CUPRA Formentor VZ5 Review: The Best New CUPRA Isn't Electric!

Just when we thought CUPRA was all about silent electric power, the Formentor VZ5 has arrived equipped with Audi's iconic 2.5-litre turbocharged 5-cylinder engine. John Marcar has spent a week with the new model, and he's become slightly infatuated in the process.

A Lamborghini Engine in a CUPRA?

Only a few months ago, I was standing in a studio in Barcelona being told that the future of CUPRA is exclusively electric. The brief was that the future models would be loud in design but quiet in power delivery, and I was perfectly fine with that.

But since then, it would appear that a handful of (clearly brilliant) Catalan engineers have thrown caution to the wind and fitted a 'Lamborghini-derived' 5-cylinder RS3 engine into their SUV crossover!

And now for the best part. No, it's not a one-off custom-build, nor is it a showstopper for an event like the Goodwood Festival of Speed - this is an actual production car that you and I can walk into a CUPRA showroom and purchase today.

The 5 Cylinder CUPRA

I do not doubt that I've already ruffled a few feathers by using the ‘L’ word when talking about the engine, so, to be factually correct, the 2.5 TSI 5-pot is not the result of a Lamborghini V10 that's been crudely chopped in half (like some internet forums will lead you to believe). The engine is built on its very own VW Group production line, but it does share a lot of architecture with the 5.0L V10 seen in the Lamborghini Huracan. It also sounds like half a V10 too, and that’s exciting enough for most before we’ve discussed what the rest of the car is like.

It’s worth remarking that the engine itself isn't exactly new either. Back in 2011, Audi unveiled its first-ever RS3, which had the same engine under the bonnet. The car was a huge success thanks to the power delivery and characterful sound, and since then, 3 generations (6 if we include life-cycle facelifts) of RS3 have housed the engine that we now see in the CUPRA.

Now for 2026, CUPRA, which, as most will know, is part of the VW family, has been granted access to the tuneful 5-pot, and it's now available in the VZ5 version of the Formentor.

In the Formentor, the engine is marginally down-tuned to produce 10hp less than it does in the Audi, but the figures are still punchy, and the noise sounds every bit as good.

Power and Performance

In the VZ5, the 2.5 TSI produces 390hp and 480Nm of peak torque. Just like in the Audi RS3, the power is sent to all four wheels via a torque splitter, which allows for a 0- 62 mph sprint in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 174mph. What makes the engine even more impressive is that in the VZ5, it's also surprisingly economical, with up to 32.8 MPG being achievable with combined use.

Prices and Options

Before any optional extras are ticked, the Formentor VZ5 has an attention grabbing RRP of £64,495, which is a few hundred pounds more than the standard RS3. Where the CUPRA represents value, however, is in what you get for your money in terms of standard equiptment.

As standard, the VZ5 comes equipped with textile TURBINE CUP bucket seats made by Sabelt, 20" VZ5-specific alloy wheels and Akebono performance brakes. The list of additional standard equipment is also enormous, with items such as the latest LED lighting and headlight technology, a 12.9-inch infotainment screen, a premium IMMERSIVE BY Sennheiser sound system, wrap-around interior lighting, heated seating and steering wheel, VAG’s latest itteration of dynamic chassis control, adaptive cruise control and more driver aids than you need (and probably want) for less than £65k.

Buyers looking for the same engine in the Audi RS3 with the same level of sporty extras can quite comfortably rack up a total price of £79,000 with optional extras before leaving the showroom, and that price jump is significant. The model as tested has a price of £67,605 thanks to optional matte paint (£2,095) and a panoramic glass roof (£1,015).

The Drive

Strictly speaking, the Formentor is an SUV-crossover; however, once you’ve slipped into the VZ5s bucket seats, the car feels about as hot-hatch as anyone could hope for. The interior is spacious without losing any of the sporty aesthetic, and even rear legroom and boot space are positively generous which makes this an extremely practical performance daily driver.

The Best Bucket Seats

The Sabelt bucket seats are potentially the best as-standard reclinable sports seats on the market today, (before venturing into the world of £4-6k Porsche bucket seats, of course). The TURBINE CUP seats are comfortable, supportive and fully adjustable for the very best positioning. For me, at 6'1/186cm I was able to find a perfect seating position which would easily accommodate a similarly sized adult in the rear seat behind.

The Engine is a Masterpiece

When the engine fires into life, the tuneful drone from the quad exhaust system sets the VZ5 apart from every other Formentor on the road and on the first pull, the model feels unequivocally special. Through the rev range, the 5-cylinder sings its way through the torque band. An added audible bonus is the chatter and whooshes from the turbo-waste gate under the bonnet, which add just enough resemblance to a Group B Audi Quattro to make you consider all sorts of silliness.

Sublime Chassis

390hp in what feels like a hatchback feels utterly infectious. The power delivery, thanks to the clever torque-splitting all-wheel-drive system, is sublime, and with the DCC (dynamic chassis control) taking care of body roll and suspension damping, the overall ride is like little else I’ve experienced in the category.

Driving modes can be toggled using a physical button on the steering wheel with presets including normal, off-road and performance, and two additional modes offer the very best from a performance perspective: CUPRA and Individual. CUPRA is a setting where everything is dialled up to the max - the most noise, the hardest ride and the most power. Individual allows for a fully customised sequence of settings, with things like max engine power and noise, but a soft and comfortable ride.

In CUPRA mode, even with the DCC in the stiffest setting, the suspension's compliance feels great, with minimal fuss from steering inputs over lumps and bumps mid-corner. This is a crucial perk of VW Group's DCC system, as many other OEMs' systems prioritise an overly stiff feel which ultimately compromises comfort and genuine driving performance.

Thanks to the DCC and CUPRA's meticulous attention to detail with geometry set up on the VZ models, the Formentor VZ5 steers and grips far beyond necessary requirements. Overall, the Formentor VZ5 comfortably out-performed my expectations in the very best way by driving brilliantly and sounding utterly mesmerising in the process.

Conclusion

CUPRA's long-term game plan may well be fully electric, but whilst cars like the Formentor VZ5 are still rolling off the production line, it's hard not to get excited by petrol power in the Spanish platforms. Just a few months back I tested the Leon VZ3, CUPRA's version of the Golf GTI Clubsport and the feeling was much the same.

Petrol power isn't gone just yet, and we're still allowed to celebrate that fact. So if you're in the market for a mesmerising driving experience and have £65k to spend on a new daily, the Formentor VZ5 might just be the one to pick.

words by John Marcar
photography by Henry Faulkner-Smith