Cupra Formentor VZ5
This time around I review an SUV I actually like! „But the last reviews you told us that you hate SUVs“. Yes I did and I still do. I make absolutely no sense at all and don‘t really care if I do because the Formentor sort of won my heart the moment I saw one in the flesh. It‘s arguably one of the best looking smaller SUVs / Crossovers on the market right now and a rather brilliant one to drive too. Basically a „budget friendly“, RS3-ish SUV that can do many things very good.
Cupra being Seats former hotter sister has become a brand of itself a few years ago and the Formentor is their first sort of “own” model. Apart from getting their own logo and an own line of models, they‘re still VWs underneath. Luckily it‘s only underneath because everything on the outside definitely doesn’t look like a VW. Its sharp lines, sporty curves and bulges give it a distinctive presence on the road. It‘s the perfect mix of sharp lines and curves which makes this car so appealing. In a time where VWs are only some lines and mostly flat surfaces, whereas Audi has become only sharp lines with almost no flat surfaces. Cupra takes the more reasonable spot in the middle and balances lines and curves out perfectly. The low, swooping roofline and narrow windows make it look dynamic and sort of just right from all angles. Although not looking like it’s too big, it actually is relatively big, considering it shares its base with the Golf VIII.
The interior of the car makes me just as happy as the outside. Alcantara and leather, sporty yet comfortable seats, nice ergonomics and a properly functioning infotainment system. Compared to the Cupra Born I reviewed recently, it was miles better in min every single way. The infotainment didn‘t take 7 years to change a song and the steering wheel was equipped with actual buttons. A thing I appreciate on modern cars as it just works. It‘s a very lovely place to be in, no matter how long the trip is.
The VZ5 actually is limited to 7000 units worldwide, but if that‘s not rare enough for you, there‘s the „Taiga Grey Edition“. Limited to only 999 numbered pieces it comes in a special colour called: (you might have guessed it) Taiga Grey, some carbon bits front and back, and a lovely brown leather and alcanatara mix on the interior. It‘s a mere 6500 CHF to get a limited car that‘s even more limited but looks almost exactly the same as the other 998 extremely limited ones. If that‘s worth the extra price is up to you. To me, it definitely isn‘t as I‘d rather get the standard VZ5 in a darker grey because it suits the car better in my opinion. Further, I‘d still have money left to get a proper exhaust. But more on that later.
As it‘s too big to properly drive on a bendy B-Road, I had to come up with some other real-world testing to find out if it is any good. So I did the usual, take it to work, around town and onto the German Autobahn, because why not? There I quickly realized what the car was made for. Going fast very comfortably. The ease with which it picks up speed and the comfort and stability at high speeds is impressive. And it‘s when you‘re going pretty fast that you start getting into the car‘s qualities. It must be said that I don‘t usually measure a car‘s performance on the Autobahn because just going very fast isn‘t what I‘m looking for in a car. But the car still left me impressed as it did it with such ease and a kind of elegance.
Onto the other more normal kind of driving. It‘s very good. No surprise really as most modern cars are nice to drive. Especially everything coming from the VW group feels when driven normally as a car should. No exceptions on the Formentor. Responsive, nimble and overall great. It handles well around town, the steering isn’t too light, there’s no noticeable body roll and the engine and gearbox do a fantastic job in delivering smooth power.
But let’s get to the reason why this car is so special and why it matters in today‘s day and age. It‘s glorious 5 cylinder engine! Definitely the centrepiece of this car. Borrowed directly from Audi and making enough power to win a war against Mallorca singlehandedly. 390HP are at your right foot’s disposal accompanied by the distinctive 5-cylinder soundtrack. It‘s such a rare and special sound that you just don‘t hear that regularly. 5 cylinders always sound like a baby Gallardo to me. That‘s probably why I like them so much. The engine gives the car so much more character and knowing that you have one cylinder more than almost all other Formentors you see, is a nice plus.
Even though the sound coming from the engine is magnificent, it does majorly get toned down by the OPF and the overall sound deadening of the car. Yes it‘s a comfortable family-friendly SUV that shouldn‘t be too noisy. I get it. But a bit more noise in Cupra Mode wouldn‘t have hurt. At least there aren‘t any childish pops and bangs on every shift. Very grown-up stuff right there.
Now onto the question, I was asking myself. Who is this car actually for? I came to the conclusion that it‘s for the cool understatement dad that had to get an SUV because the wifey has to sit high for whatever reason and the kids need decent space in the back. But instead of getting an incredibly boring Tiguan like everyone else, he gets the more sporty Formentor. But not just the regular one. He loves cars and would have bought something proper. But as something proper always comes with compromises, he at least wants that extra cylinder to feel that he has gotten something extraordinary. A very specific kind of customer it seems. But it won‘t be hard to find 7000 of those.
Finally, all I can say is that the VZ5 is an incredible one-for-all-car. Dailyable, „affordable“, spacious, easily seats 5, has decent luggage space, drives beautifully, sounds glorious, looks amazing, has a 5-cylinder Audi engine, launches off the line like a sportscar, is reliable and could actually go off-road when needed. What more could you possible ask for?
Learn more about the Cupra Formentor.
