The Cupra Formentor first attracts attention with its elevated coupe-like appearance, its taut lines, and its copper details. But once behind the wheel, the question changes: how does it really perform on a daily basis, between tight parking spots and long highway trips? This Formentor review focuses on two specific areas, the city and the highway, to assess what the Cupra SUV is truly worth in these uses.
Formentor in the city: the perceived width changes everything
Have you ever felt that a car was wider than it actually is? That’s exactly what happens when driving the Formentor. Several recent tests highlight that the driving position gives an enhanced sense of width, making maneuvers in narrow streets or underground parking more stressful than expected.
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The vehicle is not a behemoth, but the low driver position, combined with thick body pillars and a sloping hood line, reduces peripheral visibility. To compensate, recent versions (2024/2025 facelift) include a 360° camera, parking assist, and blind spot monitoring. These aids change the game, provided they are available on your version.
Without these features, parking and merging into dense traffic require more attention. This is a point to absolutely check before purchasing, especially if you primarily drive in urban areas. A complete review on this topic is available in the Cupra review on the Pulsion Laval site, which details behavior in urban settings.
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Trunk and habitability: the trap of the plug-in hybrid
Why discuss the trunk in a review about comfort? Because a reduced trunk changes daily usage. In the thermal versions (TSI petrol, TDI diesel), the loading volume is around 410 to 450 liters. Sufficient for a compact SUV of this size.
In the e-Hybrid plug-in hybrid versions, the trunk drops to 345 liters. The battery located under the floor quickly eats into space, whether for a stroller, bulky shopping, or vacation luggage.
This difference is not trivial. It influences the choice of engine well beyond just fuel consumption. Here’s what it concretely implies:
- In the city, short trips and frequent recharges favor the plug-in hybrid, but the reduced trunk limits family versatility on a daily basis.
- On the highway, the thermal versions maintain a more generous trunk volume and avoid the issue of depleted electric range.
- For mixed use (city during the week, long trips on weekends), the mild hybrid version (eTSI) offers an interesting compromise without sacrificing loading space.
Formentor behavior on the highway: empty battery, rising consumption
On the highway, the Formentor proves stable and well-planted. The suspension offers a comfort/dynamics compromise geared towards sport without becoming uncomfortable. Long trips do not cause excessive fatigue, and the sound insulation remains adequate for the compact SUV category.
The real issue is the plug-in hybrid engine on the highway. A long-distance test of the Formentor e-Hybrid 204 shows that, with an empty battery, consumption rises significantly. The thermal engine then has to drive a vehicle weighed down by the battery alone, without the benefit of electric assistance.
This phenomenon reduces the appeal of the PHEV for those who regularly cover miles on the highway without the possibility of recharging between trips. The DSG dual-clutch transmission, on the other hand, performs smoothly and responsively regardless of the engine. It shifts gears seamlessly, contributing to cruising comfort.
TSI, diesel or hybrid engine: which for what use
The Formentor offers a wide range of engines. This technical choice has a direct impact on comfort and behavior, not just on consumption.
TSI petrol and mild hybrid eTSI
The 1.5 TSI engine (and its eTSI mild hybrid variant) represents the best balance for mixed use. The mild hybrid assists the engine without reducing trunk volume. In the city, engine cut-off phases at idle and during deceleration reduce consumption. On the highway, the engine remains lively, and the DSG optimizes gear shifts.
Plug-in hybrid e-Hybrid
This choice is justified if you mainly drive in the city with accessible charging stations. The electric range covers daily urban trips. However, on the highway with a depleted battery, the advantage fades, and the extra weight penalizes consumption.
Diesel TDI
For high-mileage highway drivers, diesel remains relevant. It offers generous torque at low revs and controlled consumption on long trips. Highway driving comfort benefits from this, with less engine strain at stabilized speeds.
DSG transmission and driving modes: what really changes the feel
The DSG dual-clutch transmission is a central element of the Formentor’s behavior. In Comfort mode, gear shifts are smooth, and the engine remains discreet. In Cupra mode, the throttle response becomes more direct, and the steering firms up.
The difference between these modes is not limited to a change in engine mapping. The adaptive suspension (available depending on the trim) truly modifies the damping. In the city, Comfort mode absorbs road imperfections. On the highway, Sport mode stabilizes the body in high-speed curves.
This customizable setting allows adapting the vehicle to the context, enhancing the Formentor’s versatility compared to competing SUVs that are often fixed in a single mode.
The Cupra Formentor lives up to its promises of a versatile sporty SUV, provided you choose the right engine according to your usual journeys. The plug-in hybrid shines in the city but penalizes highway driving with an empty battery, while the 1.5 eTSI offers the best overall compromise. The perceived width in urban driving remains the main point of vigilance, compensated by the driving aids in recent versions.