Actual cost and use: Cupra Formentor 2.0 TSI 4Drive VZ

Today we take a look at the new Formentor VZ (veloz = fast) and its impressive sports steering wheel. The start button is under the right clasp, and the Cupra button is on the left, which you can quickly zap through five driving modes. Behind them are elegant paddle shifters and a few centimeters away is a colored instrument panel that displays the temperature of the engine oil, transmission oil and aftercooler. That’s fun – isn’t it? Not to mention the appeal of perfectly shaped bucket seats. Or a large Brembo brake system for 2,320 euros, which, by the way, still slows down very well even with hot discs. Nothing hot here yet. So press the start button on the steering wheel and off you go. A 310 hp two-liter turbo petrol engine hums quietly under the hood of the Formentor. Codename EA 888 evo4, well known from current Golf GTI entries.

A lot of power, full traction – of course the Formentor gets to go fast (zero hundred: 4.9 s), it does not allow up to high speed, but it pushes hard in high gears even at low speed. The DKG adjusts quickly and smoothly, and in Cupra mode it can sometimes be hard-hammering. The same applies here to the suspension comfort of the adjustable chassis, which is almost zero. Important driving forces from the steering wheel and artificial high-pitched sound through the loudspeakers are also strong, which is not at all appropriate for a 310-hp SUV with four rear pipes that unfortunately only sound muted. And what about fuel and operating costs?

Our test application

Cupra delivers on that The Formentor 2.0 TSI 4Drive VZ has the usual WLTP consumption of the 8.5 liter Super Plus. He departs from this value in everyday life. We determined an average consumption of 10.0 liters, which results in a fuel cost of 18.40 euros per 100 km. The Cupra used 7.5 liters on the eco route, while it consumed 10.0 liters on the passenger route. If the Cupra was driven in sport mode, consumption increased to 12.6 liters. Fuel costs are calculated based on the current daily fuel price on our partner website mehr-tanken.de (15.02.2024 / Super Plus: 1,84 Euro/Litre).

Monthly maintenance costs

Anyone who drives resource-efficiently as we do on our Eco route reduces fuel costs per 100 kilometers to 13.80 euros. Violent speed results in a total of 23.18 euros. Car tax for the Cupra costs 236 euros per year, liability insurance is 402 euros. Partial and comprehensive insurance costs an additional 159 and 717 euros, respectively. Monthly maintenance costs of 370 euros are paid by anyone who drives the Cupra 15,000 kilometers a year. If the mileage is doubled, the total increases to 653 euros. We leave the loss of value in this calculation.

This is how testing is done

The automotive and sports test uses consist of three usage trips with different weights. The so-called “passenger use” accounts for 70 percent. This is a journey from home to work that is on average 21 kilometers long. The economy driven period, approximately 275 kilometers long is counted as 15 percent. The remaining 15 percent goes to the driver group of sports. The length is roughly the same as the Eco route, but the route has a larger section of road and therefore a higher average speed. The basis for calculating fuel costs is always the price quoted on the “more fuel” website on the day the article was created.

Monthly maintenance costs include maintenance, wear parts and vehicle tax based on an assumed annual mileage of 15,000 and 30,000 kilometers without depreciation. The basis of the calculation is trial use, three-year holding period, no-claims class SF12 for liability and comprehensive insurance for Allianz, including discounts for garage parking and restrictions for certain drivers (not under 21 years). At Allianz, SF12 means a 34 percent discount for liability and 28 percent for comprehensive insurance.