Cupra Formentor SUV - Interior & comfort

Given Cupra's sporty image and reputation for hardcore hot hatchbacks, you'd be forgiven for expecting the Formentor to have a very stiff and uncompromising ride. Instead, it's rather more sophisticated and smooth than that, even with 19-inch alloy wheels shod in low-profile tyres. Thanks to its multi-link rear suspension, it feels communicative rather than unforgiving.

Cupra’s trademark styling touch is copper-coloured detailing - you’ll notice the badges and some of the alloy wheel choices have a metallic tinge - and that continues inside. It feels less brash than some of its rivals, and the interior does feel more special than that of a standard SEAT Leon. The trouble is that many of the parts can be found in VW Group hatchbacks, including the Leon, and adding some copper touches isn't always enough to elevate the interior to a level befitting of a car that costs more than £40,000 in top-spec 2.0-litre petrol form. The panel that houses the gear selector and parking brake button, for example, looks identical to the one you'll find in a Leon and doesn't look or feel particularly classy. 

Leather upholstery, copper stitching and dash padding does help but look further down and, again, you’ll see trim that was designed for less expensive SEAT models. A 2.0-litre Porsche Macan may be slightly more expensive but its interior is a very clear step up from the Formentor; the design is much more sophisticated, and the quality of materials and finish is much superior too.

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Cupra Formentor dashboard

Overall, the interior feels like that of a very high-spec Leon, rather than one that was designed specifically for the Formentor. It may not compare favourably with the very best on the market but it's certainly more suited to its price tag than the inside of a VW T-Roc R, which is a sea of hard plastics by comparison.

The dashboard is dominated by a 12-inch touchscreen that provides a sleek, minimalist look. A quest for a minimalist design has led the VW Group to do away with nearly all the physical buttons in many of its cars, but in some scenarios these would actually be easier to use than having to prod the touchscreen multiple times. It’s too hard to access even basic functions in our opinion, so you might find you’re taking your eyes off the road for longer than you’d like.

Equipment

Even in V1 trim, there’s plenty more tech to enjoy, with the Formentor packing a digital cockpit, a 12-inch touchscreen, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, rear parking sensors and three-zone climate control. A heated steering wheel is also included with versions equipped with a DSG gearbox. For many owners, these will be all the features they ever really need. V2 adds 19-inch alloys, Nappa leather bucket seats with copper stitching, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, front parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

Step up to the VZ2 trim and the 19-inch wheels and sports seats are fitted, along with a bodykit, adjustable dampers, a rear-view camera and all-round parking sensors. VZ2 versions get Nappa leather upholstery in either black or 'Petrol Blue' and the same interior upgrades as the V2 trim, while VZ3 versions get a model-specific 19-inch alloy wheel design and Brembo high-performance brakes.

Options

Several new colours were introduced in summer 2021, including Nevada White and Asphalt Blue. A Beats premium audio system upgrade is also available for all trim levels and is powered by a 340-watt amplifier. It includes nine speakers and a subwoofer for 'high-fidelity' sound.

V1 and V2 trims can be optioned with an electric tailgate for added convenience, while VZ2 and VZ3 models come with the option of a 360-degree camera view to make parking easier.