Cupra Formentor long-term test: report 1

The car Cupra Formentor VZ First Edition 1.5 e-Hybrid DSG 272PS | Run by Darren Moss, deputy digital editor

Why it’s here To prove that plug-in hybrid technology can lead to driving fun, as well as efficiency

Needs to Be frugal, comfortable for long trips, practical for children and able to function as a mobile office

Mileage 1060 List price £51,790 Target Price £47,790 Price as tested £53,825 Test economy 55.6mpg Official economy 585mpg Options Matte paint £2035

18 October 2024 – To boldly go

Typing ‘the best of both worlds’ into Google brings up lots of information about the Miley Cyrus song of the same name, plus a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode where Captain Picard becomes part of the Borg Collective. But I think there's something missing that potentially deserves a spot: my new Cupra Formentor.

You see, having previously run a fuel-guzzling Genesis GV70, which was practical but left my bank account decimated, and a Lexus LBX, which allowed me to save money thanks to its hybrid setup but wasn’t massively spacious, I went hunting for a larger car that could still be frugal. Enter the Formentor – a family SUV which, on paper at least, promises the best of petrol and electric motoring.

While you can get the Formentor with traditional petrol engines – some of which have mild-hybrid technology – I've gone for the more powerful of two plug-in hybrid options. This combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a total of 268bhp. That’s enough to haul my Formentor from 0-62mph in 7.2sec – faster than most rivals.

Then there’s the official 72-mile electric range. Granted, I’m seeing closer to 45 miles in real-world conditions, but that’s still enough to make a real difference – and it's one that's only going to become more significant.

You see, while I can't currently charge at home, I'm about to move to a new flat where – thanks to a conveniently-placed balcony overlooking my allocated parking space – I will be able to top-up the Formentor’s 25.8kWh battery overnight. 

Until then, sadly, I’m at the mercy of the local public charging infrastructure, which varies wildly in terms of both reliability and price.

The prospect of saving on my running costs meant I didn’t feel bad about splurging out on the most expensive Formentor trim level, VZ First Edition, which comes with just about everything I could want. From 19in alloy wheels finished with machined copper to LED headlights and taillights, and from a panoramic sunroof to extended interior lighting which can warn me if there’s a car in my blind spot, my car is loaded with kit.

The only option I added from the options list was the matte paintwork my car is finished in. This is the first time I’ve gone for such a paint finish, but I think it makes my car look stealthy and muscular, like a Borg drone waiting in the shadows to assimilate someone.

Early impressions have been positive, with my car proving pleasantly comfortable on the 160-mile trip I do weekly to go and see my partner in Stoke-on-Trent.

Choosing VZ1 trim or above on the Formentor gets you adaptive suspension, meaning you can stiffen or soften the ride at the touch of a button, and left in its most comfortable setting the ride is firm but well controlled. Certainly, it’s been better than that of the plug-in hybrid Volvo XC40 I ran previously. 

In addition, the Formentor feels at home in urban traffic, where I can get the jump on traffic light stragglers thanks to the instant responses of its electric motor. And the light steering makes the daily slalom round the What Car? multi-storey car park effortless.

When it’s not being used for motorway trips or commuting, my Formentor will face both country day trips and family holidays. Indeed, its first major hurdle is just a few weeks away, when it’ll be used on a weekend break to the seaside with four passengers and enough luggage to fill a starship.

If the Formentor can handle all that I have in store and leave me smiling, perhaps it’ll appear in Google search results for ‘remarkable SUV’.

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