► A five-cylinder Cupra!
► And it’s finally coming to the UK
► Why I’d have one over an RS3
The UK gets deprived of many things. Afternoon siestas, good weather and, in the car world, we’ve never been able to have a right-hand-drive version of the Cupra Formentor VZ5.
Until now that is. Cupra might be well down the path of electrification but it’s not giving up on good old-fashioned engines yet, and in this case is borrowing Audi’s legendary five-cylinder engine from the RS3 for its coupe-style SUV.
Though buyers in other markers have been able to get the VZ5 Formentor for some time, Cupra is now bringing it to the UK in very limited numbers. Don’t wait too long, though, as the incoming Euro 7 regulations are soon likely to kill it off and spoil the fun for good.
At a glance
Pros: Characterful engine, grip, bundles of performance, mega seats
Cons: Interior could feel more special, it won’t be cheap
What’s new?
Though Cupra first launched the Formentor in five-cylinder form back in 2021, it’s only now – after much persistence from the UK, Australia and New Zealand – that the Formentor will be available in right-hand form. It’ll be niche, too. Cupra says it’s going to get ‘at least 250’ of the 4,000 units globally but is pushing for more, not least because it knows it’ll be able to sell them all.
It borrows the Audi RS3’s rear torque splitter, enabling torque to be sent individually to each wheel, though the engine itself hasn’t been messed with. Why would you when it’s so characterful?
There are various design changes to set it apart from the standard four-cylinder Formentors, including a redesigned bumper, black grille, wider wheelarches and various carbon-fibre details, some of which will be optional. My favourite detail, though, is the copper-coloured, stacked quad-exist exhaust system. It’s all effective, too, building on this SUV’s already recognisable styling without having to rely on massive spoilers to do the talking.
What are the specs?
The engine is the real highlight of this Formentor VZ5, and it’s the first time Audi has let it feature in any cars that aren’t its own. Previous uses include the TT RS, somewhat-flawed RSQ3 and, of course, the RS3.
It hasn’t changed much compared to the UK-absent pre-facelift Formentor, with its 2.5-litre five-cylinder unit putting out 385bhp and 354lb ft of torque. Both are ever so slightly down on the latest RS3, as is its 0-62mph – unsurprising given it’s a bigger car – but a 4.2 second sprint time is not to be sniffed at. Neither is its 174mph top speed, which no longer has a limiter like the previous model did. A quick reminder that the Formentor’s current flagship, the 329bhp 2.0-litre EA888, does 62mph in 4.8 seconds and is capped to 155mph. Four-wheel-drive present, as is a seven-speed DSG gearbox.
Other spec highlights include its six-piston Akebono brakes, while the VZ5 sits 10mm lower than the rest of the Formentor line-up. VW’s adaptive chassis control (DCC) is also standard here, whereas Audi only throws it in for free on a top-spec RS3.
What’s it like to drive?
The fact that even a 1.5-litre petrol Formentor is a good car was always going to bode well for plugging it with more power. It’s hard not to love that five-cylinder engine, too, which Audi is clinging onto for as long as possible. Its unique 1 – 2- 4- 5- 3 firing sequence gives it a sound like no other, elevated further by the exhaust system, which has configurable ‘flaps’, as it’s labelled within the screen.
Whereas a Formentor with the EA888 is a monstrously competent and quick car, it all feels a bit too easy to wring out its performance and all sounds quite artificial. In contrast, the VZ5 is authentic, its performance not as immediately accessible (peak torque doesn’t arrive until 5,700rpm. At low revs it can almost seem a bit lacking but work the revs and put the gearbox in sport or sport-plus and it becomes a bit of an animal. There’s more of a sense of a purpose and I love that. There aren’t as many complicated modes in the Cupra as the Audi, either.
Cupra kindly had an agreement with the local Spanish police to close off a section of road for us to explore its abilities without restrictions, but still representative of a real-world road surface and not a perfectly smooth track. Through the tight hair-pins you can really feel the torque splitter at the rear helping to push you through the corner, and the speeds it can accomplish through turns is remarkable with no end of grip.
It unsurprisingly doesn’t feel quite as darty as an RS3, though it certainly feels closer to a hot hatch than it does a performance SUV. Steering feel is plentiful and pedal response is goo, though I’d perhaps like a bit more bite from the brake pedals. They don’t feel quite as impressive as the branded title might first suggest.
But get the VZ5 back in a normal scenario and it’s the real-world brilliance that is more remarkable. A bundle of driver assistants are standard (and are easily configured or turned off altogether), while standard DCC means that in its softest setting the Formentor rides better than many SUVs in high-end trim levels masquerading as something they’re not. The wind noise is quite pronounced on the motorway, though, thanks to the rather chunky door mirrors.
What’s it like inside?
The interior is much like a standard Formentor and by and large that’s a good thing. The latest facelift in 2024 introduced a much-improved touchscreen with quicker response times and easier shortcuts, while a digital instrument cluster and head-up display remain.
Cupra’s seats are some of the best thing about its cars and the VZ5’s ‘Cup’ bucket seats are no exception. They’re electrically adjustable, offer loads in the way of support and are also fixed lower in the VZ5 than they are in other trims. I’ve always liked the Formentor’s low-set seating position and the fact it can now go even lower now is only an advantage.
But more could have been done to separate the VZ5’s interior from the rest of the line-up. The material quality is fine on the standard car, but perhaps doesn’t feel as special enough on a car of this price – some proper metal buttons for the drive mode selection and engine start on the steering wheel would go a long way.
More pleasingly the VZ5 is still a practical choice. Adults can sit in the rear seats of the Formentor with enough space, even with its sloping roofline and panoramic sunroof, in a way that you’d struggle to use an RS3 as a small family car. And, though you lose some of the usual underfloor boot storage because of the rear torque splitter, there’s still a respectable amount of boot space.
Before you buy (trims and rivals)
The UK is one of the largest markets for Cupra and there’s a sense it would have liked a few more than the 250 Formentor VZ5s it’s been allocated, especially given the surprisingly high volumes that Audi RS3s sell in. The estimated £60,000 price seems steep at first, but it’s worth considering a top-spec 2.0-litre VZ3 model costs almost £55,000.
Considering the £13,000 premium that Audi charges for an RS3 on top of an S3 it seems a very fair increase. Standard equipment will be generous, too, with its 20-inch alloy wheels, a Sennheiser sound system, heated bucket seats and Matrix LED headlights included.
Orders for the Formentor VZ5 will open in early 2026 with first deliveries expected in August. It’s recommended to act quickly as I can’t see them hanging around for long.
Verdict
The Formentor was Cupra’s first standalone car after it split from Seat, yet even five years later remains its best model. The VZ5 unlocks a completely new character from this coupe-styled SUV, a more engaging and menacing side that only this five-cylinder engine ever could.
The fact it’s integrated in a way that doesn’t sacrifice any of the Formentor’s usability (other than greater fuel bills, perhaps) is an even greater achievement. There are very, very few modern cars I drive that I’d want to my own money on, but the Formentor VZ5 is one of them. Bravo, Cupra.