2023 CUPRA Formentor Review
The Formentor is a stylish crossover with a sporty edge and plenty of power options including petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid.
Review
Pros: Stylish, good to drive, practical.
Cons: Fiddly touchscreen controls, plug-in hybrid has smaller boot.
Cupra Formentor Design
Cupra used to be the high-performance division of Seat but now it's a standalone brand within the Volkswagen Group with a sporty premium positioning and some very cool car design. Unlike the Cupra Leon and Ateca, the Formentor is much more than a rebadged Seat; it’s Cupra’s first model designed exclusively for the brand. Styled as a sort of coupé-crossover, it looks very different to most family SUVs on the market. It’s lower, longer and leaner than a Cupra Ateca, with plenty of lines, scoops and creases to stand out from the crowd. 18-inch alloy wheels come as standard, with the option to upgrade to 19-inch. The roof spoiler and diffuser-effect in the rear bumper hint at some good performance, as do copper faux-exhaust tips on less potent models. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Formentor has some serious eye-catching style for a mid-size family crossover.
Cupra Formentor Interior
It’s quite distinct inside too, solid and well-made with lots of soft touch materials, good quality plastics and more of that signature copper trim. It’s all tastefully done and enough to give the sort of sporty vibes that are hard to find among most family crossovers and SUVs. There is the option of gorgeous bucket seats (standard on higher spec VZ models), which are definitely worth speccing for the full Cupra experience. The Cupra-branded steering wheel is leather-wrapped and features tactile buttons. There are also a number of views that can be selected for the digital instrument cluster. There is a large touchscreen as standard with Cupra-specific graphics. However, it is blighted by a lack of physical buttons and dials to control the ventilation.
There is plenty of space in the back for adults and children. It will be more comfortable for two rather than three passengers because of the raised transmission tunnel down the centre of the car. But there are plenty of creature comforts like USB ports and tri-zone climate control standard across the range. Petrol and diesel models are best for boot space with a competitive, if not class-leading, 450 litres. However, the plug-in hybrid can only manage 345 litres, which is even a bit less than a Volkswagen Golf.
Cupra Formentor Performance & Drive
The range kicks off with a familiar 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the Volkswagen Group with 150hp. There’s also a 2.0-litre diesel, also with 150hp. There are 6-speed manual and 7-speed DSG gearboxes available. The plug-in hybrid is available with a 6-speed DSG and two states of tune: one with 204hp and the other with 245hp (VZ trim only). The range-topper uses the same high-performance 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine as the Volkswagen Golf R, putting out 310hp, with four wheel drive as standard.
We tested the 204hp plug-in hybrid that uses a 12.8kWh battery for an electric driving range of up to 59 kilometres when fully charged. In hybrid mode, it uses a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motor to send power to the front wheels, boost efficiency and improve the refinement of the car. It offers adequate performance and can move swiftly with 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds. The Formentor handles better than most crossovers and SUVs of its size, feeling stable and athletic through bends thanks to a standard fit electronic differential lock that improves handling and traction of front wheel drive cars. Despite the sports suspension and tight handling, the ride quality is generally good though it does feel firmer over bumps and imperfections in the road surface. VZ versions get dynamic chassis control, which gives more adjustability to the ride quality and access to the sportiest Cupra driving mode. The Formentor cruises well with just some wind noise at high speeds on the motorway. Charging of the battery in the plug-in hybrid takes about 3.5 hours at a rate of 3.6kW from a wallbox fitted at home.
Cupra Formentor Pricing
The range kicks off at €40,630 for the 1.5 petrol manual, from €42,335 for the 2.0 diesel manual and from €48,300 for the plug-in hybrid. VZ high performance models are available from €57,795 for the plug-in hybrid and from €74,825 for the top of the range 2.0 TSI 310hp.
Carzone Verdict
The Formentor has really helped to establish Cupra as a new brand in the Irish market and it's no surprise because this car has great presence, an upmarket cabin and it's practical too. There’s a great selection of power options, though it’s the standard petrol and diesel models that are the most affordable and practical. The Formentor is more fun and precise to drive than many SUVs and crossovers on the market, and the plug-in hybrid provides a pleasant punch of power balanced with efficiency, particularly when the battery is kept topped up. It's definitely a car worth considering.