off, if it is dark, it greets you by illuminating the distinctive logo, not on the clouds like the bat-light but on the ground.

If it is light Tavascan captures the attention with stunning 21st century looks. Curvaceous bodywork, massive 21 in alloys, signature lighting and a flick of the tail on the rear hatch all conspire to grab the limelight and make Tavascan the best looking model in an attractive range.

It looks unashamedly sporty and guess what? That’s because it is. Climb into the cockpit and revel in an amazing interior where the carbon-look dashboard seems to arrow out to meet you. Bucket seats and sporty steering wheel leave you in no doubt about the purpose of this stunning EV – it’s pure driving pleasure.

The 77kWh electric motor produces 340PS of instantaneous power and 545Nm torque.

This means what is a substantial car will hit the benchmark 60mph in five seconds and it boasts mid-range strong enough to tear the space/time continuum.

Safe overtakes are a breeze, hill climbs a doddle and there is so much performance available that Tavascan always feels relaxed and under-stressed, which possibly also explains its decent range of 267 miles.

Handling is solid and confidence-inspiring. It sits on the road with a self-assured feel and great poise.

While the steering is sharp and light, the ride feels planted with huge amounts of grip and forgiving levels of comfort. It is not going to rattle your bones but cabin roll is minimal so it feels beautifully controlled.

While Tavascan is a supreme mile-eating motorway cruiser, given the choice you will always choose the twisty way home, it’s just that sort of drive. This is what Cupras do so well.

The specification level of VZ1 offers every luxury imaginable and the Tavascan wants for nothing.

The infotainment centre is excellent and easy to use, the sounds system is great and you will struggle to find any optional extras as everything you require comes as standard.

So there’s Matrix LED lights with signature, panoramic sunroof, top quality Sennheiser premium audio with 12 speakers, augmented-reality head-up display, top view camera, heated front seats, ambient immersive lighting with illuminated door mouldings, a double floor in the boot and dark night microsuede upholstery.

Even the colour, Tavascan Blue, is cool in the extreme and also could have been designed for the movies.

We can’t talk electric without considering charging. I rely on public stations and it’s impressive how quickly Tavascan tops up.

With just 17 per cent left available, which to be fair is around 50 miles, I nip into the supermarket for a quick blast. In the time it takes for a toilet stop and to pick up a few groceries for tea, the charge display reads 86 per cent and over 200 miles – now that is impressive.

But then Tavascan is impressive in every way and richly deserves its top of the credits movie star billing.