Cupra's first stand-alone model has been extensively reworked to broaden its appeal - does it deliver?
Car makers are increasingly trying to tempt younger buyers with left-field cars. Forget traditional boxy SUVs, these drivers want svelte lines and interesting, curvy designs. Cue the Cupra Formentor.Cupra has a notable interest in this type of customer, judging by how much it talks about video games, being "future facing" and "defying every 'should' in the book". To a point, the cars do live up to that talk. They are all available with powerful engines and feature sharp, angular designs and undeniably racey interiors punctuated by a signature bronze trim.The Formentor set the brand on this path, being its first model that wasn’t based on a Seat, and one of its best-selling - with over 120,000 delivered worldwide last year. Now it receives a wide-reaching update encompassing its exterior design, engine line-up and interior, all of which is designed to keep it fresh in the eyes of - especially younger - customers. And given that the average age of a Formentor buyer is 10 years younger than the rest of the crossover segment, there’s a lot at stake.Cupra is not alone in offering non-boxy SUVs. Even stalwart companies are offering cars in this space, just look at the Volvo EX30 and Toyota CH-R.The Cupra Formentor line-up at a glanceNo matter which engine you go for, performance from each of the motors available is strong. The range kicks off with a 148bhp mild-hybrid 1.5-litre turbocharged four-pot, which is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. Starting from £27,604, the Formentor costs more than the Renault Arkana but nearly £13,000 less than the BMW X2. It is available on non-performance-oriented V1, V2 and V3 cars, or racier VZ1, VZ2, and VZ3 trims.A plug-in hybrid version is also available, which pairs the same 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with a 19.7kWh battery (up from 13kWh) and an electric motor, resulting in 201bhp sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. With the increase in battery capacity, electric-only range has been increased from 37 miles to a claimed 62 miles, which puts it in the 8% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket. For reference, the older car was in the 12% bracket.While the plug-in hybrid variant is available on standard V1, V2 and V3 cars, it can also be had in a VZ version, with its power increased to 268bhp. This version is also exclusively four-wheel drive, but uses the same six-speed automatic gearbox.The most powerful engine can only be had on VZ trims. It's the same 329bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine used by the Volkswagen Golf R and Audi S3, and it sends its power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. A 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 148bhp is offered elsewhere, but this will not be coming to the UK.All cars are well equipped. Even the V1 comes with 18in alloy wheels, full LED headlights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, three-zone climate control, keyless entry/ start and adaptive cruise control.Â
