Cupra Formentor – What you need to know

Launched here in 2022, the Volkswagen-owned Spanish brand Cupra has had a successful start in Australia, led by the sleek and sporty Cupra Formentor mid-size SUV that’s not only the top seller of the range but was Highly Commended in carsales Car of the Year 2022.

The Formentor is available in three turbo-petrol model grades – V, VZ and VZx, all with different outputs – while the Cupra VZe is a plug-in hybrid. They all have a dual-clutch automatic transmission, and both two-wheel drive and AWD is available, depending on the variant.

Formentor pricing for the 2024 model year ranges from $51,990 to $65,790 plus on-road costs.

The entry-level Cupra V has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that drives all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. At $51,990 plus ORCs, it’s the entrée to the Formentor range and has the following standard features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 12.0-inch infotainment touch-screen
• Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Rear-view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Auto parking function
• Adaptive cruise control

In all, there are seven colours available across the Cupra Formentor range, with four attracting a $490 surcharge.

Option packs are available for every variant and the Cupra V, VZ and VZe can be decked out with a panoramic sunroof for $2150 or a Leather and Camera pack, which for $2800 bundles a 360-degree camera and Nappa leather sports seats (heated front) with power adjustment and seat position/exterior mirror memory for the driver.

This pack replaces the previous Leather and Power package, now that the MY24 upgrade brings a powered tailgate and digital radio as standard equipment.

On the Formentor VZx is a $4250 Performance Brakes package, with meaty Brembo brakes and performance disc rotors. Gone is the space-saver spare, replaced by a tyre repair kit.

Matte paint adds a further $2400, the panoramic sunroof $2150 and, finally, an Akrapovic sports exhaust system will lighten the bank account to the tune of $6300.

The Cupra Formentor includes a raft of driver assist and safety technologies, with all variants benefiting from pre-crash Proactive Passenger Protection system.

Airbag coverage is comprehensive, including dual front airbags, a centre-front airbag and a knee airbag for the driver. Side and curtain airbags cover both rows, too.

Standard across the four Cupra Formentor grades is adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go), lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection and lane assist.

Making parking a breeze, if you don’t deploy the auto-parking function, are the front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and side assist with exit warning that detects vehicles approaching from the side.

Other standard features include blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, tyre pressure monitoring, driver fatigue detection, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, exit assist so you don’t step out into traffic or ‘door’ a cyclist or pedestrian, dusk- and rain-sensing LED headlights with auto high beam, and rain-sensing wipers.

The outer rear seats have ISOFIX child seat anchor points and there are three top-tether points.

A 360-degree camera is fitted standard to the VZx, but available as part of the Leather and Camera pack on other models.

All Cupra Formentor variants have a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2021.

Sitting in the centre dash of all Cupra Formentor models is a 12.0-inch infotainment screen.

The infotainment tech includes wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and digital radio, which is new for the 2024 model year and joins the AM/FM bands.

There’s also Bluetooth music and phone connectivity, wireless phone charging, voice recognition and a six-speaker audio system.

Four USB-C ports are standard, along with a 12-volt socket in the centre console.

A premium Beats audio system with nine speakers, subwoofer and 340 amps comes in the VZx.

Complementing the infotainment screen is a 10.25-inch customisable digital instrument panel in all variants.

While all Cupra Formentor models come with alloy wheels, they are 18-inch on the V and 19-inch on the other variants.

Further differentiation is the cloth seat trim in all models except the top-spec VZx, which scores leather upholstery in a snazzy petrol-blue tone, with matching dashboard trim.

The front seats are power-adjustable in the VZx (optional in the others), and the driver’s seat is heated – another VZx exclusive as far as standard equipment goes.

That said, all models come with a heated multifunction steering wheel, heated (and folding) door mirrors, tri-zone air-conditioning and rear air vents.

Is privacy glass on the wish list? The good news is it comes standard on all variants.

What about sports suspension and drive modes? As the Formentor is marketed as a performance SUV, every variant has sports suspension and dynamic chassis control, aided by selectable drive modes too.

All Formentors score LEDs for the headlights, tail-lights (with their in-built strobing indicator function) and daytime running lights. The fog lamps have a cornering function and there are puddle lamps built into the door mirrors.

Giving each Formentor a sporty look is a rear roof spoiler, gloss black roof rails, sports bumpers, dual exhausts on the VZ, copper-accented exhausts on the VZe and quad exhausts on the VZx.

Inside, all variants have a black headlining, illuminated scuff plates and copper stitching on the dashboard.

A cargo cover and two bottle and two cup holders per row come standard on all. There’s also a drawer under the driver’s seat in all models except the VZx, due to its power operation.

Is a power tailgate on the wish list? Well, it was previously only on the top-spec VZx but, happily, it’s now fitted standard across the Formentor range.

The Cupra Formentor has a mix of traditional and high-tech plug-in hybrid powertrain options, all sourced from the Volkswagen Group.

Powering the Formentor V, VZ and VZx is the VW Group’s familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine family.

In the Cupra V it produces 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque, stepping up to the VZ delivers 180kW/370Nm, while the range-topping VZx produces an impressive 228kW/400Nm.

All but the VZx run on 95 RON premium fuel, with the sportiest variant requiring the most expensive 98 RON brew.

The Formentor V and VZx are all-wheel drive, with the mid-spec VZ being a front-wheel drive. All use a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The Cupra Formentor VZe plug-in hybrid has a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and a supplementary electric motor, producing a combined 180kW and 400Nm.

It has a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, is front-wheel drive and has regenerative braking for recharging the hybrid battery. Mode 2 and 3 charging cables are included.

The Cupra Formentor slots into the super-popular mid-size SUV segment, and while it’s substantial in size it doesn’t feel big when driving.

It measures 4450mm long, 1839mm wide and 1510mm tall. Wheelbase is 2680mm.

Gross vehicle mass is 2070kg, while kerb weight spans 1680kg to 1730kg, depending on the variant.

The maximum braked towing capacity is 1500kg on all models, with unbraked being 750kg. There is a maximum tow ball downforce of 80kg.

With the rear seat upright, cargo capacity is 345 litres in the hybrid VZe, 420 litres in the Formentor V and 450L in the VZ and VZx. When the seat is folded, the available space expands to 1475L in all variants.

The Cupra Formentor does a good job of blending sportiness and driving enjoyment with SUV practicality.

Even the entry 140kW Formentor V can hustle from zero to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds, so it’s no slouch.

What’s more, the Formentor V is all-wheel drive, delivering greater traction and control in all conditions. It’s not short on features either, with tri-zone air-con, a heated steering wheel, digital dash, comprehensive safety arsenal and a large infotainment screen with plenty of tech to go with it.

Oddly, the VZ, which costs five grand more, is front-wheel drive, despite being more powerful (180kW) and marginally quicker (6.8sec) from 0-100km/h. So if you want to stick with the all-wheel drive layout but get more bang for your buck, you need to stump up almost $14,000 from the base V to get into a VZx.

That brings even more power (228kW) and lots of other goodies, but it’s a tough sell for me, so I’ll have the Cupra Formentor V – and lots of fun with it, too.

How much does the 2024 Cupra Formentor cost?
V – $51,990
VZ – $56,990
VZe – $64,990
VZx – $65,790
*Prices exclude on-road costs