Cupra Formentor V

There's something uniquely attractive about Cupra that makes it stand out from other European brands. The brand itself has a fascinating history, starting out as SEAT's performance development offshoot, enhancing and rebadging SEAT models before Volkswagen acquired the entire brand. Nowadays, despite being a Volkswagen underneath the aggressive aesthetics, Cupra has an individuality that generally flies under the radar but attracts people who know what's up about European brands.  

Cupra’s standalone model, the Formentor, has been in the country for five years now, and although it hasn't made massive waves, Cupra has gifted the compact SUV with an update.  

The new Formentor keeps roughly the same shape, a sleek crossover SUV that looks like it’s been squashed. Its low-slung appearance and new “shark” style nose extending out the front give it an aerodynamic and dominating presence without feeling oversized. Sharp triangular styling cues, such as the front fog lamps, air vents, and light-up Cupra badge integrated into the infinity bar on the boot lid, take inspiration from Cupra’s polygonal badge.

Cupra offers two variants: the base model Formentor V – the one being reviewed here – for $65,500 and a sportier Formentor VZ for $87,500. The latter includes optional Akebono front brakes and exhaust system that will set you back $4500 and $7400, respectively. An e-Hybrid will also be available for special order only at a $90,500 price tag.

The V is fitted with Volkswagen's tried and tested 1.5 litre mild hybrid in front-wheel drive layout only. Producing 110kW, it accelerates the car from a standstill to 100km/h in nine seconds, which on paper seems glacial, but it's powerful enough to tackle overtaking manoeuvres with surprising efficiency. With a stated 5.5L/100km, the frugal mild-hybrid also gives you an undeniably impressive range. 

Around town, the car is no slouch. It accelerates smoothly through the seven-speed DSG gearbox without needing to rev it anywhere near the redline. On the open road, the car laps up the miles with ease and can quickly turn into a cornering beast on country roads.

The interior is spacious and refined, with a quality feel to it that Cupra proudly says uses material recycled from the Mediterranean Sea. Bronze accents in the interior are a nifty design element, brightening up an otherwise dark and moody colour scheme. If you buy a car for the cup holders, you may be disappointed, as the V's are quite modest. They comfortably hold a small Red Bull - Cupra's partner in New Zealand - but not much else.

Even though compact SUVs are notorious for restricted visibility due to their narrow windows, the Formentor's driving position is comfortable and well-positioned with ample visibility. The entry-level V also comes with manually adjustable sports seats as standard, including lumber support to protect your back on long road trips. Additionally, with space enough for six-foot passengers to comfortably sit in the back and a 500L boot, there's tonnes of space for everyone.

The interior has been redesigned around a new "digital cockpit", including a sleek LED strip curving across the cabin from door to door, which according to Cupra, is inspired by the cockpit of a Formula One car. At the centre of the dashboard is a bright 12.9” touchscreen, borrowed from Volkswagen, and covers all the essentials like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also includes customisable quick access tabs, allowing you control of nearly everything right at your fingertips.

A premium feature now fitted as standard are satellite buttons on the steering wheel including the start/stop and Cupra Drive profile button, which allows you to cycle between the different drive modes. There’s a slight learning curve with the new button layout; for example, with the start/stop button now on the steering wheel, the ESP button is conveniently placed above the gear lever. During our time with the car, we found ourselves accidentally pressing the wrong one a few times, so it will take some getting used to.

Cupra has clearly listened to customer feedback as they've now illuminated the climate control and volume touch-sliders beneath the touchscreen, which was missing in the previous model. The car also features more illumination, usually reserved for top-spec models, in the way of smart lighting on the door panels that light up as you approach the car with the key. Additionally, all cars now come with a 15W wireless phone charger with heat sink to prevent your phone from overheating. It’s clear they’ve thought of everything with this car.

Having established itself in the country for several years, Cupra has decided to remain a niche brand focused on customer experience over mass-market sales. This decision is reflected in the fact that Cupra only offers four models and is really focusing on making them stand out from the competition.

The Cupra V offers a premium experience for buyers who understand the European market and want to venture away from mainstream brands or for those looking to step into a premium European brand without the price tag to match.