Cupra Formentor

Cupra's first standalone model has been extensively reworked to broaden its appeal. Does it deliver? Car makers are increasingly trying to tempt younger buyers with left-field cars. Forget traditional boxy SUVs: these drivers want svelte lines and interesting, curvy designs. Cue the Cupra Formentor.Cupra has a notable interest in this type of customer, judging by how much it talks about video games, being "future-facing" and "defying every 'should' in the book".To a point, the cars do live up to that talk. They're all available with powerful engines and feature sharp, angular designs and undeniably racey interiors punctuated by a signature bronze trim.The Formentor set the Cupra brand on this path, being its first model that wasn’t based on a Seat and one of its best-sellers: more than 120,000 were delivered worldwide last year.Now it has received a wide-reaching update encompassing its exterior design, engine line-up and interior, all of which is designed to keep it fresh in the eyes of - especially younger - customers. And given that the average age of a Formentor buyer is 10 years younger than in the rest of the crossover segment, there’s a lot at stake.The Cupra Formentor line-up at a glanceNo matter which version you go for, performance from each of the engines available is strong.The range kicks off with a 148bhp mild-hybrid 1.5-litre turbocharged four, which is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.Starting at £27,604, the Formentor costs more than the Renault Arkana but nearly £13,000 less than the BMW X2. I'is available in V1, V2 and V3 trims or racier VZ1, VZ2, and VZ3 trims.A plug-in hybrid version is also available, pairing the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with a 19.7kWh battery (up from 13kWh previously) and an electric motor, resulting in 201bhp sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox.With the increase in battery capacity, electric-only range has been increased from 37 miles to a claimed 62 miles, which puts the Formentor PHEV in the 8% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket. The old version fell into the 12% bracket.While the PHEV powertrain is available in V1, V2 and V3 cars, it can also be had in a VZ version, with its power increased to 268bhp. This version is also exclusively four-wheel-drive but uses the same six-speed automatic gearbox.The most powerful engine can be had only in VZ cars. It's the same 329bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol four used by the Volkswagen Golf R and Audi S3, and it sends its power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. A 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with 148bhp is offered elsewhere, but it won't be coming to the UK.All cars are well equipped. Even the V1 comes with 18in alloy wheels, full LED headlights, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry, keyless start and adaptive cruise control.