Cupra Formentor Review & Prices

The Formentor was the first standalone model from Cupra, the sports-oriented SEAT offshoot. It’s not quite an SUV, not quite a hot hatch, but instead blends the rugged looks and (slightly) raised suspension of the former with the low-slung seating position and engine options of the latter.

Like a well-chosen outfit from Zara, the Formentor gives the illusion of being posher than it really is. It may appear to be a big, fancy SUV on paper, but in reality is priced closer to a Cupra Leon - and it’s almost as good to drive as one, too.

It’s a similar car to the BMW X2, then, as well as the Audi Q3 Sportback. The badge isn’t quite as prestigious as the aforementioned alternatives, but you could also cross-shop the Formentor against the (admittedly larger) Renault Rafale or Peugeot 3008.

A 2025 update equipped the Cupra with a new front-end design, further distancing it from the more sensible SEAT Ateca. It’s not necessarily better-looking as a result, but the mini shark-nose between the lights, pointy bumper extensions and triangular light inserts certainly are aggressive.

The interior isn’t quite as interesting, not compared to the latest crop of Cupras such as the Raval, Tavascan or Terramar. It’s far from ugly, with cool touches such as the scale-like dashboard trims and bucket seats in top-spec cars, but the buttons and overall layout is a bit last-generation now. The infotainment screen features touch-sensitive climate controls just under the 12.9-inch central display, which are annoying to use on the move.

You’d expect a car with such a sleek silhouette to have little room inside, but the Formentor surprises with ample space both front and rear to get comfortable. Most models come with a 450-litre boot, which isn’t as much as a Volkswagen Tiguan but is a touch bigger than you get in a Volvo XC40.

It’s a shame that the plug-in hybrid version loses over 100 litres of space to the under-floor batteries, making the boot almost the same size as a Volkswagen Golf - but even shallower in depth.

Engine choices are varied, with a 1.5-litre petrol unit kicking off the range, while at the other end of the spectrum is a 333hp 2.0-litre motor (shared with the Volkswagen Golf R). A special-edition, run-out Formentor comes with a mighty 385hp, 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine from the Audi RS3. Naughty.

All versions of the Cupra feel sporty to drive (for a family SUV), but the entry-level engines are a bit lacklustre compared to the high-output offerings. The petrol is a bit slow, and the heavy plug-in hybrid isn’t as much fun to chuck into bends, but they’re all comfortable enough on a bumpy road.

Verdict

The Cupra Formentor is best for people who want a small SUV that still feels really sporty to drive. If you opt for one of the more powerful engines, the Formentor is really eager on all types of road, without going so far as to be uncomfortable to drive on the daily commute. If you value practicality above all else, however, a Volkswagen Tiguan or Skoda Karoq offers similar build quality inside with a bigger boot.

Why not head over to our Cupra Formentor deals page to make sure you’re getting the very best price possible? Or if you can check out our Cupra Formentor leasing deals, or find a used Cupra Formentor for sale. You can also get the latest deals on new Cupra models and used cars, and if you want to change your car completely, you can sell your car through carwow. Our trusted dealers will get you the best price for your car.

The Cupra Formentor range starts at more than £34,000, which seems steep - but it’s only about as much as a Volkswagen T-Roc when you fit the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and add a similar amount of standard equipment. Even the basic Formentor ‘V1’ comes with loads of kit, including all-round LEDs, a wireless phone charger, digital dashboard, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry.

Stepping up to V2 brings bigger alloy wheels, an electric tailgate, electric seats and a reversing camera, while V3 brings bigger alloys again plus a full leather interior.

VZ1 is a sportier trim level that, confusingly, offers most of the same equipment as V2 but is available exclusively with the more powerful engines. The same is true of the VZ2 and the V3, while the range-topping VZ3 adds in bucket seats and high-performance brakes. At this point you’re looking at more than £54,000, making it a significant investment - but the VZ1 with our preferred 333hp engine is only a couple of thousand pounds more than the equivalent Volkswagen Golf R.

The best trim depends on what engine you’re looking for in your Cupra Formentor - as different ones are tied to each trim level. The VZ1 or VZ2 trims strike a good balance, and you can opt for a sensible plug-in hybrid or two versions of the 2.0-litre petrol - both of which are excellent. No versions of the PHEV cost less than £40,000, so you’ll have to balance the potential fuel saving with the luxury car tax.

We tested a range-topping Formentor VZ3 in April 2025, fitted with the top-end 333hp 2.0-litre petrol engine. We loved driving it, as it has ample power, is very surefooted thanks to the four-wheel drive but remains usable everyday. However, it’s a lot more expensive than the VZ2, which actually has more comfortable seats than the VZ3’s huggy bucket seats.

The Cupra Formentor is really fun to drive on a good road, though the smaller Cupra Leon is even better

We tested the Cupra Formentor on a variety of roads over the course of a week, including commuting down the A1 to Central London as well as plenty of time spent testing its performance car credentials on the rural roads of Cambridgeshire.

In town

The Cupra Formentor’s suspension has a firm, sporty edge to it, even on the more basic V1, V2 and V3 models that aren’t fully performance-focused. That means that we felt the bumps more than we did in a standard Volkswagen T-Roc or Audi Q3 Sportback. However, even the top-spec VZ models don’t fall into the trap of being uncomfortably stiff - they strike a good balance between sporty handling and just enough comfort for you to be happy driving them everyday.

Top-end models get adjustable suspension dampers, too, which allow you to choose over a dozen different levels of firmness. You can even take them a few clicks past the pre-determined ‘comfort’ setting, at which point the harsh thump you might expect from regular performance cars has totally disappeared.

Plug-in hybrid models are the nicest to drive round town as they can drive on pure electric - for a seriously long distance, with over 60 miles on battery power easily achievable. By contrast, models fitted with the DSG automatic are a bit jerky and hesitant at low speeds, but they’re still pretty good for creeping through traffic.

On the motorway

Even the base-spec, 150hp Formentor isn’t out of its depth on the motorway, and models over this only get quicker. The range-topping 333hp model is wonderfully fast, and only requires a light squeeze on the throttle to merge out of a short sliproad or to overtake with impunity.

The seats are comfortable and supportive, especially the sports seats on range-topping VZ3 cars, and there’s loads of adjustment for drivers of all sizes to really settle down on a long drive.

All models come with adaptive cruise control, and higher-up models also get Cupra’s equivalent of Travel Assist - an assisted driving system that can drive and steer the car on the motorway. It does this really smoothly and is a very reassuring system to use, though it does still require the driver’s full attention at all times.

The suspension is firm though not uncomfortable on the motorway, but there’s rather a lot of road noise from the Formentor’s wide tyres. That said, we did several hundred miles on motorways during our week with the Formentor, and certainly didn’t have any problems with it.

On a twisty road

The Cupra Formentor comes into its own on a good country road. If you flick the driving mode to ‘Sport’ then you can corner really fast while the car stays absolutely flat. The gearbox becomes more eager, and the steering heavier.

While basic models are quite fun, this really comes to a head in the four-wheel drive, 333hp models, which feel like they have practically limitless grip levels. You can carry a tremendous amount of speed into bends, and the car stays tidy even if you’re being a bit overzealous.

It lacks some of the fun factor of lighter hot hatchbacks - a Honda Civic Type R gives you a greater feeling of connection to the road, for example. The biggest problem for the Formentor is that for slightly less money you can have the also-brilliant Cupra Leon Estate.

We actually spent the week with a Leon Estate immediately before the Formentor was delivered, so we were able to test the two virtually back-to-back. Because it shares the same engine, gearbox and four-wheel drive system but is a lower, lighter car, it’s more agile to drive.

The Cupra Formentor has lots of legroom in the back seats, but boot space and storage is only average - and you lose a lot of cargo space in the plug-in hybrid versions

The Formentor feels more like a hatchback than it does an SUV to sit in - you step down to get into the seat rather than sliding in, though it’s slightly less of a slump than the Cupra Leon hatchback.

Once inside, you can set the seat to go pretty low, which suits the Formentor’s sporting brief to a T - but if you’re looking for an SUV because you want a high-up driving position, go elsewhere.

All models get sports seats with plenty of support but range-topping VZ3 cars get more huggy bucket seats. Even these aren’t too narrow for larger-framed drivers, though. Both kinds are very comfortable, and there’s loads of adjustment - they go really far back for very tall drivers, and the wheel adjusts for reach and rake.

Storage for smaller items is pretty much average. You get a wireless charging pad, cupholders and an under-armrest storage area in the centre console, plus door bins that can take a litre bottle of water and a decent glovebox. All very much par for the course.

Space in the back seats

Most sporty-looking SUVs with sloping rooflines compromise severely on rear passenger space, but that’s not the case with the Formentor. Because the roof stays flat all the way back past the rear passengers’ heads, there’s plenty of headroom inside, and legroom is really generous even for tall adults.

Four six-footers can certainly get comfortable enough for a long drive, though you won’t want to squeeze a third adult onto the narrow, hard centre rear seat unless you have to. We even had enough room at 6’2 tall to sit behind ourselves, though it was a little cramped.

Rear passengers get a fold-down armrest, USB ports in the centre console and cupholders. However, the view out front is spoiled by the front sports seats, which have very bulky headrests that block your sight. At least the rear windows are a good size.

There are ISOFIX points to easily mount child seats in both outer rear seats, and the doors open just about wide enough to fit a really bulky child seat without contorting too much. There’s also ISOFIX on the front passenger seat which is ideal if it’s just you in the car and you want to keep an eye on your child.

Boot space

The Cupra Formentor has three different boot capacities. Basic petrol models - the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre TFSI versions - have 450 litres of space. If you go for the range-topping four-wheel drive petrol, that drops to 420 litres.

The plug-in hybrid models, however, have a 345-litre boot as they need to accommodate the bulky battery pack under the floor.

Those figures compare reasonably well with alternatives - the Volkswagen T-Roc has a 445-litre boot, but the Peugeot 408 has 536 litres of space in its standard petrol model and 471 in the plug-in hybrid. We found we were able to chuck in a couple of big suitcases or a weekly shop for the family without too much drama, but note that the sharply sloping rear window does limit the size of square, bulky items you can carry.

The Formentor has a stylish cabin with cool copper accents, but the touchscreen isn’t as easy to use as it could be

The Formentor’s interior is quite dark and moody, and even the lovely blue seat upholstery available on some models doesn’t change that too much. It’s more like a nightclub than it is a dingy dive bar, though, as the material choice is quite cool and it’s loaded with copper-coloured accents which are a Cupra signature.

There’s also a plethora of ambient lighting options, with a wide arc of an LED light strip framing the whole cabin.

Most of the interior fixtures are clearly inherited from other Volkswagen Group cars, and while this means they are solid and nice to operate, it also makes them feel a bit less special than you might hope for from a sporty sub-brand.

Cupra’s made a few changes to the typical layout, which aren’t totally obvious - where we expected to find an engine stop/start button by the gear lever, for example, we instead found the traction control switch. The engine stop/start is on the steering wheel instead, where it’s easy to confuse with the driving mode selector.

The Formentor gets Cupra’s latest touchscreen infotainment system, a 12.9-inch display that sits high enough on the dashboard to be easy to reach without blocking your view of the road. The colourful graphics are a bit at odds with the moody interior ambiance, and the menus do take some learning - especially where they differ from the more logical setup utilised in most VW models.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto do come as standard, though, so you can easily bypass Cupra’s interface for one of your own.

There are touch-sensitive sliders underneath the screen, which control the volume and temperature - but they’re a little too easy to hit when you don’t mean to. Thank goodness Cupra fits proper buttons on the steering wheel, though, instead of the horrible touch-sensitive ones you get in a Volkswagen Golf R.

The Cupra Formentor range is pretty wide, and so running costs can vary massively. At the bottom of the tree, there’s a 1.5-litre, 150hp petrol with either manual or automatic gearboxes - the latter gets a mild hybrid system. You should see around 40mpg from either of these, driven carefully - officially, they do up to 48.2mpg (correct as of 1/12/2025).

Above this there are two 2.0-litre petrol engines, both with automatic gearboxes. The 265hp model has front-wheel drive, and Cupra says it’ll do 36.1mpg. The 333hp model gets four-wheel drive and Cupra claims 32.3mpg. In reality, 30mpg is possible from both on a long motorway run - but if you try to make the most of all that performance, as you’ll undoubtedly want to, then you’ll soon see your fuel economy tumble through the 20s and possibly into the teens if you’re really hammering it.

There are also two plug-in hybrid models, one with 204hp and one with 272hp. Both of these claim truly fantastical fuel economy figures of over 600mpg, which is of course nonsense. However, with claimed electric range figures of over 70 miles (55-60 in the real world) you really can do a majority of your everyday driving on battery alone, saving your fuel for longer journeys. Your running costs will therefore be dependent on how much you plug in, and where.

These two plug-in hybrids are the pick of the range if you’re a company car buyer - thanks to their low CO2 emissions and long range, they fall into extremely low bands for Benefit-in-Kind tax. Most of the Formentor range - including all of the plug-in hybrid and 2.0-litre petrol models - falls on the wrong side of £40,000, though, so you’re liable to pay the expensive car supplement on years two to six of annual road tax.

Euro NCAP rating (2021): 5/5

Adult occupant: 93%
Child occupant: 88%
Vulnerable road users: 68%
Safety assist: 80%

The Formentor scored a full five-star rating in Euro NCAP safety testing, with an impressive 93% score for adult occupant protection. That was back in 2021, so its rating isn’t as clear-cut as it could look, but you should be reassured that the Cupra Formentor will keep you safe in an accident.

All models get the mandated safety equipment - plus a relatively quick shortcut to turn off the more annoying ones, but it’s nice that adaptive cruise control comes as standard on all cars. Keyless entry is included too, with keyless start on all but the basic V1 model.

Cupra’s reputation has had a little fall from grace, going from a respectable 18th place out of 32 manufacturers in the 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey to a more bleak 28th place out of 31. That puts it lower than all of its sister brands - Volkswagen came 27th, SEAT 24th, Audi 19th and Skoda 12th.

Cupra has the best warranty of the lot, though, with five years and 90,000 miles of coverage versus three years and 60,000 miles for the other brands. It’s a shame that even that doesn’t appear to have improved owner outlooks, though.There’s little tech on the Formentor that isn’t used across dozens of other models from these brands though, so there shouldn’t be any issues native to Cupra particularly. However, you won’t get the bulletproof reliability you’ll get from a Honda or Toyota.