The Cupra Formentor is a car now in the segment of vehicles called Hot SUVs. A nod back to the 1980s when Hot Hatchbacks were all the rage, today's buyers want the performance of these sporty cars with the practicality of a family car. Enter the Hot SUV, slightly smaller than the trend of SUVs a few years ago; the latest provides dynamic power and handling packaged in a versatile exterior.
It is a hotly contested market with solid competition from most marques, a couple to mention the Ford Escape in North America, https://www.ford.ca/suvs-crossovers/escape/?gnav=header-suvs-vhp
Hyundai Santa Fe https://www.hyundaicanada.com/en/showroom/2023/santa-fe#Performance
Volvo XC40 https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/cars/xc40-electric
I drove the CUPRA Formentor VZ2 2.0 TSI 4Drive 310PS DSG, which starts at £36000 and delivers on the label Hot. Producing 306 bhp and an impressive 0-62 mph time of 4.9 s, it can reach a top speed of 155 mph. Now the top speed is irrelevant in the UK, with 70 as the national speed limit, but in mainland Europe where you can stretch the legs of cars somewhat more, it does carry kudos with buyers. The acceleration is, however, noteworthy for buyers who like their vehicles as more than something to get them from A to B. Sub 5 seconds is what sports cars used to achieve, and now an SUV can obtain this.