Cupra Formentor VZ5 | It’s Time To Go Beast Mode
As a big fan of Cupra, especially of the Formentor, the VZ5 was on my list of cars I wanted to test for a very long time. It took ages to launch! Being able to compare the Formentor VZ5 with my car, an Audi RS3 8Y, which we all know is a 5-cylinder too was a great addition to the test. So, let’s get started on this amazing beast because there’s a lot to talk about and It’s finally time to go beast mode!
Looking good
When Cupra introduced the Formentor I immediately became a fan. This was before I was a journalist at Car Journalism, so I had to go to my local dealer to see and test the Formentor. I got the opportunity to test the VZ 310, and that was the moment I fell in love! The Formentor just looks at me in a way I can’t resist. It’s sporty, comfortable, practical, and has everything you need to make it the perfect daily. Oh wow Formentor, I love you! But this year my love for the Formentor got a whole lot bigger! Cupra just made my heart go BOOM by launching the VZ5! Audi’s legendary 5-cylinder engine in a Formentor! The VZ5 is super sporty and sturdy, the looks of this car are truly amazing. It got everything we could’ve wished for and believe me, it’s a beast in real life!
But enough about my Formentor love story and let’s take a look at the front! You will definitely notice the beautiful carbon fiber front blades, they not just improve the look and sportiness of the car but also provide improved airflow to the engine. You'll see the copper tinted Cupra emblem between the well-designed headlights, including Cupra’s signature led DRLs. It's a real eye-catcher if you ask me! When you see this aggressive front coming at you in your mirror, you definitely should move aside and let the beast pass!
The one thing you are likely to see most, because this beast is too fast for you, is the back. There we got a pretty carbon fiber rear diffuser with eye-catching copper exhaust tailpipes. But that's not the only thing that's eye-catching on the rear! Just look at that awesome continuous tail light! “It illuminates the scene like only a CUPRA can!” Well Cupra, you're right!
This one got the Petrol Blue exterior color and combined with the copper details, it’s just stunning. You’ll not only see the copper details in the tailpipes or Cupra logo, but it’s also the finishing touch for the beautifully designed and aggressive looking 20” rims.
Enter The Beast
The sporty look from the outside is brought back into the interior. This one has the exterior color matching Petrol Blue seats, dashboard, and door panels. It makes the whole interior blue, it’s cool but I would definitely go for black seats. It’s just a bit too blue! The one thing I love about Petrol Blue is that the copper looks amazing in combination with it. The copper also recurs in the stitching of that super sporty steering wheel. There you will find all the buttons you need to use for the adaptive cruise control, navigating through the virtual cockpit, or to control your music. There’s also that nice start engine and Cupra button, which can be used to switch between driving modes. Those modes can also be changed and personalized via the 12” infotainment screen. It’s a great size to navigate through the system. The infotainment works pretty well and is a lot smoother than its predecessor. I do remember it was a bit laggy and slow in the VZ 310 but Cupra seemed to have fixed the problems with it. The infotainment now also works with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.
5-Cylinder Engine Swap
Well, I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical about putting this specific engine into the Formentor. The five-cylinder engine, manufactured by the brand with the four rings (Audi), has achieved legendary status. Countless victories in motorsports and strong performance in daily use have earned the five-cylinder engine the “International Engine of the Year Award” 9 times since 2010. This engine became the heart of the TTRS and RS3 since then.
By owning an Audi RS3 myself I had to compare the Formentor to the RS3. I know I can only compare it on performance because it's still an SUV and doesn't have the same chassis as an RS3, but when it comes down to handling the RS3 is the real winner. They both feel and drive great but the Formentor is searching for a lot more track than the RS3. That's because of the Formentor’s higher center of gravity. This isn’t such a “bad” thing because it makes it feel a lot more playful and gives you a crazier feeling when you hit full throttle. The RS3 on the other hand gives you a steadier feeling and does cornering work a lot more precisely and smoother, as it should be.
Let's talk about the performance of this amazing engine they fitted in the Formentor. You can sprint from 0-100Km/h in 4,2s and it delivers you 390HP with 480Nm. It's great comparing this to the 0-100Km/h in 3,8s and 400HP with 500Nm of the Audi RS3. So even though they have the same motorization they also do have different performance specs.
Like the RS3 the Formentor also has a torque splitter that consists of two electro-hydraulically controlled clutches that provide independent torque control for each wheel. Also, Drift Mode is available on the Formentor, it bypasses the electronic stability control. Thanks to this, full power can be sent to one rear wheel and making it possible to slide through corners.
The Formentor is one of those cars that can combine sportiness with comfort. This car drives as well as it is comfortable and that’s an amazing thing. It’s great to make longer trips and to drive relaxed and calm. When the moment presents itself, the gas pedal can be kicked down and this amazing beast will show what it's capable of!
Wrapped up
So if you want a practical car for daily use with the power of a pocket rocket, the Cupra Formentor VZ5 will be a pretty good option. It’s a spacious, comfortable, yet super sporty car that looks amazing. This beauty can be yours starting from €66.500 (BE). If you want the petrol blue like this one, you’ll have to pay just over €69.600 (BE). This is a good price for all the performance and comfort the VZ5 will give you.
