CUPRA Formentor review

The Formentor is a great new showcase model for the CUPRA brand

This is the CUPRA Formentor, the first bespoke vehicle from SEAT’s sporty and electrified CUPRA sub brand. The Formentor is exclusively a CUPRA, even though it is based on the same platform as the SEAT Ateca and it joins other CUPRA models such as the CUPRA Leon and CUPRA Ateca, along with the newly-announced all-electric CUPRA Born.

It is a very eye-catching design,  you can have it in diesel, petrol or plug-in hybrid versions and prices start from around €37,000 in Ireland. This review will focus on the Formentor e-Hybrid which is the plug-in-hybrid version and it offers around 55 kilometres of all-electric range, and impressive performance with petrol and electric power combined.

The Formentor looks unlike anything else on the road right now, which is a good thing. Everyone is curious when they see the CUPRA badges on the grille, tailgate and wheels. The bonnet is long and sculpted, the roof is low slung and the arches at the rear are wide. As standard it gets 18-inch wheels, but this one has upgraded 19-inch alloy wheels with sporty copper and black detailing.

Under the stylish bodywork is a 12.8kWh battery which means you can travel up to 54 kilometres on electric power. The charge port is subtly hidden away on the front passenger side of the car and CUPRA claims economy as low as 1.5 litres per 100 kilometres of driving. As with many plug-in hybrids, it only offers slow charging speeds of up to 3.6 kilowatts, which works out at around three and a half hours at home from a normal wallbox.

The e-HYBRID plug-in hybrid is available with a choice of two powerful engines: 204 horsepower or a more powerful 245 horsepower version which is the one that we are driving here. Driving modes available through the touch screen system and when you select CUPRA it combines the 12.8kwh battery and 1.4-litre TSI engine for a combined 245 horsepower.

Drive it hard and it will sprint from 0-100km/h in 7 seconds, which is still someway off the latest Golf GTI. It sends power to the front wheels through a DSG auto transmission, and it feels responsive if not as exciting as you would expect. That said, it is enjoyable to drive at lower speeds, transitioning between petrol and battery power rather seamlessly.

What’s more it promises low running costs with a low emissions output and CUPRA claims fuel economy as low as 1.5 litres per 100 kilometres of driving and it emits a lowly 33 grams of Co2 per kilometre. The Formentor is comfortable out on the road, even with these large 19-inch wheels and low profile tyres, it rides well on bumpy back roads. The steering is responsive and it has a short turning circle, which makes it fun to drive. The driving position feels low slung and sporty, although the brake feel takes getting used to with regenerative braking.

The Formentor is arguably as stylish inside as it is on the outside too, with copper stitching across the dashboard, sculpted leather sports seats on this highly specced version, and a large 12-inch infotainment screen as standard.  

The system looks great with vibrant colour displays, although it takes getting used to, even for simple tasks such as adjusting the air con. For this reason, we can see most buyers using the in-built Android Auto or Apple Car Play instead. The interior is spacious too with good space in the rear for two tall passengers, or three at a squeeze, and two sets of ISOFIX mounts for family buyers, although boot space is reduced from 450 litres in the standard Formentor to 345 litres in this plug-in hybrid model due to the battery taking up space, which could be better.

As standard the CUPRA Formentor gets 18-inch alloy wheels, LED Headlights,  CUPRA brakes, keyless unlock, sports seats, ambient lighting inside, a CUPRA steering wheel and 12.25-inch digital cockpit. This higher spec VZ model has larger 19-inch wheels, the super comfy bucket seats and larger brakes. Prices for the entry 1.5 TSI petrol Forementor start from around €37,000, while the high spec VZ that we are driving here starts at €55,000 around.

The Formentor is a great new showcase model for the CUPRA brand, it’s stylish, it is good to drive and it’s practical too with plenty of room inside. While the plug-in hybrid models are efficient and fun to drive, we wouldn’t overlook the petrol or diesel models which are lower cost and offer a strong specification.

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