CUPRA Formentor VZ5 (2025 – ) review

You don’t buy a high-performance crossover like the Cupra Formentor and expect great fuel economy from its powerful 2.5-litre petrol engine. While we don’t have the official figures at the time of writing expect it to guzzle fuel like it’s going out of fashion, the tailpipe emissions sufficient it will be hit with a hefty first-year tax rateadding a chunk to the already burly asking price. Whether you think it’s worth such wallet-worrying money for the warbling theme tune the Formentor emits will be the deciding factor in any purchase decision. And, if you like the look but not the costs, you can of course still get a hybrid version of the regular Formentor!

Although the Cupra Formentor is built on parts used elsewhere in the wider Volkswagen family it’s not immune to problems. Owners have reported issues with the onboard electronics, specifically the infotainment system fitted to early examples, but also the hybrid system. Thought that of course doesn’t apply here. At least Cupra’s five-year warranty is better than that offered by other brands within the wider VW group.

The Cupra Formentor picked up a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating back in 2021, and repeated the trick when retested in 2025. In the individual disciplines of the procedure, its 2025 result saw very slight falls in its scores for adult occupant, child occupant and safety assist, but Euro NCAP has got tougher since 2021 so that’s not a major surprise. However, the 2025 Formentor made a big leap forward in its vulnerable road users safety rating, which is a welcome improvement.

Indulge us getting a bit petrolhead about it but, given the target audience, features like the VZ5’s adjustable damping aim to combine the firm body control you want when carving the corners with some day-to-day comfort the rest of the time. The emphasis is very much skewed to the former, though, so this, the chunky 20-inch wheels and need to handle the huge power of the turbocharged engine mean the VZ5 isn’t the most comfortable machine for town-driving duties. It’s not appallingly uncomfortable, so with realistic expectations based on the Formentor’s performance ambitions you should get along just fine in terms of ride and general refinement. Oh, and the VZ5 has a superb set of bucket seats as standard, which not only provide support in the corners but a wonderful driving position too – a boon for long-distance comfort.

The VZ5’s flagship status means it has a generous standard specification including lots of items that would otherwise be expensive optional extras, including the bucket seats we mentioned earlier. Other goodies include big alloy wheels, an uprated Sennheiser sound system, Matrix LED headlights, three-zone climate control and upgraded brakes. However, for all these bounteous gifts, the sheer cost of the Cupra SUV cannot be underestimated either. All indications are that the VZ5 will be priced at £60,000, when the regular Formentor begins at only a little more than half that amount.

The Cupra Formentor VZ5 is fitted with a monster powertrain and, accordingly, delivers monster on-road performance. To spare any blushes at Audi the charismatic five-cylinder engine has been slightly detuned in comparison to the RS3 from which it comes but the Formentor VZ5 still has enough oomph to run 0-62mph as quickly as an entry-level Porsche 911, while its top speed is similarly impressive. Better than the sheer speed of the thing is the noise, the VZ5 emitting an alluring, sonorous howl as it builds through the revs. The handling, meanwhile, is a match for the engine and while the Formentor VZ5 is foursquare and predictable in its responses, it is nevertheless supremely capable in the corners, and as a result is one of the most enjoyable high-performance SUVs you can buy at any price.