Cupra burst into the picture as Seat’s performance brand in 2018. The Formentor, its first independent model, arrived in 2020 as a fresh take on the idea of compact SUVs. A low-slung crossover SUV, the Formentor has been a remarkable attempt, finding many buyers. We drove a 2026 Cupra Formentor in the desirable VZ1 trim to find out how it stands out from the crowd of SUVs by every other carmaker.
When viewing a used Cupra Formentor, check the service record, tyres and brakes first, especially on higher-powered models. DSG automatic versions should shift cleanly at low speeds and under acceleration. On plug-in hybrids, make sure the car charges properly, switches between electric and petrol power smoothly, and has had any software updates completed.
Reece Proctor is a Roadside Patrol at The AA, with practical experience in both workshop and roadside roles, and specialist expertise in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Read bioThe Formentor is still a fairly new model, so major long-term faults are not widespread. It shares proven Volkswagen Group parts with cars like the VW Golf and Audi A3, which helps, but there are still a few areas to check.
Common issues include:
• DSG gearbox hesitation if servicing has been missed
• Plug-in hybrid charging faults on some early cars
• Laggy or glitchy infotainment screens
• Software-related warning messages
• Brake and tyre wear on higher mileage or VZ models
• Suspension wear if the car has been driven hard or regularly carries heavy loads
Most problems tend to be software or maintenance related rather than serious mechanical failures. Cars from around 2022 onwards generally feel better sorted, but every used example should still be checked carefully.
The Formentor does not need anything unusual compared with other Volkswagen Group models, but the DSG gearbox is the service item buyers should not overlook. A DSG oil and filter change is usually needed every 40,000 miles and skipping it can lead to expensive gearbox issues.
Useful maintenance points include:
• Oil and filter change every 12 months or 10,000 miles
• Brake fluid replacement after 3 years, then every 2 years
• Air filter and spark plug replacement around 40,000 miles
• Cabin filter replacement around 20,000 miles
• DSG oil and filter change around 40,000 miles
• Software updates for infotainment and hybrid systems
• Charging checks on plug-in hybrid models
The 1.5 petrol is usually the most affordable to run, while the 2.0 petrol models cost more in fuel, tyres and brakes. Plug-in hybrids can be very efficient if they’re charged regularly, but they make less sense if they’re mainly driven without charging.
The Formentor is a good option if you want something more practical than a hatch but still enjoyable to drive. The best examples have full history, smooth DSG operation, up-to-date software and no charging issues on hybrid models. It’s a car that should serve well, provided the gearbox and software maintenance has not been ignored.
If you want some practicality of an SUV, but you don’t want any ride and handling compromises that come with it, the Cupra Formentor remains unmatched. It is one of the best handling SUVs you could buy. Cupra has made a thoroughly accomplished product that appeals to certain buyers.
Adithya is the Content Editor at AA Cars and a Motoring Journalist, with over 1,000 published articles across numerous publications.
Read bioPrices start at around £35,530 for the base V1 trim petrol with plug-in hybrid models starting from £42,030. Prices quickly rise as you move up the model line up, with V2 and Tribe Edition trim lines adding more technology and styling elements that approach or exceed the £40,000 mark.
The VZ trims start from £44,175 going all the way to £55,425 for the VZ3. Meanwhile, the £64,495 VZ5 is the powerhouse version featuring the same 2.5-litre engine from the Audi RS3.
Prices are on the premium side compared to other SUVs in this space. However, there are plenty of used Cupra Formentor models for sale on AA Cars, with older models often listed for as low as £13,000 (depending on condition and mileage).
The Formentor is one of the cars with the broadest powertrain options. There’s a Formentor for everyone, from a standard 150hp version to the 390hp VZ5.
• 1.5 TSI: 1.5-litre petrol (150hp/250Nm) + 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG
• 1.5 e-HYBRID: 1.5-litre petrol PHEV (204hp/250Nm or 272hp/250Nm) + 6-speed DSG
• 2.0 TSI: 2.0-litre petrol (265hp/370Nm) + 7-speed DSG
• 2.0 TSI 4Drive: 2.0-litre petrol (333hp/420Nm) + 7-speed DSG, AWD
• 2.5 TSI 4Drive: 2.5-litre petrol (390hp/480Nm) + 7-speed DSG, AWD
We tested the Formentor VZ1, which uses a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder EA888 engine developing 333hp/420Nm. It is paired with a 7-speed DSG with four-wheel drive and a torque-splitting rear differential. Performance is rapid with 62mph coming up in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.
On the road, these big numbers work together to result in a seriously fast SUV. The engine does have a bit of turbo lag around 2,000rpm, but past that it pulls vehemently to the 6,500rpm redline. There’s a spiky step up in power delivery throughout the rev range and closer to the redline, the engine gets more frenetic. There are different drive modes on offer that also adjusts the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC): Comfort, Performance, Cupra, Off-road, Individual and Drift (AWD only).
There’s a convincing duality in how the Formentor drives. Stick it in Comfort and it becomes a refined daily driver with seamless pulling power, thanks to a thick spread of torque, minus any theatrics. It drives well at low speeds with the gearbox shifting cogs early and riding the torque of the EA888 engine. It is also ready to drop a gear when you want it to.
Switching to Cupra mode is so jarring that it’s almost as if you’ve abruptly woken up the Formentor from a deep slumber. The engine takes on a rumble, the gearbox immediately shifts down a couple of gears and the whole car feels locked in. The 7-speed DSG also behaves differently with the shifts feeling more engaging; the downshifts are also aggressive for maximum engine braking. You will find paddles behind the flat-bottom steering in case you need them, although we wish they felt better and were a tad faster to respond.
The Cupra Formentor VZ models (VZ1, VZ2, VZ3 and VZ5) feature the DCC, which transforms how the Formentor drives. In comfort mode, the ride is supple enough to not bother you. Yes, it inherently feels firm with a bouncy damping, but at low speeds and for everyday driving, the ride remains polished and comfortable.
In Performance and Cupra mode (or individual if you tweak the dampers), the ride feels tauter. Body movements are better contained, especially at high speeds, where the Formentor settles quickly after hitting a bump. Even here, the ride quality is not so stiff that it’s going to break something. Regardless of the drive mode, there’s a certain maturity to the ride quality which we like.
In terms of handling, the Formentor drives like an estate than an SUV. You sit low, and the centre of gravity is closer to the road, eliminating the top-heavy feeling of SUVs. Thanks to this, turn in sharp and the Formentor feels keen around bends. Plus, there’s an endless reserve of traction thanks to the AWD system. The chassis offers noticeable feedback, but we wish the steering communicated more at normal speeds. Unless you are closer to the limits of adhesion, the front-end feel is missing.
Our only other gripe is how the Formentor occasionally reminds you of its size and 1600+ kerb weight with a vertical choppiness when really pushing on - a small price to pay for the practicality it offers over something like a Golf R. Brakes work as expected, containing the mass well even from high speeds. The pedal also feels solid with a strong initial bite.
Overall, if you love driving, the Formentor is somewhat peerless as an SUV. It strikes a fresh balance between driver involvement and practicality that makes you root for it.
Much of the interior colour scheme is dark, in keeping with CUPRA’s wider design theme, but brushed copper highlights help it stand out. The design feels old-school in a pleasant way with enough physical buttons and conventional design elements. The highlight is the 12.9-inch touchscreen unit, which also features touch-sensitive haptic sliders for volume and temperature controls.
Most areas of the cabin feel suitably premium, although cheaper plastics are visible on the lower door panels. The steering wheel contains physical controls for media, drive modes and several assistance systems, along with the start button and rotary selectors. That is quite a lot of buttons, but the layout is logical, and most key functions can be operated without taking your hands off the wheel.
Boot space varies based on the trim and engine option between 345–450 litres. Even in its most practical configuration, it is not the biggest boot. However, there’s enough room for a family of four and it’s certainly competitive enough for what it promises.
Rather than climbing on, you slide down into the driving position in the Formentor. The seats are low down, even compared with something like the VW Tiguan. Despite the position, there’s still plenty of adjustability and the front seats are comfortable over longer journeys despite offering good overall support.
The rear seats are surprisingly more comfortable than you would expect from a low riding SUV. The seats offer great under thigh support with enough legroom to question some large SUVs. You do feel a bit enclosed due to how the Formentor is designed so consider ticking the optional panoramic roof to help with the overall dark theme.
In terms of storage, there are plenty of door bins and cubby holes for storing items dotted throughout the cabin. The back seats split 60/40 and they do a good job of folding almost completely flat.
The 2024 update brought the Volkswagen Group’s 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It is large, bright and easy to read, but it can also be difficult to operate accurately on the move, because there is nowhere convenient to rest your hand.
Thankfully, there’s a fixed row of icons on the infotainment screen for the most used features, such as climate controls. The temperature sliders are haptic variety and can prove a little fiddly, but certainly better than using the touchscreen on the move. The all-digital driver’s display is also well laid out with different modes to suit your mood. Our test car was equipped with the £605 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, and it certainly impressed with its layered sound quality and detailed soundstage. Having said that, we did notice some trim rattle at high volume.
Other feature highlights include a heated steering wheel, heated seats, Matrix LED headlights, electrically adjustable seats, driver’s-seat memory and lumbar support, a panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, optional CUP bucket seats, Intelligent Park Assist, optional Akebono brakes, wireless charging, adaptive cruise control, dynamic road-sign display, lane assistance, front cross-traffic assistance and side assistance.
As previously mentioned, the trim line up consists of V1, V2 and Tribe Edition, with the sportier models badged VZ, short for veloz (fast in Spanish): VZ1, VZ2, VZ3 and the VZ5.
As for colour options, there are nine in store: Fiord Blue is a no cost option, while Midnight Black, Magnetic Tech Grey, and Glacial White are £700 options. Meanwhile, Graphene Grey, and Dark Void (our test car) is even more expensive at £1015. It doesn’t end there as you get three £2095 paint options: Magnetic Tech Matte Grey, Century Bronze Matte and Enceladus Grey Matte.
Euro NCAP awarded the updated CUPRA Formentor five stars in 2025, including a 91% score for adult occupant protection. The earlier pre-facelift model also received a five-star rating under the assessment criteria used at the time.
In our testing, we found all the driver assists worked well, especially the adaptive cruise control which also restarts automatically after a brief stop without manual inputs.
Opt for the 333hp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and the official fuel economy figure is 32.5mpg for the four-wheel-drive version. During our test, we found that fuel economy was sensitive to the selected drive mode. In Comfort mode, the Formentor can easily match the claimed figure, but consumption increased considerably in the more performance-focused settings.
The lower-powered 261hp engine returns around 36.7mpg, while the 1.5-litre petrol manages closer to 45.0mpg. CUPRA states that the plug-in hybrid versions can deliver an official WLTP weighted combined figure of up to 201.8mpg with 75 miles of all electric range. Achieving close to this requires frequent charging and real-world economy will be considerably lower once the battery is depleted.
Official CO₂ emissions range from 32g/km for the plug-in hybrid to 230g/km for the 2.5-litre VZ5 petrol version. From the second year, the standard 2026–27 VED rate is £200. Versions with a list price above £40,000 also attract the £440 Expensive Car Supplement for five years from the second licence. The first-year rate depends on the car’s official CO₂ emissions.
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