Cupra Formentor 310

The highs and lows of running a performance crossover

OUR CUPRA FORMENTOR IS NOW RUN IN, so this month I’ve been able to start exploring its full performance. And I have to say, I’ve been having a riot. It’s every bit as quick as you’d hope a fast Cupra product would be, its 306bhp resulting in an impressive 4.9sec 0-62mph time and properly punchy in-gear acceleration. It’s just a shame that the accompanying sound produced by the quad exhausts is a little underwhelming, as the plumbed-in noise is not for me.

Shooting the new Golf R for last month’s issue provided an opportunity to see how the Formentor compares with a similarly powerful, four-wheel-drive hot hatch. The Cupra lost little, if anything, to the 316bhp VW in a straight line, but when it came to cornering speeds, the Golf had a clear advantage. The Formenter rides more firmly than you might expect, but its raised height means more lean in the corners, which in turn makes its extra weight more noticeable.

The Golf had the edge in the braking zones, too, its 357mm front discs providing more underfoot reassurance than the Cupra’s 340mm items. Perhaps the 370mm Brembos you get in VZ3 trim (our car is the £2370-cheaper VZ2) would redress the balance.

In other news, the Cupra’s wireless phone charger appears to actually be an oven, making my iphone overheat and stop working if used for too long, and the car’s touchscreen struggles to keep up if you try to operate it too quickly, but the sound system is terrific, which I’m appreciating on longer drives, as it further enhances the appeal of what I’m already finding to be an excellent car for rapid daily driving.

Aston Parrott (@Astonparrott)

Date acquired January 2021 Total mileage 1285 Mileage this month 801 Costs this month £0 mpg this month 30.1