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About Formentor

The Formentor is the car that turned Cupra from a badge into a brand. Revealed in 2020 and named after a dramatic cape on the island of Mallorca, it was the first model designed from the start as a Cupra rather than a souped-up SEAT. It sits lower than most crossovers, with a broad stance, copper detailing and a cabin that feels deliberately more dramatic than its Volkswagen Group cousins. In a segment full of sensible boxes, it looked like it had come to a party, and buyers responded quickly.

Under the skin it uses the group's familiar MQB hardware, with turbocharged gasoline engines, plug-in hybrids and the high-performance VZ versions, the initials short for veloz, Spanish for fast. A limited VZ5 borrowed Audi's five-cylinder engine, a delicious oddity that enthusiasts still talk about. A recent facelift sharpened the nose and updated the cabin and hybrid systems. Reviewers praise the handling and the styling; they have grumbled about touch-sensitive controls and an infotainment system that can test the patience.

The Formentor competes with the Volkswagen T-Roc, the BMW X2, the Audi Q3 Sportback, the Mercedes GLA and the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and it has become one of Cupra's best-selling models in Europe and Australia. It was also meant to spearhead Cupra's arrival in the United States, a plan the company has since put on hold. Reviews, pricing, special editions and the latest on Cupra's American ambitions appear on this page.