2026 Cupra Formentor Reviews

In the age of electrification some brands are still throwing a petrol party, and Cupra’s latest shin-dig is an absolute rager.VW’s Spanish brand has just launched the updated version of the Formentor small SUV in Australia, and I’m testing the spicy VZx variant.It is priced from $69,990 (before on-road costs), which is $20,000 more than the entry-level Formentor but $25,000 cheaper than the absolute rocketship VZ5 variant due later this year.Under the bonnet of the Formentor VZx is the heart of the Volkswagen Golf R. The tried and tested 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 245kW and 420Nm.This is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that drives all four wheels. This enables a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.8 seconds.That kind of grunt puts it in some fine company, with rivals including the BMW X1 M35 ($93,900), Lexus LBX Morizo RR ($78,490) and Mini Countryman JCW ($73,990).That means it’s cheaper and just as, or more powerful than its competition.It is a sparkling vehicle to drive.When I crack open the driver’s door of our test car I'm greeted by the optional bucket seats with carbon-fibre backs. They are snug with plenty of lateral support and power adjustment.You sit nice and low in the car with a chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel for a driving companion and alloy pedals for going and stopping.Press the push-button starter on the steering wheel and the 10.2-inch digital multimedia screen lights up with chunky dials and the choice of performance information such as the percentage of power and torque being delivered.It makes a raucous noise, but it isn’t all real with the Formentor using what Cupra terms 'adjustable engine sound modelling', which blends real and fake engine noises in the cabin.In Comfort mode the Formentor VZx is an accomplished daily commuter, feeling more composed and relaxed than in Performance or Cupra modes.The throttle response kicks up a notch in Performance and Cupra and the gear changes get more aggressive.And the suspension stiffens, where bumps and road imperfections are somewhat smoothed out in Comfort, they become harsher and crashier in the more taut modes.Make no mistake, the Formentor is not soft in any mode.That tightness of the suspension means it hugs the bends and slices through the corners. It holds its weight expertly in quick changes of direction and isn't unsettled by mid corner bumps. Its 1668kg weight makes it feel nimble and light-footed in a world of hefty EVs.There is ample grip from the all-wheel-drive set-up in all conditions, which is aided by the sticky Continental Sport Contact 7 rubber.The steering is sharp, communicative and well weighted, which gives confidence through tight and twisting corners.It is fast enough, with plenty of theatre when you put your foot down. The dual-clutch auto grabs the deep torque reserves low in the rev range to thrust you forward before the power kicks in with a ghoulish roar.There isn’t a lot to dislike about the Formentor VZx.Road and tyre noise is intrusive, especially on Australia’s rough coarse chip roads. It is thirsty, drinking a claimed 8.3L/100km. You’ll see far more than that if you drive it with even a little enthusiasm. It needs the priciest 98RON fuel, too.The cabin is functional with a good mix of premium and hardwearing materials used throughout.Touches of copper, ambient lighting and a large 12.9-inch multimedia touchscreen impress, but the lack of physical buttons and controls does not. You need to dive into the central screen to make minor changes to climate controls or other features.Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel make a cold winter’s morning more bearable.In the centre console there is a stubby little dongle gear selector, a few small storage compartments and a wireless device charger and two USB-C ports.A 390W, 12-speaker Sennheiser stereo is excellent with good sound clarity.There is plenty of head, shoulder and legroom up front with excellent seat adjustment to accommodate drivers of all shapes and sizes.The back seat is tightish, but I was able to fit two child seats in the back, however it would be cramped for taller adults. Boot space is adequate at 420 litres, and it has a space-saver spare wheel.Outside the Formentor is all sharp angles with a menacing countenance. Nineteen-inch black and copper alloy wheels look the part and our test car has the optional brake package, which subs in 375mm x 36mm cross-drilled ventilated disc brakes with six piston Akebono calipers with copper finishes and Cupra branding up front.The bigger brakes means the space-saver spare can’t be used at the front as it no longer fits.There are dynamic LED headlights and rear lights that run the length of the rear. Puddle lights are a nice to have on dark nightsPassengers are protected by 10 airbags and a raft of active driver aids that work as advertised and are not overbearing.The Formentor VZx will automatically apply the brakes if it detects a potential collision with another vehicle. It will warn you if a car is in your blind spot and warn you if a car is approaching from the side as you reverse. An array of sensors will help to keep you centred in your lane.All this is good enough to give it a five-star ANCAP safety rating.Cupra covers its vehicles with a five year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which is merely adequate these days. A prepaid service package for the first five logbook visits will set you back $2190, with visits coming every 12 months or 15,000km.

The 2026 Cupra Formentor VZx is currently the flagship trim level in the line-up, although this will change once the Audi RS3-powered VZ5 arrives later this year.It’s priced from $69,990 before on-road costs.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 245kW and 420Nm. This is 17kW and 20Nm more than before.It’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system. This update has picked up a trick torque-splitting rear differential that allows for a ‘Drift’ mode.Cupra claims the Formentor VZx can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds. Launch control is standard.The Fomentor VZx is claimed to consume 8.3L/100km (8.5L/100km with the Extreme package) on the combined cycle according to ADR 81/02 testing. There’s a 55L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 98 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using this claim the Formentor VZx has a theoretical total range of 663km.Standard equipment includes 19-inch forged alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, leather-accented upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated front seats.A panoramic glass sunroof is optional for $2000, plus the $7000 Extreme package adds matrix LED headlights, six-piston Akebono front brakes and Sabelt front bucket seats.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to conditional eight or 10-year terms.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

The 2026 Cupra Formentor VZe is the penultimate trim in the current line-up and the only plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offering currently.It’s priced from $68,990 before on-road costs, which is $4000 more than it was previously.Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor with total system outputs of 200kW and 400Nm. This is 20kW more than before.This is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent to the front wheels only.Cupra claims the Formentor VZe can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.2 seconds. Launch control is standard.There is a 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack as standard which allows for up to 114km of electric driving, according to WLTP testing. AC charging is offered at rates up to 11kW, while DC fast-charging is available at rates up to 50kW.Cupra claims the Formentor VZe consumes an average of 1.7L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. There’s a 40L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using this claim, this car has a theoretical total range of 2350km.Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, leather-accented upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated front seats.A panoramic glass sunroof is optional for $2000, plus the $6500 Extreme package adds matrix LED headlights, four-piston Brembo front brakes and Sabelt front bucket seats.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to conditional eight or 10-year terms.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

The 2026 Cupra Formentor V is now one trim level up from the entry-level model.It was previously the entry-level model and is now priced from $57,490 before on-road costs.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150kW and 320Nm. This is 10kW more than the pre-update model.This is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent through an all-wheel-drive system.Cupra claims the Formentor V can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds. Launch control is standard.The Formentor V is claimed to consume an average of 7.0L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. There is a 55L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using the claim, this car has a theoretical total range of 786km.Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, fabric upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats.Optional is a panoramic glass sunroof for $2000 and the $2200 Leather and Sound package which adds a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, leather-appointed upholstery and front-passenger electric adjustment and memory.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to eight or 10 years.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

The 2027 Cupra Formentor S is the entry-level version of this small SUV line-up in Australia.It’s priced from $49,990 before on-road costs.Power comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance and total system outputs of 110kW and 250Nm.This is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with drive sent to the front wheels only.Cupra claims the Formentor S can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.0 seconds. Launch control is standard.The Formentor S is claimed to consume an average of 5.5L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. There’s a 50L fuel tank which requires a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.Using the claim, this car has a theoretical range of up to 909km.Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, interior ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, fabric upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats.Optional is a panoramic glass sunroof for $2000 and the $2200 Leather and Sound package which adds a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, leather-appointed upholstery and front-passenger electric adjustment and memory.The Cupra Formentor originally received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021 and this has been renewed for the updated model based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.There are 10 airbags including rear-side and front-centre airbags as standard, plus autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with lane centring, a surround-view camera, as well as a parking assist.The Formentor, like all other Cupras, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is a little lacklustre for a mainstream brand now as many have moved to eight or 10 years, conditional.Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.There are three- and five-year pre-paid service packages available that are priced at $1090 and $2190, respectively. In the latter case, this means each service averages out to almost $440 which is fairly average for a European car.

Volkswagen's spicy Spanish brand, Cupra, is finally launching the updated version of its Formentor small SUV in Australia. It's now offered in more flavours than ever, ranging from mild to extra hot.

Australians love the Cupra Formentor. Last year, we snapped up almost 1500 of the Spanish brand's mid-size SUV. But despite our deep affection, until now, the flagship high-performance VZ5 version of the Formentor has been cruelly denied to anyone pining for a faster version.That changes from this December when the fire-breathing Formentor VZ5 finally arrives in right-hand drive for the first time – but you'd better be quick because almost as soon as production begins, ever-tightening EU7 emissions regs will see its exotic Audi RS3-sourced 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine killed off forever.There's no word just how many we'll get Down Under, but when sales start at the end of the year expect a healthy five-figure premium over the $65,790 charged for the current flagship VZx, that only makes do with a punier 2.0-litre turbo.In the flesh, designers didn't exactly get carried away with the upgrades over the regular Formentor and we think only real performance car geeks will spot the different 20-inch alloy wheels, extended front splitter, tweaked rear bumper and diffuser plus some purposeful wider arches.For everyone else, the dead giveaways will be the diagonally stacked copper-coloured tips and tell-tale 'VZ5' badging.Inside, just a pair of standard figure-hugging 'Cup' bucket seats are the only evidence you're sitting in a VZ5 – a statement of intent, perhaps, of the higher g-forces occupants will endure.The star of the show, of course, lurks beneath the bonnet – the same exotic 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo that offers an offbeat growling soundtrack and delivers devastating performance in the Audi RS3.Except the Formentor VZ5 turbo five-cylinder doesn't quite produce the same 294kW and 500Nm as the hyper hatch. Instead, it has been detuned to 287kW and a lesser 480Nm of torque but still gets the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and standard all-wheel drive.Like the RS3 it borrows its heart from, the family-friendly SUV bags the Audi RS3's wild torque splitting rear differential that boosts on-road agility and provides for a proper drift mode on track. On a fast flowing race circuit you'll also be grateful engineers have fitted bigger Akebona six-piston performance brakes.Off the line, with plenty of traction available the Formentor VZ5 rips from 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds – a cool 0.7 seconds quicker than the 228kW VZx making it one of the fastest combustion-powered SUVs out there.It sounds good, too, like a rally refugee from the late eighties, although noise regulations mean there's not quite enough noise piped into the cabin.Inside, providing extra support on track Cupra have made the Cup bucket seats that were optional on the VZx standard – and that's it.On road, first impressions are mixed. We think many will love the exotic sound of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder but wish the soundtrack were a little louder.The RS3 engine is also hamstrung by the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission's lack of smoothness around town but peel off onto a country road and all is forgiven, thanks to its sharp up- and downshifts.Push a little harder than you would on Australian roads and the powerful brakes are easily up for the challenge, but it's difficult to detect the rear torque-splitting differential in action, compared to how effective it is in the smaller, lighter Audi hot hatch.One final gripe about the way the flagship Formentor drives, is that the lighter VZx has better steering feel and isn't that much slower cross-country than the VZ5, but we think most diehard performance fans will shrug off its 10.1L/100km average and be seduced by the quicker, more powerful car with its racier soundtrack.