Cupra Formentor
GOODBYE
£48,045 OTR/£48,660 as tested/£596pcm
WHY IT’S HERE
Just what is the Cupra Formentor... for?
DRIVER
Tom Ford
IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT I GET HANDED A LONG-TERM TEST CAR THAT resolves into a proper conundrum. Generally, you come away after five or six months and 10k miles with a very strong idea what you think, and I tend to base the concept of success or failure on two things: one, does the car deliver on what the manufacturer says it’s supposed to, and two, whether or not I’d actually spend my own money on one.
The Formentor seems to span a few genres, so it’s an interesting car that seemed like it might meet my needs. It’s also the first bespoke model from the brand, and so it was interesting to see where Cupra can carve itself out a niche under the VW MegaCorp umbrella. Based on the same platform as the Seat Ateca, it’s actually pretty big inside, but with a more hatchy profile. It’s got some lovely details and a slightly grumpy look that makes it stand out. All good stuff.
I was so-so about it at first, much more keen by the end, simply because it proved versatile and spacious. With a roofrack dropped on top, it coped with five-up-and-dog camping, and the dog appreciated the space in the boot. Albeit he’s not a very big dog. A roomy set of back seats helped when stuffing three gangly teens in there, too. The footprint is relatively modest given the interior space on offer, which means it never feels too big to park, and generally I have enjoyed the practicality.
This is a genuinely good starting point for the brand, and delivers on what the marketing blurb says. It’s distinctive, useful, interesting. A bit of tweaking and it would satisfy a sweep of consumers, and do so with style. I actually think I’d prefer the PHEV version (fun to drive, weirdly, and I have home charging) with the extra mpg, but generally this is a very nice car; if it’s on your company car list, it would be worth a look. But when it comes down to it, I think I’d need a car that hit me in the heart a little more.