Read cyber security consultant Tom Stirling’s story to find out why he’s replacing his BMW 330i with a Cupra Formentor V e-Hybrid SUV.
Tom Stirling, the Cyber Security Consultant
As a cyber security consultant based in Auckland, Tom Stirling* spends many hours behind the wheel driving between client sites across Auckland, up to Whangarei and down to Hamilton and Tauranga.
BMW 330i
His trusty 6-year-old BMW 330i has been a faithful companion, racking up over 200,000 km as his daily driver. However, with the high mileage taking its toll, reliability issues are starting to crop up more frequently.
Tom loves the smooth power delivery and hushed luxury cabin of his BMW, so he’s looking for something similar in his next vehicle, and is quite taken with the new Cupra Formentor range.
Cupra History
Cupra started life as the range-topping performance-oriented sub-brand of Spanish car manufacturer SEAT, which is part of the VW-Audi group. It was launched as a stand-alone brand, alongside SEAT, in 2018. At the same time, SEAT Sport became Cupra Racing.
Cupra Formentor Range
The Cupra Formentor is a compact crossover SUV, marketed by Cupra as a coupé SUV. It is named after the Formentor peninsula on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
There are four models in the range, three of which are powered purely by petrol and a 7-speed DSG transmission…
- Cupra Formentor VZ the top-of-the-range model with 2 litre turbo petrol 228 kW engine and all-wheel-drive.
- Cupra Formentor V 4Drive with a 2 litre turbo petrol 140 kW engine and all wheel drive.
- Cupra Formentor V with a 1.5 litre 110 kW turbo petrol engine and front wheel drive.
Cupra Formentor V e-Hybrid PHEV
But Tom wants to reduce his running costs and get something with more environmentally friendly and sustainable credentials. Enter the new Cupra Formentor V e-Hybrid SUV.
With its PHEV plug-in hybrid powertrain combining electric and petrol propulsion and 6-speed DSG transmission, the Formentor hybrid promises the potential for emission-free electric commuting along with the driving enjoyment of a hot hatch when Tom needs it.
The electric side of things is powered by a 12.8 kWh battery with a claimed range of up to 54 km of electric-only urban driving.
The range is quite low compared to EVs, and the actual range in normal driving is reported to be even less, but of course it’s supplemented with a 1.4 litre turbo petrol engine. This gives it a combined power output of 180 kW of front wheel drive goodness.
The Cupra’s sleek exterior styling and upscale interior appointments have also caught Tom’s eye, appealing to his tastes for premium fit and finish.
The 200km Test Drive
To give the Formentor a proper evaluation and see if it could be a worthy successor to his BMW, we arranged a test drive for Tom. The vehicle was a demo model finished in eye-catching metallic grey.
The aggressive front grille and muscular wheel arches make a bold style statement compared to Tom’s more conservative BMW.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, the supportive black leather bucket seats with copper accent stitching wrap around you nicely, while still allowing easy entry and exit.
After pressing the start button, the digital instrument cluster comes to life, presenting you with a choice of hybrid driving data or performance parameters to prioritise on the display. Naturally, Tom opted for the latter.
Adjusting the chunky flat-bottom steering wheel and finding a suitably engaging driving position is easy, with the wheel falling readily to hand.
The trip computer indicated a full 53km of electric range was available after an overnight charge.
Tom set off, and was pretty impressed by the instant torque and near-silent running of the electric motor. The Formentor glides smoothly through city traffic, drawing admiring glances from other drivers.
Heading out on the open road, Tom switched to hybrid mode, seamlessly bringing the 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine to life.
The gearbox is an intelligent triple clutch DSG unit. The extra clutch is used to change between EV and combustion modes, and a 6-speed DSG gearbox handles everything else.
Performance is strong, with an abundance of mid-range punch for confident overtaking and merging. The transition between electric and hybrid driving feels well-coordinated.
After 30km, curiosity got the better of Tom. He engaged Cupra drive mode, which firms up the adaptive suspension, adds weight to the steering, and unleashes the full 180kW combined output of the hybrid drivetrain.
The Formentor surges forward eagerly when prompted, the extra shove pushing you back into the sculpted seat as the scenery blurs by.
This is definitely no boring eco-appliance – the plug-in Formentor delivers an engaging hot hatch driving experience when called upon!
Already enjoying the driving experience, Tom headed for a twisty coastal road that is one of his favourite real-world handling tests. Here, the Formentor continued to impress him with remarkably nimble and planted handling for an SUV.
The instant torque of the electric motor provides sharp acceleration exiting corners, working in perfect harmony with the turbo engine.
This plug-in hybrid can clearly thrill you when driven enthusiastically along a challenging road, despite its eco-conscious credentials on paper.
After blasting through the twisties, Tom discovered the battery was depleted – the trip computer indicating he managed a real-world 42km in EV mode.
With only the petrol engine providing propulsion, he set a more leisurely pace back home.
Fuel Economy
After punching the trip meter, he was pleasantly surprised to see an average consumption of 4.5L/100km displayed, which is pretty respectable given his earlier lead-foot antics.
Less Than 3L/100km!
More restrained normal driving should easily knock that down to less than 3L/100km.
Pulling back into the dealership after completing a 200km mixed-conditions trip, Tom was genuinely impressed by the Cupra Formentor V e-Hybrid. It melds an engaging, fun-to-drive experience with usable electric range, wrapped up in attractive, premium-feel packaging.
There’s no denying it represents a significant price premium over an equivalent petrol-only SUV, but for tech-savvy drivers like Tom who are keen to embrace electrification with some Dutch courage, the Formentor makes a very compelling case.
This cyber security consultant is seriously tempted to make the switch!
Give the team a call on 0800 275-374 if you have questions or would like to get a formal quote sorted. Or fire a message through to your account manager.
Cupra Formentor V e-Hybrid PHEVGet into a brand new Cupra Formentor V e-Hybrid on a super-discounted monthly payment plan…
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*Tom Stirling is a fictional person inspired by real Driveline clients.
