Owner
Justin Hayvice
Kilometres travelled
25,000 - 50,000 km
Did you buy this car new or used?
Used
If used, what year did you buy it used?
2025
How much did you pay? (including all on-road costs)
$46,000
What were your needs when you bought this car? Has it fulfilled those needs?
I've only ever owned small engine, small hatchback type cars. A 2003 Ford Mondeo and a 2009 Ford Fiesta. Both of which were really reliable, cheap to buy and cheap to maintain.
For my next car, I wanted to finally spend a bit of money on something decent that I would genuinely love to drive. I didn't want it to just be a car. I want it to feel like MY car. Something more personalised to me. It was also a nice way to celebrate paying off my student loan! A bit of a gift to myself.
My parameters were:
- 2020 or newer
- More power than anything I'd previously owned
- Stylish. A car that actually looks good (in my opinion, I feel like car manufacturers don't make cars that look "cool" these days unless you want to pay a pretty penny for so I've been quite picky in this process)
- High safety rating (looking for a 5 star ANCAP rating)
- Budget limit of $50k (although ideally less)
Plus the common features most 2020 and newer cars offer:
- Reversing camera
- Lane assist
- Adaptive cruise control
A nice to have, and as lame as this sounds, but I like the look of the rear indicators that illuminate in a sweeping motion. Like the modern Audis have. I don't know what it is about them, but I like em!
I test drove quite a few cars from a broad range of vehicles; From utes to hatchbacks.
I even test drove the PHEV Formentor which was also a great drive. However, I felt like it lacked the power when I wanted it. Specifically when going to overtake on a passing lane.
The initial look and power is what's sold me on the car in the end.
I can easily say that the car has met and honestly exceeded every one of my needs. Especially the power. 0–100 km/h in 4.8 seconds (0.1 quicker than the manufacturer claims). Like, what?! It’s incredible!
What were your initial thoughts about the car? Tell us why it appealed to you.
Like most people, the first thing that grabbed me was the aesthetics. The design is superb and looks genuinely high-end. The front end has an aggressive, sporty look and it really is a head-turner. It’s one of those cars where you catch yourself thinking, “What’s that? That looks good!”
When I decided this was the car I wanted, I quickly realised there weren’t many available within my budget which made the search a bit challenging. Now that I own one, I notice Cupra vehicles everywhere. To the extent I point them out to my partner who just gives me THAT look.
And with the new 2025 facelift model and the Cupra Terramar now in the market, you’re probably going to be seeing more of these on the roads.
Inside, the illuminated light bar that stretches across the dash is a very cool touch. At first I thought it might be distracting at night but after a few night drives, you barely notice it’s there.
The fake noise that comes through the speakers is definitely an acquired taste. You either like it or you don’t.
In Cupra mode,I sometimes wish the real engine sounded exactly like the one being pumped through the speakers.
And of course the Cupra logo itself. Can I say that I own a Transformer!?
What have you discovered since owning the car?
One of the first things I noticed instantly is just how much more comfortable modern cars are. The Formentor is no exception. Going from a 2009 Fiesta to this honestly feels like a dream.
You're probably going to feel the pinch in the pocket fuel wise going from 91 to 95 but that is totally understandable when you are buying a 2.0L turbo sports car. Probably something worth being aware of if you’re looking to purchase something like this.
Cup holders… Cupra hasn’t figured out how to include two cup holders of the same size in the centre console. You can fit one proper drink in, and the smaller one is basically only useful for things like your keys or a container of gum. It does make you wonder, where is the front-seat passenger supposed to put their drink?
When driving at night and you or the front seat passenger want to change the volume for the radio or the temperature, this has no illumination so you are guessing where this is. This is really... really annoying. What were Cupra thinking here!?
Having multiple driving modes surprisingly comes in handy. When you want to have a bit more speed or fun, chuck it into Sports mode. And if you really want to enjoy a quiet country back road, Cupra mode is where it is at! You really get the feel for the car. More responsive, more connected to the road. So much fun to drive.
I also keep a spreadsheet of my fuel usage (yes, I’m one of those people but hey, it’s come in handy for this review!). On average, a full tank gets me around 585km with my longest stretch between fills being 611km and that’s sticking to Eco mode.
What do you like/dislike about the car?
Likes:
- The driver side digital dash is extremely flexible. You can set it up exactly how you want with the multiple viewing options available. This makes the experience feel more personalised.
The only extremely minor issue I have with this, is on the left and right of the main screen, you can select different options (G-force meter, power/torque, navigation, temperatures etc), but they are tailored to that one side only. It would be nice to choose if you want any of the options on the right side of the screen or left.
- The car is different. In a good way. It's got that different factor about it and I like that. People notice it and think, wow that's different. It's a good conversation starter for sure. When you say you bought a new car... A Cupra. "You brought a what!?"
- My specific model came with black wheel guards which I haven't seen on any other Formentor. I'm not sure if this was stock but I think it makes the car look a whole lot better than the grey guards and adds to the uniqueness to the vehicle too. Again, personalised to what feels me.
- The blind spot alert is located inside the car on the door’s illumination bar, rather than in the side mirror like most other vehicles. Again, Cupra have made it different to the norm which again, is another item I have found to like.
- It feels spacious for being a compact SUV car.
Dislikes:
- The Infotainment screen takes a while to get used to. I never understood why these screens can't be as responsive as smartphones where they are quick, snappy and instant.
You get a delay or have to tap multiple times to get where you want.
- The volume and temperature tap sliders below the infotainment screen aren’t illuminated at night which makes adjusting a bit of a guessing game..
- All of the AC controls are in the infotainment system. Why! Physical buttons, nobs and dials give you confidence in what you are selecting, especially when driving.
- There is no AM band on the radio. which is a bit disappointing since I used AM for sports commentary. Luckily, most stations now have apps you can stream through the car anyway.
- You can’t set the start/stop setting or driving mode to a driver profile or default setting. When you turn on the vehicle, you have to set the driving mode you want to use each time and if you don’t like having the engine turn off at a red light, you also have to manually turn this off every time.
Any other comments on the car?
This is such a great car. The ride comfort, the head turning, the power. It all comes together to create something pretty special.
You're getting a lot of value compared it to the other Euro brands for a fraction of the price.
I've owned the car for 6 months now and every time I walk up to it, it still makes me smile. The, "Yep that's my car" feeling hasn't faded at all. If I feel like this 6 months on, I know I've made the right decision. I reckon you'll love it too.
With the market now shifting to the newer facelift model, these ones are becoming easier to find and more frequently listed for sale, so now is a great time to pick one up.
Reliability
5
Features/technology
5
Performance/economy
5
Value for money
5
Overall rating
5
Lastly, would you buy this vehicle again?
Yes
Why would/wouldn't you buy it again?
Hell yes! It's such a fun and enjoyable car to drive and genuinely feels great on the road with all the technology you need. I'm even considering getting the e-Hybrid for my partner.
The Formentors modern design and sport look really set it apart from other brands.
With the 2025 version priced around $100k, something that's only 3-4 years old for half that price feels like a total bargain!
