The Cupra Formentor is the Spanish auto brand’s best-selling model, and the facelifted and updated version of the popular mid-sized crossover SUV, due to arrive in Australia in 2025, is set to be even more appealing.
Along with visual changes outside and technical adjustments inside, there’s also a couple of new powertrains on the cards for the new model, including the one tested for this review – the e-HYBRID plug-in petrol-electric variant with outputs of 200kW/400Nm and more than 100km of EV driving range.
And if it works for your lifestyle and your driving tastes, it could be the best SUV in its segment. I’ll tell you why in this review.
How much does the Cupra Formentor cost?
The existing Cupra Formentor strategy has seen the brand offer the plug-in hybrid (VZe) alongside a high-spec performance petrol (VZx) model grade, at a near identical price – $64,990 and $65,790 before on-road costs, respectively. And then there’s the special-edition VZe Tribe, with more equipment and a price point of $67,990 plus on-roads.
That price may shift up a little with the new versions, which are better equipped, more powerful and, in this instance, far more technologically advanced in terms of the powertrain.
More details on the powertrains expected in Australia are listed below, and full pricing and spec details will be reported here in the coming months ahead of the facelifted Formentor’s arrival in the first half of 2025.
To see how the Cupra Formentor stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool.
What is the Cupra Formentor like on the inside?
The existing Formentor had a special-feeling interior that was arguably let down by frustrating technology – yes, namely the infotainment screen, which we’ve called out as a concern for years now.
Thankfully, Cupra has listened to the global feedback from reviewers and owners alike, and there have been massive and important improvements to the infotainment system.
The home screen display has been reworked, so there’s a dedicated climate panel at the bottom with illuminated sliders for the temperature and volume just below.
At the top of the screen there is now a configurable ‘favourites’ zone, where you can more simply click and jump to where you want to be, rather than going through the home screen controls, which are still a bit fiddly.
There’s also a drop-down system to allow you to reconfigure your preferred settings for the lane-keeping and speed sign recognition system, or other car settings.
The screen is a big improvement, and the rest of the interior is exactly as you’d expect of a Cupra – beautiful, well built and stylish, with copious amounts of copper trim and some eco-friendly materials too.
There are physical buttons on the steering wheel rather than haptics, thankfully, plus a number of useful storage options up front – a wireless phone charger with USB-C ports above, a couple of slots alongside the stubby little gear selector, a pair of cupholders between the seats, and a covered centre bin.
All four doors get decent bottle holders, the rear also has a set of cupholders in a flip-down armrest, and there’s a ski-port, too. But in the vehicle tested here, there were no map pockets on the seat backs, as the front seats were the high-spec Cup Racing versions.
Rear seat comfort and space is good for someone my size (182cm/6’0”), and I could fit behind my own driving position with room to spare.
There’s enough width to fit three adults across, with good shoulder space and headroom on offer, and there are ISOFIX points in the window seats and three top-tethers as well. And unlike the lower-riding Leon SportsTourer, there’s a slightly higher slide-in point, meaning loading kids in and out might be a little less painful.
Rear seat amenities include USB-C ports, directional air-vents, a climate controller, lighting, and grab handles. The test vehicle had a panoramic glass roof, which helped create a slightly more airy feeling in the back, because the raked window line and dark headlining might be a tad cave-like for some.
Boot space in the e-HYBRID is less than that in other variants in the Formentor range – 345 litres, because the battery pack is housed under the floor area. That might rule it out for some, or you might consider fitting a set of roof racks and a cargo box (which would look awesome!). Or you could choose another Formentor, as they offer up to 450 litres.
The e-HYBRID has no spare wheel, just a tyre repair kit. It is expected that the other versions will be offered with a space-saver spare wheel.
The boot has side storage areas, shopping bag hooks, and a cargo cover – but annoyingly, there’s no dedicated spot for the charging cables.
To see how the Cupra Formentor stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
Okay, let’s start with the e-HYBRID plug-in petrol-electric version tested here – which runs the same powerplant as the Leon SportsTourer we also reviewed in Spain recently.
Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre eHybrid turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that, in itself, delivers 130kW/250Nm. It combines with an electric motor (85kW/330Nm) that draws charge from a 25.8kWh (gross, ~20kWh net) NMC battery pack. There’s AC charging at 11kW, and DC charging up to 50kW.
All told, the maximum power output is 200kW and 400Nm, and all of that has to get to the ground by way of a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto, and it’s front-wheel drive.
The claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time for this model is 7.2 seconds, making it quick but not frenetic.
For that e-HYBRID plug-in model, the EV driving range is stated to be between 108km and 119km, which is exceptional – and double the existing model!
Further, the e-HYBRID has an official fuel consumption number of 0.4 to 0.6 litres per 100km with a full battery, and there’s also a ‘battery depleted’ or ‘charge sustaining’ mode number, which is 5.6-6.1L/100km.
If you’re curious about the battery efficiency, Cupra states the number at 18.2 to 20.8kWh per 100km. The figures vary depending on specs including the wheel/tyre combo.
On this test, the e-HYBRID just fell short of 100km of full EV driving but still resulted in an exceptional displayed average of 1.8L/100km for the first hundred, and beyond that – after copping a mix of driving and drivers over a series of different scenarios – it showed just 4.8L/100km over more than 250km of total driving.
And for the revheads, there are going to be other options available for those who want to scratch the itch.
The range-topping version, expected to still be called VZx, comes with 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with 245kW and 420Nm, and uses a seven-speed DSG auto in combination with all-wheel drive, for a claimed 0-100km/h of just 4.8 seconds.
Other options coming to Australia include a new entry-level 1.5 eTSI mild-hybrid, equipped with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine aided by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and offering familiar 110kW/250Nm outputs, mated to a seven-speed DSG and front-wheel drive.
To see how the Cupra Formentor stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool.
How does the Cupra Formentor drive?
If you’re a distance commuter who also likes a car that makes you cackle, this could be an ideal choice.
With an achievable real-world EV driving range of up to about 100km, and a frugal engine once you deplete the battery, it makes a great deal of sense for a great number of buyers – considerably more than the last version, which had about half the EV range.
But the Volkswagen-owned brand has also worked hard to make sure it remains a fun car, not just a functional one.
With Cupra mode enabled, there’s a VZ5-aping artificial soundtrack piped through the speakers, and there might be some buyers who don’t dig it, but I found it to be a bit of a laugh.
As you’d expect, getting 200kW and 400Nm to the road via the front axle can make for some, er, involving moments of hard acceleration, but I reckon that adds to the appeal, and during my drive it never got out of shape in terms of getting the power down.
There’s a clever electronic locking differential at the front to ensure that you can keep your momentum up in the bends, and Cupra has definitely honed its driving character nicely – this doesn’t feel like a VW, Audi or Skoda to drive in haste.
Our test vehicle had adaptive dampers with multi-stage adjustment that can be tailored in Individual mode, but after switching between the preset options, Comfort mode softened things up and made sharper bumps a bit more noticeable due to some bounciness (it is a heavier mid-sized SUV at 1742kg), whereas Cupra or Performance mode felt far firmer in general driving, but not unrelentingly so.
When you’re driving more sedately in EV mode, the six-speed DSG auto will actually shift up and down through the gears, making for an unusual sensation in urban driving.
But it was smooth taking off, and the regenerative braking system also offers strong retardation when you lift off the throttle. Not quite single-pedal, but it’s very amenable.
To see how the Cupra Formentor stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool.
What do you get?
Australian specs aren’t confirmed yet, but it is likely that the refreshed Formentor range will be pared back a little, with three trim lines on offer.
Cupra Formentor V 1.5 eTSI highlights:
- 18-inch black-and-silver alloy wheels
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- LED headlights and daytime running lights
- Fog lights with cornering function
- Automatic high-beam
- Automatic headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Rear privacy glass
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless phone charging
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Two front and two rear USB-C ports
- Cloth upholstery
- Tri-zone climate control
- Leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel
- Paddle shifters
- Keyless entry and start
Formentor e-HYBRID is expected to add:
- Tyre repair kit
- Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables
- Adaptive dampers
- Heated front seats
- Power adjustable driver’s seat
- Memory settings for driver’s seat and mirrors
- Heated steering wheel
Formentor VZx is expected to add:
- 19-inch Exclusive Sport black-and-copper alloy wheels
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Quad exhaust
- Leather upholstery
- 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system
- 360-degree camera system
Is the Cupra Formentor safe?
The existing Formentor range has a five-star ANCAP rating from 2021.
In that testing it achieved 93 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 88 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 68 per cent for Vulnerable Road User, and 80 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety tech:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assistance
- Traffic Jam assist
- Blind spot detection
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Speed sign recognition
- Exit warning
- Emergency assist
There are seven airbags fitted – dual front, front centre, front side, and curtain airbags for both rows of seats. Australian models may also get rear side airbags, for a total of nine.
How much does the Cupra Formentor cost to run?
Cupra offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, and for PHEV and EV models there is high-voltage battery warranty coverage for eight years/160,000km, guaranteed for 70 per cent state of health by the end of that period.
If the current offer continues, the Formentor will be available with prepaid servicing over three years/45,000km for $990, or over five years/75,000km for $1990.
There is five years of roadside assistance included for new Cupra models, too. And did you know you can also set your own resale value with the brand if you finance directly? Yep, there’s a guaranteed future value plan, and you can tailor the parameters to your own situation.
CarExpert’s Take on the Cupra Formentor
What a cracking thing the Cupra Formentor e-HYBRID is. It ticks the box for those looking for a higher-riding model with plenty of presence. The in-car tech is greatly improved, and the driving experience brilliant.
The biggest question for family car buyers might actually be whether this is the better choice, or if the closely related Leon SportsTourer e-HYBRID with its bigger boot is a better bet!
Interested in buying a Cupra Formentor? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
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