Overview
ANOTHER Volkswagen Group marque is now out there in Australia within the form of Cupra, an offshoot of Spain’s nationwide car-maker SEAT, that’s providing a multi-pronged offensive that may see city-sized hatches, petrol, plug-in hybrid and electrical fashions, and smaller-sized SUVs arrive in native showrooms, every with their very own persona however all sharing an unambiguous dose of sporting European aptitude.
Take for instance the range-topping Formentor VZx 4Drive sampled right here. This flagship variant of the Formentor SUV vary presents a scorching 228kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (Volkswagen’s EA888-series unit) paired with a Golf R-like Haldex Traction all-wheel drive system, quick-shifting seven-speed wet-clutch DSG transmission, sports-tuned suspension and non-obligatory Brembo brakes.
With a sticker worth of $63,990, the Formentor VZx rivals dearer European-sourced fashions together with the Audi SQ2 2.0TFSI Quattro ($67,200), BMW X2 M35i xDrive Pure ($70,500) and Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 4Matic ($97,800) – all priced earlier than on-road prices.
Wearing Petrol Blue metallic paint, the Formentor VZx on take a look at is additional distinguished by 19-inch Efficiency Sport black and copper alloy wheels, quad exhaust shops, and Magnetic Tech Matte exterior finishes. Matte copper touches all through pay homage to the Cupra identify – Latin for copper.
It’s complemented inside by a Supersports leather-rimmed steering wheel with shift paddles and heating, Petrol Blue leather-trimmed bucket seats, heated entrance seats with electrical adjustment and reminiscence for the motive force, reminiscence perform for aspect mirrors and nine-speaker Beats audio with a subwoofer and 340W amplifier.
And the Catalonian-built Formentor can also be surprisingly sensible. The cabin will comfortably accommodate 4 adults and presents helpful oddment storage, charging shops and the likes.
The electrical tailgate permits quick access to a helpful 420-litre boot, and the rear seats fold virtually flat to accommodate bulkier objects.
Cupra Australia fashions are supplied with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee. Servicing is provided through Volkswagen dealerships nationally.
(Oh, and in case you have been questioning, the Formentor identify comes from the beautiful Cap de Formentor peninsula on the Balearic Island in Majorca. When you have the time to Google it, we assure you gained’t be dissatisfied.)
Driving Impressions
As Australians, we’re lucky to have so many autos to select from, and with regards to new vehicles, there actually is one thing to swimsuit nearly each style and finances.
There are vehicles for the sporty, vehicles for the sensible, vehicles for the tech-savvy, vehicles for the trendy… the record simply goes on and on. However it’s seldom that we come throughout a automobile that efficiently melds these attributes into the one, putting bundle.
The Cupra Formentor VZx is simply such a automobile – and though its Volkswagen Group origins are evident, they present themselves in areas resembling meeting high quality and supplies end, leaving the Formentor with its personal distinct and vibrant character.
It’s an exceptionally well-presented automobile and one which, as peculiar because it sounds, has its personal Spanish flavour.
The Formentor VZx is energetic. Pleasurable. And regardless of the way you’re driving it – whether or not pottering round city or pushing alongside a winding nation highway – has an innate means to deliver a smile to your face.
Your place behind the wheel is relatively hatch-like, regardless of the upper using place of this SUV mannequin. You’re feeling cosseted and supported, pure on the wheel. It’s a terrific driving place for these weekend sprints down your favorite stretch of B-road.
The pedal placement, the steering really feel, the best way the dual-clutch transmission reacts to pedal enter – particularly in its sportier modes – comes collectively to create an expertise that’s laborious to prime; and I genuinely consider that even essentially the most finicky of manual-gearbox drivers will agree with me on that final level particularly. Actually, we discovered ourselves not often needing to have interaction with the paddle-shifters in any respect.
Braking efficiency from the non-obligatory four-piston Brembos is just stellar. There’s no fade, and in repeated laborious purposes we discovered the pedal maintained its really feel and progressions with aplomb. The transmission gears down sweetly underneath braking as nicely, so nicely the truth is you virtually should pinch your self to recollect you’re on the helm of a 1684kg SUV, and never a pocket-sized scorching hatch. Maybe it’s the Volkswagen Golf’s underpinnings making themselves identified…
Across the ’burbs, the Formentor is straightforward to handle and presents fast, mild steering. The massive wheels don’t are likely to crash over pace humps and imperfections within the floor in the best way you may count on. The one actual criticism is a bit wind and tyre noise when you hit freeway speeds (one thing fully anticipated given the VZx rides on vast, grippy 19-inch rubber).
Push even additional, and with Sport or Cupra mode chosen (through handy steering wheel-mounted button), and the Formentor feels equal components partaking and undemanding.
There’s a ‘move’ to the chassis that appears to channel the motive force’s inputs relatively instinctively. Plentiful torque, a front-bias driveline, acres of grip, and splendidly progressive steering additional add to the coherent connection between automobile and driver.
Efficiency on provide within the Formentor VZx is exceptionally nicely matched to the chassis, although within the default drive mode you would virtually be forgiven for considering the facility supply is considerably lazy.
As a each day driver, the Formentor is joyful to lope together with little or no fuss. Gear adjustments are clean and progress informal – simply the factor for retaining gas consumption to a minimal (we managed 9.9 litres per 100km on take a look at). However at something greater than three-quarter throttle, or upon choosing Sport or Cupra mode, the Formentor’s reflexes tighten appreciably.
Shifts hasten because the engine races to redline extra readily, the turbocharger boosts with a deliciously provocative be aware, and shortly you’re charging with haste at speeds higher skilled on the racetrack. Cupra quotes a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds, which feels fairly correct; we are able to solely think about how zesty the VZ5 should really feel.
Cupra presents a restricted run of the five-pot-powered VZ5 in different markets, the hard-charging mannequin motivated by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol from the Audi RS3 growing 287kW/480Nm. Sadly, the mixture is obtainable in left-hand drive markets solely.
The Formentor supplies an excellent outlook for the motive force and passengers, the one caveat being the thicker C pillar could make reversing from diagonal parks a bit difficult. Thankfully, the digital camera system and security aids assist to take away the guesswork.
On the draw back, nevertheless, the all-touchscreen infotainment array can take some getting used to, with many menu programs to navigate, poor AM radio reception, no digital radio reception (DAB+) and no illumination of the temperature controls at evening. It’s additionally the form of set-up that takes a bit getting used to, however after just a few days with the automobile – and customising your individual preferences on the house display – it quickly turns into relatively intuitive.
Much less so are the small and huge (staggered) cup holders within the centre console. The aft cup holder is overhung by the console lid whereas the entrance one is just too deep for the typical takeaway espresso cup. It’s a small problem, however one that would have been averted with higher planning of the console, which is unnecessarily consumed by the gear selector space (itself a small digital lever) and adjoining longitudinal trays.
On the plus aspect, Cupra has completely nailed the headlight efficiency and dusk-sensing calibration, the rain-sensing wipers and the local weather management efficiency. Southern Spain’s scorching local weather has paid dividends in making the system work nicely in Australia, and even on the most well liked days we had no problem in retaining the cabin at a cushty temperature.
Whenever you add all of it up, the Formentor is a sporty, sensible, tech-savvy and classy SUV that basically is aware of how you can flip heads. Certain, the mannequin’s pricing is up there a bit, however when put next with ‘premium’ European rivals – and factoring in simply how a lot gear and efficiency comes as normal – the general providing is one which we expect may be very laborious to look previous.
Actually, we’re just a bit bit enamoured with this automobile – and reckon anybody that jumps in for a take a look at drive can be too.
