Cupra Formentor
A 1000-mile trip from London to Scotland and back is just the ticket for getting to grips with our sports SUV
London to Scotland and back in our sports SUV
I LOVE A road trip. There’s no better way to get to know a car. So, when the Covid restrictions in Scotland finally eased enough for me to visit my family up there, I didn’t hesitate.
As soon as the clock hit 5.30 on Friday afternoon, I jumped in my Cupra Formentor and hit the road. And what did I learn on my 1000-mile round trip to the Trossachs? Well, perhaps the biggest surprise was that it’s such a comfortable motorway cruiser.
With its adaptive suspension slackened off in Comfort mode, it settles into a lovely, relaxed gait, rising and falling with the natural cadence of the road. It’s no exaggeration to say that the way the Formentor rides at high speeds is comparable with the best family SUVS.
The average fuel economy was a pleasant surprise, too. After 418 miles spent cruising at just below the national speed limit, the trip computer showed a figure of 36.1mpg – not bad for a car with 306bhp. The Formentor has a 55-litre fuel tank, so I was able to complete the journey without having to stop to fill up, earning it a massive tick in my book.
Once in Scotland, I was presented with the opportunity to test the handling and performance in an appropriate environment. So, does the Formentor thrill on country roads like a razor-sharp hot hatch? Well, the short answer is no, not quite.
When you engage Cupra mode, via the drive selector on the steering wheel, the adaptive suspension firms up to give the car a sense of unflappable body control. That, combined with the sharp steering, clever four-wheel drive system and quick-shifting seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, means it can cover ground very quickly, regardless of the conditions. So, what’s the problem?
Well, unlike the playful Volkswagen Golf R, or even the T-roc R, the Formentor has been set up to deliver maximum point-to-point pace. Instead of allowing a little bit of slide on the exit of a corner, the Formentor simply grips and goes. That’ll suit drivers who simply want a quick, attractively styled SUV, but if you’re after a thrilling driving experience, you might want to take a look at one of the VWS.
It’s also a shame that, as yet, there’s no sports exhaust option like the Akrapovic system the T-roc R offers; its theatrical crackles and parps lend drama to proceedings. The Formentor, by contrast, sounds muted in Comfort or Sport mode, while the fake engine noise generated in Cupra mode sounds overly synthetic. It shares the same engine as the T-roc R, so hopefully some Akrapovic pipes are in the works.