Cupra Formentor V 2024 review

Cupra is still a newcomer to Australia’s fiercely competitive new car market, but it’s already preparing an upgrade for its best-selling product.

Updated Cupra Mentor will arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2025 with a more aggressive look, new interior technology and an updated engine range.

Some buyers will want to wait, but if you’re in dire need of a new set of wheels then the start of next year is a long way off – which is when the Formentor you see here arrives.

While there are changes coming, this new model is an update rather than a complete overhaul – and we previously found a lot to like about the current version.

Is the basis 2024 Cupra Advisor Worth snapping up now? Read on to find out.

How Cupra Mentor compare?

See detailed analysis on Cupra Mentor against vehicles of similar size.

Cupra

mentor

How much does Cupra Formentor cost?

The Cupra Formentor V has been hit by a $2000 price increase for 2024, in line with the wider Formentor range. However, it purchased additional equipment for that extra spend.

Price of Cupra Formentor 2024:

• 2024 Cupra V Advisor: $51,990 (+$2000)
• 2024 VZ Cupra Advisor: $56,990 (+$2000)
• 2024 VZe Cupra Advisor: $64,990 (+$2000)
  • $67,990 to $70,990 drive-away
• 2024 VZx Cupra Advisor: $65,790 (+$1800)

Prices do not include on-road costs unless otherwise stated.

To see how Formentor stacks up against the competition, use comparison tool.

What’s inside the Cupra Formentor?

The Formentor shares much of its styling and technology with its smaller version Leon hatchback inside but it also feels like a much larger car.

Even the base V has great fundamentals, with the driver and passenger sitting on excellent bucket-style seats that balance comfort and support neatly.

You don’t get the petrol blue patent leather offered higher up in the range, but the leather-style inserts and cloth inserts on this model aren’t what you’d call cheap and nasty. Also conspicuous by their absence are the Audi R8-style start and driving mode buttons on the steering wheel.

The fundamentals are also solid. Tall or short drivers will be able to feel comfortable, and climbing here will be easier than climbing the lower, smaller Leon if your knees are creaky and old.

As you’d expect of a modern car from the Volkswagen Group, the screen is the highlight here.

The touchscreen is a 12-inch unit running Cupra’s software internally Volkswagen Golf And Skoda Octaviaalong with touch sliders below for volume and temperature control.

Criticize Cupra for allowing owners to drop a widget on the home screen to control fan speeds for the air conditioner and highlight shortcut buttons, but it’s still difficult to use at times. A new 12.9-inch device will be available on the Formentor in 2025, complete with a backlit touch slider and a new interface.

The digital cockpit is sleek and has unique graphics that suit the Cupra’s sportier style. It is awesome.

Wireless smartphone mirroring is reliable, although the wireless phone charging pad at the base of the console doesn’t like phones with large camera bumps or bulky phone cases. You’re better off using one of the two USB-C ports if you want to charge.

Rear seat space is surprisingly good. The Formentor looks pretty compact on the outside, but it has enough headroom for the 6’7 me to sit without my hair on the roof.

Some models sacrifice practicality in the quest for sportiness, but this is truly a usable SUV.

Legroom behind normal-sized drivers is impressive, and the air vents and dual USB-C ports make it quite kid-friendly – ​​although the raised beltline limits outward visibility. compared to the more upright Tiguan.

If you plan to regularly use the rear seats, you should also consider it Volkswagen Tiguan R with larger, boxier rear doors – they’re better suited for regularly putting children in car seats.

There’s also a foldable center armrest with a ski gate at the rear. The bench can be folded 60/40, expanding the storage space 420 liters to hold larger items.

What’s under the bonnet?

Formentor’s power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, combined with a four-wheel drive system.

To see how the Cupra Formentor stacks up against the competition, check out our article comparison tool.

How does Cupra Formentor work?

The 140kW 2.0 TSI engine in the Formentor V is shared with a wide range of models in the Volkswagen world, from sensible family all-wheel drive to semi-sports cars like the Formentor.

While it doesn’t deliver the extra power you get in the more expensive VZ or VZx, it’s still a strong engine that makes the Formentor feel more powerful special than some of its midsize SUV rivals.

It makes a subtle popping sound, and in normal mode has a high-pitched bark that lets you know when you’ve put your foot down.

It’s a smooth car in town, where the dual-clutch transmission plays a decisive role, and it pulls away from the track without any hesitation or awkward jerks, and there’s always enough power under your right foot to jump into gaps in traffic.

The DSG feels comfortable holding a higher gear when you press the throttle, but really put your foot down and it’ll kick one, two, three gears quickly to drop you into the torque band.

When you’re not in a hurry, the Formentor is easy to drive in the city. The steering wheel is light, the exterior looks compact, and the view of the car’s angular body is good.

Ride quality is also significantly better than what you’d expect from a sporty car.

It doesn’t fly like a butterfly over scarred city streets, but it does an admirable job of keeping them out in Comfort mode. Adaptive dampers don’t make much of a difference in some cars, but they do give the Formentor an impressive range of capabilities.

Under the skin, the Formentor is a version of the Leon… a Golf. In the real world, that happens in an SUV that’s easy to drive around town.

It’s also extremely loud on the highway, avoiding road noise. It’s a common complaint about European performance cars – some of which are significantly more expensive than the Cupra – but it also stands out here because the rest of the package is so slick.

The Formentor V is better than the VZx with larger wheels and more grippy tires on the open road, but the white noise on rough highways will keep you cranking up the radio and cause fatigue on long drives.

However, the driver assistance systems operate smoothly and intelligently, and there’s no shortage of power from the 2.0-liter engine to get by on country highways.

This is an SUV you can push hard and not fall over, with a sharp front end and good traction that allows you to go faster than you expect through corners before the turbocharged engine kicks in. you come out the other side.

What do you get?

The Formentor V is the entry level in the Spanish crossover lineup.

Highlights of Formentor V:

• 18-inch silver-black alloy wheels
• Exterior mirrors are heated and electrically folding
• LED headlights, daytime running lights
• Car headlights
• Automatic high beam
• Fog lights have cornering function
• Rain sensor wipers
• Rear privacy glass
• Adaptive dampers
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12-inch touch screen infotainment system
• Satellite positioning
• Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• 2 x front USB-C ports, 2 x rear
• Cover with fabric
• Three-zone climate control
• Leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel
• Gear shift lever
• Keyless entry, to begin with
• DAB+ radio
• Hands-free electric tailgate

Leather and camera package: $2800 (V, VZ, VZe)

• Nappa leather sports bucket seats
• Front heated seats
• Power driver’s seat included. memory
• Mirror memory function
• Camera view from above (360 degrees)

Panoramic glass sunroof: $2150

Premium metallic paint: $490

• Desire Red (N/A VZx), Graphene Gray

Is Cupra Formentor safe?

Formentor wears one five-star ANCAP safety ratingbased on Euro NCAP tests carried out in 2021.

It scored 93% for adult protection, 88% for child protection, 68% for vulnerable road user protection and 80% for safety assistance.

Standard safety features include:

• AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection feature
• Adaptive cruise control included. stop/go
• Travel support
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Centering the active lane
• Monitor driver fatigue
• Emergency assistance
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keeping assist
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic warning
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reverse the camera
• Warning for safe escape

Formentor VZx adds:

You can also add a surround-view camera system as part of the optional Leather and Camera Package on the V, VZ and VZe.

How much does it cost to operate a Cupra Formentor?

Cupra covers its product line by one 5 year warranty, unlimited km.

If you choose the 5-year plan, you also have access to Cupra Concierge benefits, including pick-up and drop-off for 5 scheduled services as long as your address is within 10 km calculated from an Authorized Cupra Service Partner.

CarExpert takes on the Cupra Formentor

Cupra is a young and rapidly growing brand – the updated Formentor looks like a fairly meaningful upgrade over the current car, which itself isn’t that old.

Should you wait? There’s still not much wrong with the current model, especially in base V form.

It’s practical enough to be a runabout for a small family, but combines that practicality with stylish looks and a sporty driving feel.

At $56,490 for the base model, it’s not quite the exceptional value proposition it was at launch, but there’s still enough equipment for the money to keep you satisfied in practical terms. .

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THAN: Everything Cupra Formentor