Although it sits in a fairly rare class, there are several sharp-looking cars that you could consider rivals.

After all, the Formentor has to hold its ground against family SUVs including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a>,&nbsp;Cupra Ateca&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">Volkswagen Tiguan</a>,&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-coupe-suvs-2022/n23014">coupé SUVs</a>&nbsp;such as&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x2/hatchback/review/n121">BMW X2</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-4/hatchback/review/n17141">DS 4</a>.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/e-pace/estate/used-review/n18262">Jaguar E-Pace</a>&nbsp;is the firm’s smallest conventionally powered SUV, and it’s great to look at and well-equipped. However, some of its rivals are better to drive and also have plusher interiors. It’s quite pricey as a used buy, too.

The most obvious pure family hatchback rival might be the car on which so much of the Formentor&nbsp;is loosely based, the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n23128">Volkswagen Golf</a>. Both are similarly fantastic family cars and you can’t go wrong with either.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/used-review/n19061">Ford Focus</a> has always impressed us for its practicality nearly as much as it has for its driver appeal. It’s a compelling package and one worth a good look if the sharp Formentor&nbsp;doesn’t quite float your boat.&nbsp;

Other cars that share the Formentor’s underpinnings are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a>. The A3 is a premium car that has a nicer interior and generally feels more classy. Although the Octavia is longer and more spacious than any of the other cars mentioned here, it is good to drive, too.&nbsp;

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/seat/leon?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;yearFrom=2020">used Formentor</a>, or any of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-family-cars-2021/n16996">other&nbsp;cars</a> mentioned here, head over to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars"> Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Page 5 of 5

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

As of writing, the Formentor&nbsp;has had recalls for the following issues:

The Front Assist is not configured correctly.

The front seat belts may not be properly anchored due to a manufacturing error.

The bolted connection of the pull rod between the electromechanical brake servo and brake pedal may come loose resulting in a loss of all service braking ability.

Make sure all remedial work has been carried out by contacting your local dealer.&nbsp;

To give you peace of mind, all Formentors come with a three-year/60,000 mile warranty. That matches what you’ll get with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>,&nbsp;but isn’t as good as the three-year unlimited mileage warranty of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x2/hatchback/review/n121">BMW X2</a>&nbsp;or the five year (or 100,000 miles)&nbsp;Toyota C-HR warranty.

The Formentor&nbsp;was too new to feature in the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=2020+What+Car%3F+Reliability+Survey&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB897GB897&amp;oq=2020+What+Car%3F+Reliability+Survey&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.439j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">2022&nbsp;What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, and Cupra as a brand didn't feature. However,&nbsp;Seat as a brand performed reasonably well, finishing in 15th place out of 32&nbsp;manufacturers.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.&nbsp;

Page 3 of 5

Estate

The sportiest Seats have long used the&nbsp;Cupra name, but it's now been turned into a standalone sub-brand, in much the same way as Fiat's sportiest models are badged as Abarths.

There's just one car in the line-up at the moment: the Cupra Ateca SUV. However, Cupra versions of the Ibiza and Leon hatchbacks are also planned, as is a bespoke model which –&nbsp;initially, at least –&nbsp;won't be offered in regular Seat from.

Don't think that the first Cupra is just an Ateca with a bit more power and a sporty bodykit, either. Its&nbsp;engine, gearbox and four-wheel drive system are actually very similar to what you'll find in Volkswagen's flagship Golf R hot hatch, and the car can hit 62mph in just 5.4sec.

CUPRA

FORMENTOR

The Cupra Formentor is a sharp-looking car that handles neatly and is very well-equipped. Used prices are still high but beginning to settle.&nbsp;

Used Cupra Formentor

<h3 dir="ltr">MPG</h3>

The 1.5 TSI is an efficient engine and will officially average nearly 45mpg. The 1.4 TSI 204 e-Hybrid and 245 e-Hybrid can save you a lot of money in fuel costs if you can charge up the battery regularly (this takes three and a half hours to go from 0-100%). We covered 25 miles on a single charge on our real-world test route before the petrol engine kicked in.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Road tax</h3>

Owners of the Formentor&nbsp;will have to pay £165 per year under the current VED scheme, while hybrid examples attract a fee of £155 per year. If your Formentor cost over £40,000 new, you'll also have to pay a luxury car tax from years two to six. This is currently £355 a year. You can&nbsp;find out more about road tax costs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Servicing and insurance</h3>

Insurance groups are quite low, meaning the Formentor should be cheap to insure. In terms of servicing, if your example is less than 12 months old, you’ll receive your first two services for a fixed price for the duration of the plan. For cars over a year old, you can pay upfront or spread the cost per month over 24 months.

Page 2 of 5

Used Cupra Formentor 2020-present

The Cupra Formentor is slightly more expensive and a bit less practical than the Seat Ateca it's based on. In exchange, it offers sharp coupé SUV looks and a smarter interior. It'll still seat four tall adults and has a decent boot, so it's not impractical, it handles well and, if you stick with our favourite 1.5 TSI V1 version, it's hardly expensive and yet very well equipped.

Used prices for the Cupra Formentor&nbsp;begin at around £24,000 for a late 2020&nbsp;model (although most will have been registered as 2021 cars). Meanwhile, later 2021 cars are likely to set you back closer to £25,000 to £30,000. Plug-in hybrid examples are available for upwards of £28,000. Spend between £25,000 and £32,000 on nearly new 2022 models.&nbsp;

Check the value of a used Cupra Formentor&nbsp;with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuation</a>

Engine

The Cupra Formentor has a wide range of engine options to suit most buyers. If you're after something that's quick enough and not too expensive to run, we'd recommend the entry-level 148bhp 1.5 TSI 150 petrol. You don’t have to work it hard to make decent progress&nbsp;

Trim

There's no need for anything beyond the entry-level V1 trim because that's stacked with toys. As well as the parking aids and the infotainment gadgets, you also get 18in alloy wheels, full LED headlights, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, three-zone climate control, keyless entry/start&nbsp;and adaptive cruise control.&nbsp;

Our favourite Cupra Formentor: 1.5 150 TSI V1

Page 4 of 5

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Eye-catching looks without sacrificing too much practicality</li> <li>Strong performance in keeping with a sportier brief</li> <li>Running costs that won’t break the bank</li> <li>Classy interior with high-quality materials</li> <li>Pricing that isn’t exorbitant next to that of conventional siblings</li></ul>

Coupe SUV

On the whole, the Formentor&nbsp;is a solid car and it tends to be bought by people who look after their cars well. Check the interior for signs of wear and tear and alloys for any kerb damage. Make sure all electrics work as they should.&nbsp;

It seems hard to believe now that, until a couple of years ago, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/cupra">Cupra</a> badge was a moniker usually attached to the back of sporty Seats. Now, it's a standalone brand in its own right.&nbsp;

Naturally enough, this&nbsp;Formentor model shares some of its underpinnings with contemporary Seats, but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-coupe-suvs-2023/n23014">coupé SUV</a> body is pure Cupra, and jolly good it looks too, being muscular, taut and handsomely chiselled –&nbsp;the car equivalent of Cary Grant.&nbsp;

The further good news, if you're thinking of seeking out a used one,&nbsp;is that the Cupra Formentor has a wide range of engine options. There's the entry-level 148bhp 1.5 TSI 150 petrol, the 187bhp 2.0 TSI 190 4Drive with four-wheel drive, the TSI 245 and the top-spec 2.0 TSI 310 4Drive.&nbsp;If you want a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-plug-in-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n1141">plug-in hybrid</a>&nbsp;(PHEV) there's also the e-Hybrid 204. With a combined power output (including the electric motor) of 201bhp, it can sprint from 0-62mph in 7.8sec and officially cover up to 37 miles on electric power alone. The more powerful e-Hybrid 245 knocks nearly a second off the 204’s acceleration time.

Trim-wise, even the entry-level V1 is handsomely equipped. You get 18in alloy wheels, full LED headlights, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, three-zone climate control, keyless entry/start&nbsp;and adaptive cruise control.&nbsp;

VZ1 is the automatic upgrade if you go for one of the more powerful engines (242bhp or 306bhp) and adds 19in alloys and a powered tailgate with gesture control. V2 and VZ2 add heated Napa leather bucket front seats and 19in alloy wheels.

Top-tier VZ3 trim is only available with the most powerful TSI 310 engine and gets you bigger Brembo brakes,&nbsp;special 19in alloy wheels and matrix LED headlights (you can leave these on high beam because they can&nbsp;shape their beams precisely around an approaching vehicle, preventing the driver from being dazzled).&nbsp;

Whichever trim level you go for, you’ll be getting a good amount of safety equipment, with automatic emergency braking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a>, lane-keep assist&nbsp;and traffic-sign recognition all coming as standard. Opting for VZ1 trim adds the&nbsp;Safety and Driving Pack L which gives you blind-spot monitoring and a safe exit assist function, while VZ2 and VZ3 models feature lane-change assist.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On the road, you don’t have to work the 1.5 TSI 150 hard to make decent progress and it’ll beat the entry-level 1.8-litre&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/c-hr/hatchback/review/n112">Toyota C-HR</a>&nbsp;to 62mph. If that’s not quite fast enough, the 187bhp 2.0 TSI 190 4Drive introduces four-wheel drive and will cover 0-62mph in 8.9secs. The TSI 245 is quicker still, but the fastest Formentor is obviously the 2.0 TSI 310 4Drive, which is very recommendable.

The suspension that comes with the Formentor's V1, V2 and VZ1 trim is firmer than less sports-focused rivals but manages to strike a good balance between comfort and body control. If you opt for VZ2 trim or above,&nbsp;you’ll get adjustable dampers as standard, which have three modes to alter the suspension set-up. In Comfort mode, it's a bit firmer than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118">Skoda Karoq</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>, but nowhere near as brusque as the jittery <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a>. In face, even in the stiffest Cupra mode, the Formentor is fairly comfortable, giving you improved agility and handling without loosening your fillings.

It has to be said the Formentor doesn’t feel lithe in the corners like a hot hatch, but for an SUV, it’s really good. It steers more sweetly than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-4/hatchback/review/n17141/on-the-road">DS 4</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;Toyota C-HR. There's even a little feel from the road surface, so you can sense the grip that's available. And grip is something you’ll find no shortage of, even in the 1.5 TSI 150, while racier versions carry even more cornering speed, thanks to wider tyres.&nbsp;

While you won’t hear much from the engine, you will hear a fair bit of road and wind noise as you get up to motorway speeds.&nbsp;

If you like a sportier driving position, you should enjoy the Cupra Formentor. You sit much lower down than in most other SUVs. The dashboard is well laid out but doesn’t give you any proper buttons or switches; the air conditioning controls have been replaced with touch-sensitive pads that are difficult to feel and aren’t backlit, meaning you have to look away from the road to find them.

All Formentors come with built-in sat-nav, a DAB radio, four USB-C ports,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;smartphone mirroring,&nbsp;wireless phone charging and a 12.0in touchscreen. The screen is&nbsp;bright and clear, and the operating system is usually responsive, although it takes a fair bit of playing with the menus to grasp their arrangement.

The Formentor's interior&nbsp;has plenty of visual appeal. It's not perfect, however. Look further down in the interior and you'll find&nbsp;plenty of hard plastics,&nbsp;while its spray-painted plastic heater vents look rather cheap.

If you’re thinking that the Formentor’s rakish rear roofline is bound to make it a less practical option than its rivals in the rear, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Two tall adults will fit comfortably, with good head and leg room,&nbsp;

The Formentor’s boot will easily deal with holiday luggage, a buggy or golf clubs.&nbsp;You get a handy 450 litres of boot space in the front-wheel-drive models, dropping to 420 litres in four-wheel-drive (4Drive) versions.&nbsp;

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/seat/leon?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;yearFrom=2020">used Formentor</a>, or any of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-family-cars-2021/n16996">other cars</a> mentioned here, head over to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars"> Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Page 1 of 5

Used Cupra Formentor 2020-present review

Click here to take our 2023 Reliability Survey now >>

https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/447c7608d1b7&rdt=7

Volvo EX30

BYD Atto 3

Kia Picanto

Renault Clio

Ford Puma

Seat Ateca

Honda ZR-V

LATEST DEALS:

site ribbon config

On the whole, the Formentor is a solid car and it tends to be bought by people who look after their cars well. Check the interior for signs of wear and tear and alloys for any kerb damage. Make sure all electrics work as they should. ,,As of writing, the Formentor has had recalls for the following issues:,The Front Assist is not configured correctly.The front seat belts may not be properly anchored due to a manufacturing error.The bolted connection of the pull rod between the electromechanical brake servo and brake pedal may come loose resulting in a loss of all service braking ability.Make sure all remedial work has been carried out by contacting your local dealer. ,To give you peace of mind, all Formentors come with a three-year/60,000 mile warranty. That matches what you’ll get with the Volvo XC40, but isn’t as good as the three-year unlimited mileage warranty of the BMW X2 or the five year (or 100,000 miles) Toyota C-HR warranty.The Formentor was too new to feature in the 2022 What Car? Reliability Survey, and Cupra as a brand didn't feature. However, Seat as a brand performed reasonably well, finishing in 15th place out of 32 manufacturers.,If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information. ,Page 3 of 5

What to look for when buying a Cupra FORMENTOR 2020 - present, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

LATEST DEALS:

Used Cupra Formentor 2020-present review

CUPRA Formentor 1.5 TSI V1 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

CUPRA Formentor 1.5 TSI V1 Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Advice for buyers

What should I look for in a used Cupra FORMENTOR estate?

What are the most common problems with a used Cupra FORMENTOR estate?

What Car? has a buying service

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information