Cupra is a sporty brand from the SEAT Group. Previously used as a name for the Spanish company's performance-focused models, it now has its own distinct identity. It stands for "Cup Racing" and thus creates a link with SEAT's successful involvement in motorsport.
The Formentor is the first model designed specifically for the brand, and the coupé SUV combines performance with the qualities of an SUV (sports utility vehicle), as I found on a week-long road test.
Style file
There’s a dynamic, sporty aesthetic to the lines of the Formentor. Sculpted to emphasise its attributes and exude motion, the car sits closer to the ground than other SUVs to highlight its sportiness, while visual emphasis placed towards the rear of the the Formentor and accentuation of the bonnet underscores its dynamic character. Sitting on 19in alloy wheels, the car looks poised and full of eye-appeal. Sporty touches include the two sets of twin exhaust tailpipes - one set on each side of the car – and body-coloured wheel arch surrounds.
Inside story
The Formentor’s exterior design is perfectly matched by its roomy, high-quality interior, providing a sense of modernity and sportiness.
The electrically-adjustable bucket seats - our car was upholstered in glorious petrol blue with copper-coloured contrast stitching - are mounted low in the cabin to maximise space, allow a more ergonomic seating position, and give a sense of the dynamic performance before a wheel has been turned.
High-quality materials abound, and the Cupra logo projected onto the ground by the front doors’ puddle lights is a pleasing feature.
The leather-upholstered dashboard appears to float, an impression created by the horizontal full-LED wraparound ambient lighting which runs the width of the dashboard and in both front doors, while the centrepiece of the dashboard is the 12-inch touchscreen which provides the functionality and connectivity to all occupants and reduces button count.
Features
There is a wealth of kit, including advanced infotainment and connectivity, heated front seats and heated, leather-trimmed steering wheel, electrically folding and heated door mirrors, daytime running lights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, ambient interior lighting (multi-coloured), illuminated aluminium front door sill, satnav, dual zone climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, wireless phone charger, park assist, rear-view camera and top-view camera, and power-operated tailgate.
Among the safety features you will find blind-spot detection, a tiredness recognition system, traction control system and electronic stability control.
On the practicality front, there are features including a storage compartment under the driver’s seat, front seat-back storage pockets, rear armrest with access to the boot, a 12-volt charging socket in the cabin, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks and a boot capacity of 420 litres, increasing to 1,475 litres with the seatbacks folded down.
On the road
Here is a car to savour, with a steering wheel-mounted button to select drive modes – Comfort, Sport, Individual, Cupra and Offroad.
The Formentor VZ2’s 306bhp is delivered via a slick seven-speed automatic (DSG) gearbox, and the car has excellent ride and handling characteristics, at home on winding country roads, motorway hauls and around town.
Performance figures speak for themselves, with 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 155mph from the two-litre petrol engine, with a fuel figure of 31.4mpg-33.2mpg and a CO2 figure of 193g/km (manufacturer’s figures).
Tech time
Among the hi-tech features to be found in the Formentor VZ2 is dynamic chassis control, which constantly monitors the road surfaces and driver-inputs and makes imperceptible changes to the set-up in milliseconds to guarantee surefootedness in any conditions while delivering the most engaging drive.
There is also the 4Drive system which analyses road conditions in real time and can deliver power to the wheels with the most traction.
Verdict
With power, pace and presence, here is an exciting, handsome coupe SUV that drives every bit as good as it looks. A motoring treat.
Price as tested: £40, 555
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