Cupra Reviews

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.

Good things come to those who wait.Six years since Cupra showed off its first concept for the Cupra Raval, we've finally had our first chance to climb behind the wheel of the small Mini Cooper SE-rivalling all-electric hatch ahead of Australian sales kicking off in the second half of next year.The first of four new small EVs that includes the Volkswagen ID. Polo, ID. Cross SUV, plus the Skoda Epiq, it was left to VW's Spanish brand to lead all four cars' development, and it really shows with the Raval.By far the sportiest of the quadruplet, the Raval features Cupra's familiar angular styling, which includes a sharpened shark nose.Ramming home its hot hatch intentions, are large wheels and a hard-to-miss rear spoiler and oversized diffuser that could have been lifted off a racer but actually slash drag to boost efficiency.Measuring in at 4046mm long, 1784mm wide and standing at 1518mm with a 2600mm wheelbase, the Raval is surprisingly spacious within – even in the second row where a large adult can sit behind another large adult with just enough leg- and headroom. The boot is impressive too, at a large 441 litres.Unlocking space has been the choice of using the VW Group's new 'MEB+' platform that neatly packages the single front motor, transmission, inverter and power electronics under the front bonnet, carving out more room for people.Ensuring it has the dynamic edge over rivals and its platform mates, the Cupra Raval, has a 10mm wider front and rear track for higher levels of grip mid-corner.All models also sit 15mm lower to the ground than an ID. Polo for less body roll. Other unexpected differences are that the Raval boasts uprated front wheel carriers, plus a stability control system that can be completely switched off for track use.In its native Europe, the Raval is offered with either a small 37kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery or a, still-modest, 52kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) power pack.With the littlest battery the Raval can travel up to 300km on a charge and is combined with either an 85kW or 99kW front motor.In Australia, it's been suggested buyers will only get the larger 52kWh power pack that can see the Mini rival drive up to 440km on the WLTP test cycle, with a choice of either a 155kW or 166kW e-motor.When it comes to charging speed, the bigger battery can only be topped up at a peak rate of 105kW but despite that a 10-80 per cent charge still takes between 23 and 24 minutes, which is reasonable for a small EV within its class.Behind the wheel, the sporty angular looks are reflected within, especially in the range-topping VZ that comes with the option of grippier Cup bucket sport seats that clamp you in position.Featuring, a 12.9-inch multimedia set-up that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ahead of the driver is a sporty steering wheel with proper buttons and a clear 10.5-inch digital dash.What's missing are shortcuts for the touchscreen, although the multimedia is quick to react and has clear graphics.Highlights of the Cupra cabin include a 3D-knitted upholstery that uses 100 per cent recycled material. There's also a sporty steering wheel and cool new ambient lighting tech that projects patterns, colours and animations along the door cards.Bringing you back down to earth are the hard plastic door pulls that feel built to a price, but still don't detract from the fun.Developed under the mantra that Cupra was building a small EV you'd actually want to drive, at the top of the Raval tree is the VZ hot hatch that essentially will share much with the inbound VW ID. Polo GTI.Ensuring it can narrow the gap between it and more conventional petrol-powered hot hatchbacks, the VZ gets the high-output 166kW e-motor, adaptive dampers, an electronic-locking differential and large 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in sticky tyres that, alone, slash the range from 440km to around 388km.All Ravals come with the variable ratio 'progressive' steering rack and a special 'ESC Sport' program, plus the ability to switch it off altogether.Off the line, the VZ offers plenty of performance with 0-100km/h taking around 6.8 seconds – just a tenth off Mini's claim for the Cooper SE.Top speed is 175km/h which apparently isn't enough for the Europeans, with a software patch on the way to raise the limit to a more palatable 190km/h later.Around town, most will prefer the Raval in either 'Comfort' or the more efficient 'Range' setting that softens the ride and is available with three levels of brake regeneration, plus a neat adaptive regen feature which monitors vehicles ahead and adjust the Raval's stops to suit.Cycle through to 'Performance' mode and the steering weights up to some something that feels more natural, while the damping forces increase for better body control, but at the expense of the ride – which we have concerns over.The largest 19-inch wheels might be a bit much on our roads, but engineers say the 17- and 18-inch wheels also fit the fastest model and improve ride quality.Escape the city and push on and the Raval is a lot of fun. There's lots of grip, commendable agility and decent cross-country pace.On track, if you push on you'll feel the electronically-controlled differential working hard for its living, pulling you out of corners with a gentle tugging of the wheel – just like a proper petrol hot hatch would.The Raval doesn't feel quite as lithe as you'd hope and after all it does weigh around 1600kg for the heaviest version but the engagement it offers up is impressive for an EV.What's missing is virtual gearshifts, like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but they might be offered later as part of an over-the-air update or option. The little Cupra also comes with a synthetic sci-fi dystopian soundtrack in its sportiest 'Cupra' mode, plus a pair of configurable modes.One final issue we had with our first car, is the Raval's fancy new 'one-box' e-braking system which squeezes in the brake servo and anti-skid tech into one module served up inconsistent reactions in extreme circumstances. Our second car was much better but we look forward to further testing on more familiar roads.Since Australians aren't great fans of ill-equipped cars, Cupra Australia wisely thinks it might skip the entry and V1 trims, preferring to focus on the mid-spec V2 and flagship VZ.When it lands, expect the Raval V2 to come with a 155kW e-motor, 19-inch alloy wheels, electric folding door mirrors, LED headlamps, a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system, a wireless phone charger, vehicle-to-load (V2L) power, two front and two rear USB-C sockets, ambient light projection, dual-zone climate control, a heated and wrapped multi-function steering wheel and heated sport seats.When it comes to safety, there are seven airbags as standard, adaptive cruise, lane-keeping, front and rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that detects pedestrians and cyclists.Choose the VZ and, as well as the extra chassis hardware and extra power, you get different 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, 3D LED rear lighting, the Cup bucket seats, a 360-degree camera view and a more sophisticated adaptive cruise control.Like every other Cupra model, the new Raval will come with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, with a further eight-year/160,000km protection for the high-voltage batteries.We expect the smallest Cupra Raval to come with a capped-price servicing package, with service intervals primed to be every 24 months or 30,000km.As for pricing, Cupra Australia says it's too early for any indicative costs for the Raval but admits it will command a big premium over similar-sized Chinese rivals, like the Geely EX2.That said, early intel suggests the flagship Raval VZ could be priced from $50,000, plus on-road costs, which would mean it will still be cheaper than the less practical three-door Mini Cooper SE ($58,990, plus on-roads) and the much quicker MG4 XPower ($55,990).

Cupra is the Volkswagen Group's charismatic Spanish brand and the Terramar is a category-busting compact crossover-style SUV with plug-in petrol-electric hybrid power. Does it do enough to capture your attention ahead of well-specified and sharply-priced options from China, Japan and Europe?

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.

Cupra’s unorthodox approach to the Australian market is deliberate, and perhaps best exemplified by the newest addition to the Leon range - the Leon Sportstourer VZe.

Cupra is a performance brand, and the Leon VZx is its hero hot hatch.