The Cupra Terramar, a new entrant in the medium SUV segment, has secured a five-star ANCAP safety rating following its official introduction in New Zealand in April 2025 and Australia in July 2025. The rating applies to all petrol, diesel, and hybrid variants sold in both countries.
Breaking down the safety scores
The 2025 Cupra Terramar was tested under ANCAP’s latest 2023–2025 protocols and delivered a solid performance across all major categories:
- Adult Occupant Protection: 89%
- Child Occupant Protection: 87%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 82%
- Safety Assist: 78%
Let’s take a closer look at how the Terramar scored in each category:
Adult Occupant Protection – 89% (35.89 out of 40)
The Terramar performed strongly in adult occupant protection. It scored 4.60 out of 8 in the frontal offset test and 7.45 out of 8 in the full-width frontal test. Protection to the driver was rated highly, though marginal chest protection was noted for the second-row passenger in the full-width test.
In the side impact and oblique pole crash tests, it earned 6.00 and 5.94 out of 6, respectively. Far-side impact protection was rated at the full 4.00 out of 4, helped by the standard inclusion of a centre airbag. Whiplash protection scored 2.90 out of 4 in the front and just 1.00 out of 4 in the rear, highlighting room for improvement. The Terramar scored a full 4.00 out of 4 for rescue and extrication.
Child Occupant Protection – 87% (43.00 out of 49)
The Terramar also achieved a strong result for child safety. It recorded full marks in both the dynamic frontal (16.00/16) and side impact (8.00/8) tests. It scored 12.00 out of 12 for child restraint installation, showing broad compatibility with common restraint types.
It scored 7.00 out of 13 in the on-board features category, with deductions mainly due to the lack of a top tether anchorage in the centre rear seat of New Zealand models, making that position unsuitable for child restraints.
Vulnerable Road User Protection – 82% (51.78 out of 63)
Despite being an SUV, the Terramar offered a good level of protection to pedestrians and cyclists. It scored 12.58 out of 18 for head protection of adults, children, and cyclists. Femur and pelvis protection were rated at 4.50 and 3.65 out of 6, respectively, while knee and tibia protection achieved 9.00 out of 9.
In active safety tests, AEB pedestrian scored 6.28 out of 9, while AEB backover functionality was not available on any variant (0.00/2). AEB Cyclist earned 7.77 out of 9 and AEB Motorcycle scored 6.00 out of 6. Motorcycle detection through Lane Support Systems added 2.00 out of 4.
Safety Assist – 78% (14.14 out of 18)
The Terramar came well-equipped with standard active safety technologies. It scored 1.00 out of 1 for seat belt reminders and 0.25 out of 1 for driver monitoring. The Speed Assistance System contributed 2.16 out of 3, and AEB across various car-to-car scenarios performed strongly, including 4.00 out of 4 for front-to-rear and 3.72 out of 4 for junction assist.
It received just 0.50 out of 2 for head-on AEB scenarios. The Lane Support System scored 2.50 out of 3. AEB for pedestrians, cyclists, junctions, and motorcyclists is standard across all variants, but the lack of AEB backover affected its overall Safety Assist rating.
What does ANCAP say about this result?
According to ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg, the Terramar delivers a solid balance of crash protection and accident prevention features.
“The Cupra Terramar offers a well-rounded package of occupant protection and crash prevention,” she said.
However, ANCAP highlighted differences in safety features between markets. For instance, Australian models come standard with blind spot monitoring, cyclist anti-dooring tech, and intelligent adaptive cruise control, while these are not fitted across all New Zealand variants. In addition, New Zealand models do not include a top tether anchor in the centre rear seat, making it unsuitable for securing a child restraint.
Who should consider the Cupra Terramar?
- Families: The Terramar provides high child occupant protection score (87%) and has full points in child frontal and side impact tests.
- Tech-focused drivers: Advanced safety features like AEB with junction assist. Intelligent adaptive cruise control (standard in Australian models). Blind spot monitoring and cyclist anti-dooring tech (standard in AU)
- Medium SUV buyers: Strong five-star ANCAP rating, Available in petrol and hybrid options, Good balance of occupant and road user protection.
Final thoughts
The Cupra Terramar enters the Australian and New Zealand markets with a strong safety showing, adding to its appeal as a modern, well-equipped SUV. Its five-star ANCAP rating underscores its commitment to protecting not just its occupants but also other road users. With both petrol and hybrid options available, it offers flexibility and peace of mind—though prospective New Zealand buyers may want to review the safety specs closely before purchase.
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