Cupra Formentor vs Volkswagen Golf R: why does our hot SUV cost £10k more? 

We’ve had a Cupra Formentor on the Carwow long term test fleet for six months now, and it’s the fastest, most expensive model you can buy. With 333hp on tap courtesy of the 2.0-litre petrol engine from a Volkswagen Golf R, this family-friendly SUV is seriously quick.

However, the Golf R is actually the Formentor’s deadliest rival. It offers similar practicality and even better performance for a lot less cash, but is it worth spending extra on the Cupra? I’m going to compare the stats to find out.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Cupra Formentor vs Volkswagen Golf R: prices and deals

I want to start by talking about the price, because that’s the biggest difference between these two cars.

The standard Cupra Formentor with a 150hp engine costs £35,500, but if you want the most powerful engine then you’ll have to spend just over £49,000 on the VZ1 model.

However, our car is the range-topping VZ3. This adds carbon fibre bucket seats, upgraded brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels and an upgraded Sennheiser sound system. We also have the matte bronze paint, adding £2,095 to the price, and a panoramic sunroof at £1,015.

This brings the total cost of this Cupra Formentor to a whopping £58,535. Thankfully, you can save up to £8,800 on this car through Carwow, bringing the price down to just under £50,000.

By comparison, the Volkswagen Golf R starts from just under £47,000 – rising to £48,250 for the Black Edition. Seeing as we’re comparing it to the top-spec Formentor, it only seems fair to base this off the most expensive Golf R.

We may be starting with a £10,000 difference between our Formentor and the Golf R, but that’s before options. By the time you’ve picked a colour other than white and added a panoramic roof, heated seats, a surround view camera and adaptive dampers to match the spec of our Cupra, it’ll set you back £52,685.

At the time of writing, you can save up to £6,700 on a Golf R Black Edition, which brings the price down to around £46,000.

So the price gap isn’t as wide as it first seemed, but the Golf R is still considerably cheaper than the Formentor.

Cupra Formentor vs Volkswagen Golf R: engine and performance

Both of these cars use the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and they both have 333hp and 420Nm of torque. However, the Golf is around 160kg lighter than the Formentor, so it’s a bit quicker.

It’ll do 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, whereas the Formentor takes 4.8 seconds. I’ll be honest, that’s not the sort of difference you’re likely to notice on the road, but on paper the Golf is the faster of these two cars.

The Carwow drag race leaderboard backs up the stats as well. Our Formentor went down the quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds, whereas the Golf R took 12.8 seconds. The VW set that time in the wet as well, so it undoubtedly has the Cupra licked on the performance front.

Cupra Formentor vs Volkswagen Golf R: suspension and driving

The similarities under the skin go beyond the engine, because these cars also share pretty much the same four-wheel drive system. They have clever torque-splitting differentials which can make the car turn in tighter, and they both also have a drift mode so you can get the back end out on the track.

Whereas our Cupra VZ3 comes with adaptive dampers as standard, they’re a £755 option on the Golf. It’s one which is worth ticking though, because with these dampers fitted the car is more agile and fun on a twisty road, while also being more comfortable in day-to-day life.

You’ll need to be a racing driver, and be pushing these cars very hard, to notice much of a difference when you’re hooning down a country lane. The Golf feels slightly more connected to the road just on account of it being lower, but they both go around corners incredibly well. The Cupra is especially impressive, because you wouldn’t expect a high-riding SUV to be this much fun.

Cupra Formentor vs Volkswagen Golf R: interior and practicality

When you step inside, the Cupra does feel more special than the Volkswagen. The multi-layered dashboard looks more interesting, and the carbon bucket seats make it seem more purposeful.

The Golf’s cabin is still nice enough, with body-hugging sports seats and flashes of blue trim, but it’s not a patch on the Cupra. Both cars share one issue though: lack of buttons. Everything is controlled through the touchscreen, which is annoying on the move.

You do get a bigger boot in the Cupra though – 450 litres to the Golf’s 341 litres – and there’s a scooch more space in the rear seats. The Formentor is a more practical family car.

Final verdict: which car should you buy?

So then, is our Cupra Formentor worth more than a Volkswagen Golf R? Well I reckon, in this trim level, no, it’s not. It’s just too large of a price gap for a car which is slower and not any better to drive than the Golf.

However, I do still think the Formentor is worth considering. If you get the VZ2 version you can save around £2,200. You do lose out on the upgraded brakes and bucket seats, but in reality you’re unlikely to need these. I also wouldn’t bother with the matte paint, which saves you another £1,000 or so.

So a Formentor VZ2 with the same engine, a panoramic roof and metallic paint comes to £54,540, and you can save around £8,700 on this model through Carwow. That makes it pretty much the same price as the Golf R, and the Cupra is more practical and, in my opinion, more exciting to look at.

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