Cupra Formentor: 2022 carsales Car of the Year Highly Commended

As planning got underway for 2022 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle, some of the judges used hushed tones to query this curious crossover’s inclusion as a finalist.

What exactly is the Cupra Formentor?

For many of the 10 judges, it was their first time poking, prodding and driving the all-new European mid-size SUV.

But after static examinations of the eye-catching Spaniard on day one of COTY testing, followed by extensive public road assessment then two days of intensive testing at the former GM Holden proving ground at Lang Lang, understanding nods were exchanged between most judges.

This unique vehicle is the real deal.

Indeed, after testing it was manifestly clear the Formentor was a genuine contender as it worked its way to the pointy end of the competition.

While it failed to snatch the hallowed COTY award away from the Kia EV6, it came close and was the only vehicle with a conventional combustion engine in the top three.

Along with the five EVs and the new Ford Everest, the Cupra Formentor quickly became a hot topic of discussion – and not just because it blurs the lines between hot hatch and SUV.

It showed a clean pair of heels across the five main judging criteria: cost of ownership, safety, innovation and technology, practicality and presentation and ride/handling, and was highly rated during final scoring by all 10 judges.

There are four Cupra Formentor model grades available in Australia, with prices starting at $50,690 for the Formentor V and rising to $53,790 for the Formentor VZ, $60,990 for the VZe plug-in hybrid and $61,490 for the hard-core Formentor VZx – which is the model we tested (all prices exclude on-road costs).

It should be noted that the COTY 2022 Highly Commended award applies to all model grades, not just the top-spec version we tested.

Unlike most mainstream cars, all models in the Cupra Formentor line-up have almost identical equipment levels, with only the powertrains standing them apart.

While the almost $62,000 price of the vehicle on test (or $66,990 drive-away) is not within reach of many new-car buyers, it represents strong overall value given standard equipment includes luscious blue leather sports seats – which were voted among the most comfy by several judges – a flat-bottom steering wheel, 12-inch infotainment screen with wireless and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a fantastic 10.25-inch digital driver’s display.

Along with a nine-speaker stereo supplied by Dr Dre’s former audio company, Beats, the Formentor gets a big wireless phone charging pad and several USB-C fast-charge ports, all of which are wrapped up in an ultra-modern cockpit design.

The stubby gear shifter feels like it was lifted from a Porsche 911 and there are Lamborghini-like air vents and an F1-inspired ‘boost’ button on the steering wheel, creating a genuine sense of occasion every time you hop inside.

While only the driver’s seat has power adjustment and there’s no head-up display or traffic sign recognition cameras, safety systems are top-notch and interior space is also very good – and far better than many of the highly regarded EVs on test.

On the road, there wasn’t a judge on the panel who wasn’t impressed by the Cupra Formentor’s fiery powertrain. It boasts similar firepower to the Volkswagen Golf R thanks to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (228kW/400Nm) that sends power to all four wheels through a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

This turbocharged all-wheel drive combination manifests beautifully in seat-crushing acceleration that saw it hit 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds in the hands of road test editor Scott Newman.

Indeed, it outpaced all other finalists except the rip-snorting Genesis GV60 but, unlike that vehicle (which also landed on the podium in 2022 with a Highly Commended award), the Formentor was a far more agile and satisfying car to drive on twisty roads, making it the sportiest vehicle at COTY 2022.

Lump in a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and free scheduled servicing for three years and you’re looking at an attractive overall package. These elements helped it leapfrog a majority of rivals in RedBook’s cost of ownership analysis, which comprises 50 per cent of the judging.

Indeed, the Formentor ranked second overall out of our 12 finalists in this metric, and fifth overall among our 30 contenders in the multi-stage judging process.

The Cupra – which stands for Cup Racing and aptly conveys the brand’s performance focus – was a surprise package that literally came out of nowhere at this year’s COTY competition.

The largely unknown model (and brand) is about to make a big impact Down Under and proves there’s still plenty of life left in combustion-powered vehicles. As if to reinforce the Cupra's local appeal, the Formentor grabbed top spot in our COTY People's Choice poll.

Aussies like a new badge and brand if it's well aimed, it seems.

The Cupra Formentor is without doubt one of the best new cars released in Australia in 2022, and a worthy recipient of carsales’ Car of the Year Highly Commended award, proudly presented by Bingle.