Cupra Formentor is the People’s Choice

The people have spoken and the result is clear: the all-new Cupra Formentor is the 2022 carsales Car of the Year People’s Choice.

From a field of hundreds of eligible models, we whittled down our 2022 COTY field to 30 contenders and then 10 finalists plus two wildcards, on the way to announcing the 2022 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle, this Wednesday (November 16).

But in the meantime you had your say via our People’s Choice reader poll, which opened on November 2 and closed Friday, by which time the result was clear-cut.

Launched in August, the Cupra Formentor accounted for a dominant 31 per cent of votes from respondents to our third annual COTY readers’ poll – even more than the 19.6 per cent achieved last year by the Hyundai IONIQ 5, which went on to be named the 2021 carsales Car of the Year.

“It is a really cool-looking car and is very different and unique from all of the cookie-cutter cars on sale today,” said one reader of the Formentor.

“Perfect price, size and cost of ownership,” said another, with yet another echoing the general sentiment by saying: “It looks amazing, price is right, lots of kit. What isn’t to love about this car!”

The Tesla Model Y and Ford Everest rounded out this year’s People’s Choice podium, each attracting 16 per cent of the vote with the EV slightly ahead on votes.

Making up the top five were the all-new Kia EV6 and new Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

“Space, style, performance and value. It’s fast becoming the top-selling car or EV in the world,” said one reader of the Model Y.

“The complete package for a young family that needs the extra seating, tech and safety, to the other end of the scale, the grey nomads who want safety, comfort and the power to tow their caravan,” said another of the Everest.

“It’s got it all at about half the price of a LandCruiser. Winner, Winner.”

Meantime, the Kia EV6 – the sister model to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 – also got plenty of tongues wagging, but didn’t attract as many votes as the American EV.

“Being electric, fast and somewhat affordable, it shows how good electric vehicles are … even though they’re more expensive than run-of-the-mill vehicles,” said one reader of the EV6.

“Great all-rounder, can do everything and the option list is long. Have ordered mine and can’t wait to take ownership of it,” said another.

Further down the pecking order, there was plenty of love for the new Honda Civic, with one reader proclaiming: “It’s a well-designed, high-quality vehicle with the new model taking the next step into the premium market without losing the fundamentals of being smart, efficient, reliable, spacious and engaging to drive. The next-generation styling make it a very attractive proposition.”

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Jeep Grand Cherokee also attracted plenty of comments, but none more so than the new BYD Atto 3.

“This car provides an excellent product for those who want to go full EV without spending huge bucks,” said one reader of the small Chinese electric SUV.

“BYD are pioneers in battery with both Tesla and Toyota recruiting BYD for batteries. The Atto 3 is the first of many awesome cars to come. It’s smaller proportions are awesome for running around town or heading to work.”

But from a 12-strong field of COTY finalists comprising nine SUVs, five EVs and five electric SUVs, the Cupra Formentor emerged as the crowd favourite in a win for traditional combustion power.

That said, the first dedicated model from the Volkswagen Group’s Seat offshoot, Cupra, is anything but traditional – and not just because it can hit 100km/h in less than five seconds.

One of the sportiest models in the 2022 COTY field, the Cupra Formentor borrows its 228kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol powertrain from the Volkswagen Golf R, including its clever all-wheel drive system and quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Unlike most mainstream cars, all model grades in the mid-size SUV line-up have almost identical equipment levels, with only the powertrains standing them apart.

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).

For its near-$62K asking price, the Formentor VZx on test for COTY delivers strong value thanks a long list of standard equipment including blue leather sports seats, 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 and accompanied by a strong safety suite.

Throw in a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and free scheduled servicing for three years and it’s no wonder the Cupra Formentor is the People’s Choice for 2022.

Watch this space on Wednesday (November 16) to find out which model is the 2022 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.