CUPRA Formentor VZ 310 Tested | True Spanish Flagship
CUPRA is hot! Not only in terms of horsepower, but also in maturity as a stand-alone brand. In the first few moments there was just a new name, then a logo, and now the Spanish brand is building a CUPRA-only model: the Formentor. Available in various flavors, I was lucky enough to spend one week with this Mediterranean CUPRA Formentor VZ 310.
So what is it? It's a Volkswagen-Group product in many ways, yet something very unique too. The latter finds its roots in the fact that the Formentor knows no equal in the group. Sure, many parts are traceable to cars like the Audi S3, the Volkswagen Tiguan R (review here), and even the CUPRA Leon (review here). But all those parts make up for what the brand itself calls a "crossover coupe." And if you're into categorical thinking, the exterior shape of 4.5 meters in length and 1.5 meters in height with a reclining roofline should lead to that name. But the uniqueness doesn't come from the shape alone, it comes from the entire package, here comes the full name, the CUPRA Formentor VZ 2.0 TSI 310 PS DSG7 4Drive. And I'll try to explain why in this article and promise to do that without making jokes about the Spanish.
I wrote down the full name of Formentor above because two letters make all the difference. You see, there's the Formentor and then there's the Formentor VZ. VZ indicates it’s the sporty one, the ones without VZ aren't. CUPRA is no longer petrol only, there's diesel and PHEV these days. A 245 PS PHEV wears the name VZ, the 310 PS 2-liter I drove, and then there's the 5 cylinder killer at the top of the VZ range. With maturity comes volume models, and the CUPRA Formentor is the one to gain both that role and the role of being the flagship. And no, that isn't a bad thing. Arriba, onto to how this thing drives!
Portionable pepper
The first thing that came to mind when driving the Formentor VZ 310 PS was: "this isn't what I expected it to be!" Hell no, I was fixated on the idea that this was the CUPRA Ateca (review here) experience in a bigger shell. I couldn't have been more wrong, the Formentor is far, far more refined in every way. Sure, there's Dynamic Chassis Control, variable torque throughout the all-wheel-drive system, variable dampening, there's a 2-liter powerplant, and there are more CUPRA logos than you can count while doing zero to a hundred. But its genes have matured beyond that point to form a whole other level of refinement.
And it does that for just 500 euros more than the New Ateca will cost you (€ 48.300 (BE))!? Gone is the laggy response from the DSG, gone is the hard-to-dose throttle. And above that, this VZ has a way more direct steering feel to it than the Ateca did. Rewarding even, as this triggers you to corner more cleanly. Dosing the powerful Brembo's hasn't changed though, they're still downright anchors if you want them to and soft cushions are on the menu too. This allows for broader usability of the car, as in the Ateca both Kenny and I didn't find having passengers a good idea. With this Spanish flagship, not once did my girlfriend blame me for pushing the throttle too hard. Equipped with fully variable torque distribution, this car can put its power to use in almost any weather. Zero to a hundred is met in just under 5 seconds according to CUPRA and I can confirm the car does so eagerly. Zero to two-hundred happens in just under 20 seconds, thanks to its 310 PS and 400 NM.
The dynamic feel of the Formentor VZ 310 PS is enhanced by the emotional appeal it gives off, and there's plenty of parts that do so. First up is the unique aesthetics of the car, walking up to it is simply cool. Other people staring, the same story. But during driving, the bumps on the hood are very visible. You're constantly reminded by the fact that you're driving something sporty. The second thing that enhances the emotional feel is the augmented sound. Normally I'm not a huge fan of this trickery, but this package is meant to be fun and not a serious track toy. And the soundtrack sure is fun, it resembles a 5-cylinder in some way, a deep bass protruding the cabin. This all adds up to smiles at low speed and at higher speeds.
Familiar interior, unique exterior
I've said it before and I'll say it again: this thing looks good! It looks bigger on photos than it is in person. It is spaced right in between the 5-door Leon and the wagon variant of that car. At the front of the car, you'll find the starting point of this optical illusion in the form of a high nose. It's also the starting point of many lines the car wears. A busy design, but intriguing to look at. Run down the side and proportions make the car look big once again, ending with a high butt that does the same. Inside that last-named part resides 420 liters of trunk space despite the 4Drive system. Underneath that butt, there's a fake diffuser and a set of real exhaust tips. On it, there's that epic LED lightbar we know from the LEON.
There's a downside to these shapes though, I really had trouble parking the Formentor as its lines come at the costs of visibility or the driver. Then again, this sort of resembles parking a sportscar. Sadly, so does the consumption. I didn’t manage to get it below 10.5 liters/100 km.
Climbing inside the CUPRA Formentor VZ 310 PS felt like coming home. It is in fact the dashboard of the SEAT Leon, but with a CUPRA flavor. That flavor means you have the CUPRA-branded steering wheel with a CUPRA-mode button, a set of plastic shift pads that don't feel cheap, and the properly supportive and comfy bucket seats. Quality is more than decent for the price range it operates in. Sure, there's the occasional hard plastic here and there but if you don't want that and want similar performance, then the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 should be the car for you.
Stubborn, loveable, unique, bang for your buck
So how does this all add up? The title of this conclusion might give off a slight hint, but CUPRA has proverbially nailed it with this petrol VZ-trim of their Formentor. It's a unique car to look at, the drive is refined and versatile, it has real emotional appeal, and won't kill your bank account. In terms of money-for-car-value, this Spanish is at the very top of what I've tested over the past 6 years.
