Cupra Formentor review
Distinctive crossover blurs the lines between sports and utility
At a glance |
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| New price | £27,180 - £42,535 |
| Lease from new | From £291 p/m View lease deals |
| Used price | £20,420 - £37,510 |
| Used monthly cost | From £510 per month |
| Fuel Economy | 31.4 - 235.4 mpg |
| Insurance group | 19 - 33 How much is it to insure? |
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PROS
- Modish looks stand out from crowd, practical
- Choice of powerful petrols and frugal hybrids
- Decent room for passengers and their luggage
CONS
- Firm ride in Sport mode, no diesel option
- Cupra a brand few will have heard of
- Is it a little too niche for most buyers?
Cupra Formentor SUV rivals
With the launch of the new Formentor, it looks like new Spanish brand Cupra is getting serious. Barcelona’s aspiring premium brand has, for its three years of standalone existence, been strapping high-performance engines into and go-faster bodykits onto SEATs. That all changes with the launch of the Formentor, a fashionable crossover model which will only be available as a Cupra.
Cupra launched its ‘coupe SUV’ from the top down, unleashing the ballistic, 310hp, four-wheel drive performance model first and only now adding new plug-in hybrid variants and smaller 1.5-litre petrols. There is a decent range of price points now, but note there are no diesels sold in the UK.
The Formentor is a family crossover, whose rivals include the Volvo XC40 and Audi Q3 as well as its more sporting sister car the Audi Q3 Sportback. The Cupra is a little longer than its Ateca stablemate but notably the roof sits some 100mm lower. That makes it look like a high-riding estate car, on big wheels (18-inch standard, 19s optional) pushed out to the corners of the car. It’s a handsome-looking car.
What's it like inside and out?
The Formentor is certainly a distinctive-looking thing, with a few trademark Cupra finishing touches to make it stand out from the crowd, such as copper accent colours and a full-width light bar at the rear.
The gloss sills and wheelarch trim that contrast with the body colour feel fresh, there’s not an ounce of silver chrome, and a tiny Formentor script in the rear lamp is the only mention of the model’s name. It's slightly odd that this Cupra model sticks with the grille and headlamp graphics from sister brand SEAT though...
The new Cupra Formentor rides on the oily bits you'll find in the Golf, which explains why the engine choices mirror those elsewhere in the Volkswagen group. That means a choice of front- and all-wheel drive, and an array of petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) powertrains, which promise an electric range of up to 37 miles on silent e-power.
What does the range look like and how much is it?
The Formentor costs from £27,300 for the 150hp 1.5-litre petrol with front-wheel drive with a manual transmission. Three more petrol engines and a choice of two plug-in hybrids complete the range.
At the top of the range sits the muscular 310hp Formentor 4Drive. Cash price starts at £39,830 for this VZ2 model, which includes 10.25-inch digital instruments, a 12.0-inch central infotainment system, Nappa leather heated bucket seats, front and rear parking sensors, sports suspension with adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels.
Even better equipped Formentor VZ3 and VZ Edition models cost £42,200 and £43,840 respectively. VZ3 gains copper and black 19-inch wheels and uprated brakes from Brembo, while VZ Edition versions of the Formentor add a panoramic glass sunroof. On a monthly PCP finance scheme, you’ll pay around £399 a month for a VZ2 after a £7,519 deposit.
Performance fans may look forward to the recently announced VZ5 model, which packs a mighty 390hp punch from its 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine; it promises to be supercar-fast, with 0-62mph dispatched in just 4.2 seconds, but it will be left-hand drive only when it arrives in the UK in limited numbers in late 2021.
- Read more: The Parkers guide to SUVs
- Read more: Cupra Leon full details
