Used Cupra Formentor 2020-present reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

On the whole, the Formentor is a solid car and it tends to be bought by people who look after their cars well. Still, check the interior for signs of wear and tear and alloys for any kerb damage. Make sure all electrics work as they should.

As of writing, the Formentor has experienced recalls for the following issues:

The Front Assist is not configured correctly.

The front seat belts may not be properly anchored due to a manufacturing error.

The bolted connection of the pull rod between the electromechanical brake servo and brake pedal may come loose resulting in a loss of all service braking ability.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Cupra dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

To give you peace of mind, all Formentors come with a three-year/60,000 mile warranty. That matches what you’ll get with the Volvo XC40, but isn’t as good as the three-year unlimited mileage warranty of the BMW X2 or the five year (or 100,000 miles) Toyota C-HR warranty.

Now, the bad news. Cupra as a brand finished last out of 32 manufacturers in the most recent 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey.

The Formentor didn't do very well in the family SUV class. It finished in 33rd place out of 34 cars.

Reliability rating 81.5%

While only 6% of examples of the Cupra Formentor were rendered undriveable by faults, the car’s score was hurt by the fact that 69% took more than a week to fix. Overall, 54% went wrong, with sat-nav/ infotainment issues accounting for 49% and non-engine electrical faults another 23%. One saving grace is that all repairs were free.

Used Cupra Formentor: owners' reliability data

As part of our 2023 Reliability Survey, What Car? readers collectively said the Cupra Formentor has demonstrated mixed reliability. Several owners praised the car for being generally dependable, but some reported recurring electrical issues. Problems with the infotainment system, such as unresponsive screens and Bluetooth connectivity faults, were common, while a few readers mentioned warning lights appearing without clear cause. Hybrid owners, in particular, noted difficulties with charging systems and occasional faults in the electric motor.

Dealer service feedback was varied. While some owners had positive experiences, with dealerships providing efficient service and resolving issues quickly, others were frustrated by long wait times for repairs and inconsistent communication. A few mentioned that fixes often required multiple visits. Additionally, high repair costs were a recurring concern.