Only the one who drives it can truly appreciate the Cupra Formentor
When I first opened the Cupra official website and looked at the Formentor’s photos, I had a single, but very cynical thought: “I wonder, does Volkswagen really think that using Photoshop and the immortal DSG will allow them to create a luxury brand from scratch?!” The captions in English tried to convince me of royal comfort, sporty nature, aggressive looks and a new page in the European luxury segment. From Spain. Spanish luxury segment? Well, well… Interestingly, some people from the Cupra team deny any connection between the new brand and SEAT. But we weren’t born yesterday and we know something about the merciless Spanish tuning, which for decades has been tightly connected with the Spanish brand from the VAG Group and bore the same name, Cupra. In my opinion, there is nothing shameful about being related to a celebrated European manufacturer. Even if it has neither aristocratic gloss nor premium brilliance. But on the other hand, the marketing sharks from the world largest automotive group know better how to do it right. Therefore, we will also believe in the legend that the Cupra Formentor was born as Aphrodite: a beautiful and adult woman made of sea-foam that has no family or friends. As for her dowry, there is only a showroom on Ha-Yarkon Street in Bnei Brak and the Champion car dealer network. The only thing she has is sea foam. Formentor is a cape in the west of Spain and there is definitely no shortage of sea foam in that area. But femininity, beauty and some other things (very pleasant ones) will be discussed below…
A minute before the meeting, you still do not know where it will lead
So, two weeks have passed, and here I am standing in front of the Cupra showroom. Not the one in the sunny Bnei Brak, but in one of the European capitals, cloudy and recovering after a long winter and a lockdown. Due to coronavirus restrictions, I didn’t drink aromatic coffee with Cupra’s specialists while looking through their thick glossy brochures, didn’t have long conversations about trim levels, transmissions and acceleration time. I did not try to detect any minor inconsistencies and outright exaggerations. In general, I did not do anything that is usually done to lower the price. I had a completely different goal. Truth be told, it is all for her! Almost… The coronavirus has made us all short-spoken and business-like. We go in, sign an agreement confirming our willingness to pay off damage and comply with driving regulations and everything is done! I was looking forward to meeting the Formentor. And then it occurred to me that I was worried, as if it was the first date with a beautiful woman! It turned out that I had a real blind date, because even in the showroom I was not able to see the car “live”, because due to COVID restrictions I was not allowed inside! Probably everyone knows this sensation… A minute before the meeting, you still do not know where it will lead. And here, finally, I see her!
What is there to discuss, they always look much better in the photos. And my Cupra is no exception. In the photos, she seemed taller and narrower, and the one that appeared in front of me was not tall enough and had somewhat wide hips, a little thick for my taste… But her rustic appearance hid something more, while only hinting at something much more interesting. Maybe a daring squint of the front optics, maybe red brake calipers under black cast discs. I opened the door and went in. Yes, that’s right, I went in. Getting into this car was nothing like diving into a narrow manhole of a sports car or climbing into an SUV. I entered confidently, with my head held high and settled myself in the sports seat. I must note that up to this point, the sports seat was as inaccessible to me as a rider’s saddle (I have never ridden a horse in my life), and for a very simple reason: with a weight of 130 kg, when sitting in a sports seat, I look like yeast dough, spreading in all directions from the tub. But with the Cupra Formentor I probably felt as an experienced cavalryman on a faithful horse. It felt like the seat was created just for me. And at that very moment I forgave the Cupra for her, to put it mildly, not perfect appearance. And everything else too.
In the Cupra Formentor, you feel that the car drives you quickly, but very reliably, which makes you feel truly safe.
Suddenly I noticed that the lady manager was standing near the car door and was not going to take the passenger seat next to me in order to carry out a test drive as a single crew. When I asked why, she told me that according to the dealer’s rules, in connection with the pandemic, the car went into my full possession for 2.5 hours. - Bye! - But wait a second! Alone? And then a miracle happened. I have written many times about systems configured for intuitive user interaction. But only now, being in a hopeless situation, in a very short time, I personally felt how this should really work. I managed to almost completely master the control over a rather complex and high-tech system, which is the Cupra Formentor in the top-end trim level. And I confirm, this system is absolutely driver-friendly. All the units and configurations can be controlled via a large and convenient screen. The mode configurator is switched with one button “CUPRA” on the steering wheel. The large interior guarantees a lot of free space for both the driver and passengers of all sizes. All passengers are provided with unlimited legroom. Another treacherous thought came to me while exploring the interior: screaming children will never be able to do this right into my ear again! And in case of a long journey, everyone will have their own micro space. Side mirrors are very informative and, I must note, that the solution, showing a hindrance in the dead zone not by a luminous point on the mirror, but by a flickering line bordering the bottom of the side window, is quite ingenious. The low and wide Cupra has an excellent lane keeping ability and good steering response, while large 19-inch wheels and well-tuned suspension almost imperceptibly overcome bumps in the road and silent cops. In the Sport configuration, the Cupra Formentor demonstrates very intense acceleration, but at the same time without any jerks typical of sports cars. I have not decided yet whether it is a plus or a minus of the car.
At traffic lights, she draws the eyes
Unlike other cars with a powerful turbocharged engine, you cannot say that Cupra Formentor rushes out straight to the horizon. In it, you feel that the car drives you quickly, but very reliably, which makes you feel truly safe. And again, a comparison came to mind with the relationship between men and women: the driver, like any man next to an intelligent woman, always feels like a leader, at the right time she is always there to warn him, put him on guard, and even take control. As for the Cupra Formentor’s weaknesses, first of all, it’s the steering wheel, which in any configuration remained soft and light. And if in the Comfort mode it is fully justified, then in the Sport mode it is an unpleasant hindrance. Since during extreme driving, the wheels do not keep up with the engine and sharp brakes. Secondly, the Cupra mode, the meaning of which I have not fully understood, because it differs from the Comfort mode only by the roar of the engine. Rather, its imitation, the strength and power of which even a Formula 1 car would not be ashamed of. But the problem is that I didn’t feel any other changes. Although, if we return to the games between the strong and the fair sex, there is some logic in this: the Cupra makes it possible for the driver to feel like an alpha male, without endangering himself and those around him. And the last thing I noticed. At traffic lights, she draws the eyes. Despite her young age, she can boast of a special, feminine, serious beauty. Only those who can feel her in motion, behind the wheel, can truly appreciate the Cupra Formentor. And another piece of advice. Keep your friends away from this car. She is too hot!
