CUPRA Terramar vs Hyundai Kona Electric

The CUPRA Terramar starts from $53,990 before on-road costs, while the Hyundai Kona Electric opens at $54,000. That makes the CUPRA Terramar the more affordable entry point by $10.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $59,389 and $59,400 respectively.

The Hyundai Kona Electric qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The CUPRA Terramar, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the CUPRA Terramar and Hyundai Kona Electric hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the CUPRA Terramar and 80% for the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The CUPRA Terramar packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the CUPRA Terramar and 7 in the Hyundai Kona Electric. The CUPRA Terramar adds a 360-degree camera that the Hyundai Kona Electric misses.

The CUPRA Terramar features a 12.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Hyundai Kona Electric gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The CUPRA Terramar stands out with power tailgate and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Hyundai Kona Electric. The Hyundai Kona Electric counters with wireless charging and V2L. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the CUPRA Terramar gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Hyundai Kona Electric offers cloth. Climate control is 3-zone in the CUPRA Terramar and 2-zone in the Hyundai Kona Electric.

The CUPRA Terramar uses a 4-cyl Turbo Petrol MHEV producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.3 seconds.

The Hyundai Kona Electric responds with a Electric making 99kW and 255Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.9 seconds.

The CUPRA Terramar has the clear power advantage at 110kW vs 99kW. In the real-world sprint, the CUPRA Terramar is 0.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The CUPRA Terramar measures 4,519mm long on a 2,681mm wheelbase, 169mm longer than the Hyundai Kona Electric at 4,350mm (2,660mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the CUPRA Terramar generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 508L in the CUPRA Terramar and 361L in the Hyundai Kona Electric, giving the CUPRA Terramar a 147L advantage.

For towing, the CUPRA Terramar leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,300kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (CUPRA Terramar) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai Kona Electric). Both match on warranty length.