Cupra as a standalone name has been around since 2018 but since then it’s been making go faster versions of existing SEATs. With the Formentor it’s the first Cupra that the brand has been involved with from the ground up. With seven new electric and plug in hybrid models in 2021, the Cupra brand have plenty to offer Irish customers. In Ireland there will be four Cupra retailers, with two in Dublin, one in Cork and another in Limerick. Cupra’s intention is to double the network and to enhance the brands awareness.
Special mention : It’s big on presence and gets noticed everywhere. There’s a lovely coasting function when in comfort mode. Extremely well planted on the road. Fantastic interior, very comfortable for four occupants. Climatronic air system is absolutely superb. There’s only one mention of the model name on the car and it’s not where you’d think.
Needs work : Start/Stop and Lane assist functions permanently on, you have to update them to preferred settings at the start of every journey. Two different sized cup holders. Transmission tunnel takes away space from middle seat. If you option the Matt paint (€2,420) it’s going to be expensive if you need to repair any dings. Touch screen volume & climate controls take a little bit of getting used to.
Specs: As tested
| Max Power 150 HP | Petrol / DSG |
| 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds | Road Tax €280 |
Price: €37,135 As spec’d :€47,472 | Boot 420-1,475 litres |
The exterior of the Formentor is pretty different, it’s part suv, part hatchback and it’s definitely a car that gets noticed out on the road. The big Cupra logo takes pride of place on the large front grille. Despite being a relatively high riding car and well proportioned it definitely stands out against a standard crossover. Cupra has been given access to the latest technology from the wider Volkswagen group. On the inside you’ve got an ultra wide central screen and it’s similar to the one that you’ll find in the Mk8 VW Golf. It’s brimmed with features, connectivity media, sat nav etc. You get some touchscreen style buttons for the temperature and for the volume, they’re a little bit fiddly to use, as is the central infotainment system but once you’re up to speed you do learn to work around it. On the move it’s a little less intuitive than just twisting a dial.
You’ve got a digital dash which is similar to many other VW Group cars and here you’ve got a full multi-function steering wheel. You’ve also got start/stop, driving modes and cruise control setups. The gear shift paddles plastic texture could be improved as well as they’re just too short to use comfortably. That said, the general fit and finish is good and it’s a comfortable place as there’s quite a surprising amount of space in the back and the driver’s got a decent amount of leg room and headroom too.
There are some nice fittings dotted around the cabin, you’ve got USB-C ports, controls for heating and ventilation and even though there’s a decent amount of room in the back, that person sat in the middle has gotten the short straw with the big transmission tunnel.
The boot in the Forementor has a useful 420 litres of space which can be extended by folding the rear seats flat (made easier with added handy switches in the boot). It’s also got a clever little ski hatch in the middle for putting skis or longer items through should you need to. It would have been very easy for Cupra to have come in and made the Formentor as stiff and as uncompromising as possible in a quest to create a truly sporting crossover but it’s been a little bit cleverer than that.
Despite this engine having a nice amount of performance (150 hp) for a 1.5 litre engine, it ‘s not going to set your hair back in the same way as the top of the range VZ 2.0 TSI 310 HP (228 KW) DSG 4Drive. There’s plenty of torque which means that when you’re merging onto a motorway or dual carriage or even if you just need to overtake quickly and safely you’ve got reserves to lean on whenever you need it. The gearbox shifts really smoothly and even when you’re in manual mode you notice how crisp those gear changes come into place.
The car rides relatively well if a little stiff on 19-inch alloys and it manages to deal with broken surfaces quite well indeed. If you do want to push a little harder and enjoy the road that you’re on, then the Cupra can do that too. This 1.5 litre engine is powerful enough and generates speed at a decent pace. The steering is relatively light, it’s not all that communicative though but that’s something that we’ve come to expect from most modern cars. Changing the driving modes allows you to add some weight to the steering but it doesn’t increase the feel.
The cabin visibility isn’t too bad either, the windscreen is nice and wide and you actually sit up quite high. One of the best features of the Formentor is that you get the feeling of being in the car rather than on it.
Large wing mirrors give excellent side vision but the rear screen is quite narrow and a little bit boxy as a result of the tapered roof line and that really sharp rear section which adds to the Cupras appeal in terms of aesthetics.
There’s been a bit of a compromise with visibility in favour of looks. Despite the slightly increased ride height the adjustment of the suspension means that you’re not getting a lot of body roll in the corners, in fact the Formentor is remarkably planted through the bends, even at higher speeds it could be easy to describe the Formentor as just another niche busting crossover but to do so would be doing it a disservice. This is a car which manages to blend aesthetics and practicality brilliantly and it looks epically cool. It’s a slightly left field choice but given the amount that it brings to the table, it’s one that really is worth considering. The Formentor has a huge amount of presence combined with practicality in what is a very congested segment.
