Cupra Formentor 2026 Review
Sharper styling, broader electrification and more performance keep the Cupra Formentor fresh, but rising prices are beginning to test its value propositionThe Cupra Formentor has always been the SUV for people who still miss hot hatches. Now, with sharper styling, more performance and a significantly improved plug-in hybrid, the Spanish brand has broadened the line-up without losing the character that made the original so appealing. The challenge isn’t whether the updated Formentor is better. It is. The bigger hurdle is if buyers are prepared to pay what Cupra is now asking.
How much does the Cupra Formentor cost?
The refreshed Cupra Formentor range opens with the new S mild-hybrid at $49,990 plus on-road costs before stepping through the V, VZe plug-in hybrid and VZx, again sits at the top of the tree. Power has increased across almost every variant, but so too has pricing, meaning much of the range now plays firmly in premium territory.
Every model receives Cupra’s latest ‘shark nose’ front-end design, triangular daytime running lights and an illuminated rear logo. Inside, there is a larger 12.9-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, illuminated climate sliders, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, wireless phone charging and a comprehensive suite of active safety technology.
One thing Cupra has nailed is giving each variant its own personality. Too often manufacturers simply dial power up or down across a model range, but every Formentor feels like it was developed with a different buyer in mind.
The S targets commuters with its 110kW mild-hybrid system, the V is the all-rounder, the VZe is the technology leader, while the VZx is unmistakably the enthusiast’s choice. It borrows its engine and all-wheel-drive system from the Volkswagen Golf R before adding an Audi-sourced torque-vectoring rear differential that genuinely livens up the driving experience.
Practical ownership has also been considered. Every model bar the VZe retains a space-saver spare wheel, with the plug-in hybrid forced to make do with a tyre inflation kit because of its larger battery.
Cupra backs the range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and servicing intervals of 12 months or 15,000 kilometres. Pre-paid servicing costs are competitive at $1090 for three years or $2190 for five years.
Five years of warranty was once considered generous and today simply meets the industry baseline. With several mainstream rivals now offering seven, eight or even 10 years of coverage, Cupra’s aftersales package no longer stands out the way the car itself does.
Buyers can further personalise the Formentor with a $2000 panoramic sunroof across the range, while S and V variants can also be fitted with the $2200 Leather and Sound Package, which adds leather-appointed upholstery, a power-adjustable front passenger seat and a 12-speaker Sennheiser premium audio system.
Those chasing maximum visual impact can opt for the Extreme Package, priced at $6500 for the VZe and $7000 for the VZx. It certainly turns the visual and dynamic dial up another notch, adding CUP bucket seats, upgraded Brembo (VZe) or Akebono (VZx) brakes and Matrix Ultra LED headlights, which proved genuinely impressive during our night drive. However, it comes with one significant caveat buyers should carefully consider. Fitting the CUP bucket seats requires deleting the centre airbag between the two front occupants. It’s an unusual compromise for what is ultimately a performance package, and one prospective owners should fully understand before signing on the dotted line.
What’s good about the Cupra Formentor?
Spend a day swapping between the four core variants and one thing quickly becomes obvious – Cupra hasn’t forgotten who this car is for. As more manufacturers chase outright comfort, Cupra continues to prioritise the person behind the wheel.
The steering is on the heavier side, but it’s nicely weighted and offers positive feedback. Combined with Cupra’s progressive steering calibration, the front-end feels eager to change direction and every model encourages you to drive it rather than simply commute. In VZx form especially, its character is less about being a conventional SUV and more like the hot hatch many enthusiasts have reluctantly migrated from.
Drive modes also have a noticeable influence on the Formentor’s character. Leave it in Comfort mode and the dual-clutch transmission can be a little reluctant to respond, favouring smoothness over urgency. Step through the modes, however, and the throttle, steering and gearbox progressively sharpen until Cupra mode unlocks the car’s full personality. It’s here the Formentor feels most at home.
The VZe is arguably the biggest step forward. Because the electric motor is integrated into the transmission, transitions between petrol and electric power are almost imperceptible. The e-motor even replaces the conventional starter motor, quietly spinning the petrol engine into life when required.
Real-world economy will ultimately depend on how often owners recharge the battery, but our VZe finished the launch with an average of 5.3L/100km despite a healthy mix of highway and country driving. The addition of DC fast charging and a claimed 114km of electric driving range also make it a genuinely useable everyday plug-in hybrid.
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys tinkering, the VZe offers plenty to play with. Drivers can tailor hybrid operation, regenerative braking levels and even choose how much battery charge to retain for later in the journey.
Ironically, the one to buy is the cheapest.
The S misses out on some visual drama thanks to its smaller alloy wheels, but they’re also the reason it rides noticeably better than the rest of the range. If you’re commuting five days a week instead of chasing apexes every weekend, it’s arguably the sweet spot of the line-up.
Few SUVs have as much visual presence as the Formentor. Four years on, it still turns heads, and the refreshed front-end treatment, new lighting signatures and updated wheel designs only strengthen its appeal.
What’s not so good about the Cupra Formentor?
Underneath the refreshed styling sits an older Volkswagen Group platform that’s beginning to show its age.
On Australia’s coarse-chip highways, tyre roar is more pronounced than many newer rivals, while sharp-edged bumps send vibrations through the cabin. The interior doesn’t quite live up to the asking price, either. Too many hard plastics and carryover Volkswagen switchgear remind you this platform has been around for a while.
The front bucket seats do a brilliant job of holding you in place through corners, but after a full day behind the wheel I found myself wishing they’d traded a little support for more cushioning.
Practicality also isn’t a standout. The cockpit feels snug, cupholders are undersized, storage is merely adequate and visibility over the shoulder is compromised by the thick C-pillars. There’s also no head-up display in any model – it’s not even optional.
The advanced driver assistance systems also remain a mixed bag. Speed limit warnings and the driver attention monitor can become intrusive, although Cupra deserves credit for making them quick and easy to disable with a simple swipe through the infotainment screen.
Unfortunately, most systems automatically reactivate every time the engine is restarted, with traffic sign recognition the lone exception. It’s a minor annoyance that soon becomes part of the ownership routine. The reversing camera, meanwhile, feels a generation behind in image quality.
The ageing platform also means the VZe misses out on vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, something that’s becoming increasingly common among newer electrified rivals.
One option you could save money on is the Sennheiser premium audio. The standard sound system is more than good enough and doesn’t leave you feeling short-changed.
Should I buy the Cupra Formentor?
Cupra has done an excellent job improving the parts of the Formentor buyers can see and feel, but the areas it couldn’t change are beginning to show their age.
The updated Formentor still succeeds for the same reason the original did – it has character.
Few SUVs in this class feel this dynamic. The steering remains a highlight and the chassis encourages enthusiastic driving. The expanded line-up also means there’s now a version to suit buyers prioritising efficiency, electrification or outright performance.
Ultimately, the question isn’t if the 2026 Cupra Formentor is better, because it is. The real issue is if the Spanish marque has done enough to justify the extra spend.
As prices continue creeping into premium territory, buyers now have access to SUVs that are quieter, more comfortable, more practical and arguably better finished inside. Viewed purely through a value-for-money lens, the Formentor becomes harder to defend than it once was.
However, buying a Formentor has never been a purely rational decision. It’s the sort of car you buy because every time you turn into a corner it reminds you why you chose it over something more sensible.
Cupra’s biggest challenge isn’t engineering the Formentor, it’s getting people behind the wheel. Once you drive one, it’s very easy to understand why the Formentor has become the brand’s defining model.
2026 Cupra Formentor S at a glance:
Price: $49,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol 48V mild-hybrid
Output: 110kW/250Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.4L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 122g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2025)
2026 Cupra Formentor V at a glance:
Price: $57,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 150kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.0L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 160g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2025)
2026 Cupra Formentor VZe at a glance:
Price: $68,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid
Output: 130kW/250Nm (electric motor: 85kW/330Nm)
Combined output: 200kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic
Battery: 20kWh lithium-ion
Range: Up to 114km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 15.1kWh/100km (WLTP)
Fuel: 1.7L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 39g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2025), not applicable to optional extreme pack
2026 Cupra Formentor VZx at a glance:
Price: $69,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 245kW/420Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 187g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2025), not applicable to optional extreme pack
2026 Cupra Formentor VZ5 at a glance:
Price: $94,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Available to order now, with first Australian deliveries expected in late 2026
Engine: 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 287kW/480Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: TBC
CO2: TBC
Safety rating: Unrated
- Still one of the most rewarding SUVs to drive in the segment
- Four genuinely different personalities across the range, not just different power outputs
- VZe plug-in hybrid seamlessly blends performance, efficiency and everyday useability
- Premium pricing is starting to outpace the value proposition
- Road noise and ride refinement expose the ageing Volkswagen Group platform
- Intrusive driver assistance systems reset after every engine restart
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