It was a cloudy May morning in Berlin when I took the Cupra Formentor 1.5 TSI through Grünewald, the dense woodland west of the city known for its long winding roads, mild elevation changes, and silent tree-lined stretches. It’s a location that hides you from the urban pace and gives any car room to reveal its character. The Formentor needed such a place.
After all, this was not one of the high-powered VZ5 versions. It was the 1.5 TSI, the base model with 150 hp, front-wheel drive, and no roaring exhaust note to distract you. My goal was to find out whether this most modest version could carry the Cupra badge with credibility or if it merely wore the name like a designer jacket with no real tailoring underneath.
Cap Formentor in Berlin Woods
Before I go into the specifics, let’s not forget the origin of this compact crossover. Named after the dramatic Cap de Formentor on the island of Mallorca, this car is Cupra’s first standalone model after its separation from Seat. It’s sporty, bold, and angular, a Spanish design statement wrapped around Volkswagen Group technology. Built on the MQB platform (shared with the Seat Leon and VW Golf), it’s manufactured in Martorell, Spain.
When you see the Formentor in the forest shadows of Grünewald, it stands out. Not just because the trees were still sparse in their spring green, but because the body proportions are just right, long, wide, but not overinflated. This 4.45-meter-long crossover slots between an Ateca and Tarraco in size, but adds more flair. It’s the kind of car that makes you slow down when walking past it.
Design: Assertive, Not Overstated
In terms of design, the Formentor wears its ambition clearly. The front grille is aggressive without being cartoonish. The LED lighting signatures are sharp and modern, and I particularly liked the way the DRLs blended into the indicator function. It’s clean but also edgy, which is the balance most new SUVs struggle to achieve.
At the rear, the car loses some of the drama. Our test car had fake exhaust tips, a disappointment considering Cupra’s sporty pretensions. But the full-width light bar running across the tailgate did add a futuristic touch, especially as dusk began to fall over Grünewald.
I was rolling on 18-inch Performance III wheels with 245/45 R18 rubber. They filled the arches well and didn’t ride harshly, which was a surprise.
Inside: Golf-Plus With Flair
Open the door and you’re greeted with a cabin that’s clearly Volkswagen Group, but it tries to inject some Spanish soul. My test car came without the leather package, and honestly, that was a good thing. The fabric seats in “Sharp Textil” were supportive, breathable, and looked the part. The seating position was more hatchback than SUV, which gave me an immediate sense of control.
The center console is button-free, everything’s controlled through sliders and a 12-inch infotainment display. I’ve had mixed experiences with this system before, but here it seemed better sorted. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to it. Temperature, volume, navigation, all digital, all central. The learning curve isn’t steep, but I still missed the tactile feel of a simple dial.
Rear visibility is compromised, and without a rearview camera (not standard on this model), parking in Berlin’s tight city streets earlier that morning was an exercise in patience. Thankfully, the parking sensors do their job with acceptable accuracy.
Storage? Generous. The center area around the gear selector is well thought out, and the glovebox actually fits more than a manual and a pen.
Driving Impressions in Grünewald
This is where the rubber meets the bark.
The 1.5 TSI is a familiar engine, found in everything from Golfs to Skodas. It pushes out 150 hp and 250 Nm of torque, delivered through a 7-speed DSG to the front wheels. On paper, it reaches 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and maxes out at 204 km/h. But that’s not the whole story.
In Comfort mode, the Formentor feels like a confident cruiser. The DSG shifts smoothly, and the power delivery is predictable. However, it does feel a bit sleepy when you ask for a quick overtake. This is where Sport mode comes into play, it sharpens throttle response and holds gears longer. In the Grünewald’s meandering roads, the added urgency was welcome, though still not thrilling.
Handling? It’s decent. Not sharp like a hot hatch, but composed. The steering is accurate but numb. There’s more body roll than I expected, especially considering the car was equipped with DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control). Adaptive damping is a €815 option here, and while it helps iron out some road imperfections, it doesn’t transform the car into a corner carver.
Over long undulating straights, the car settled nicely. Over short, sharp bumps, potholes, manhole covers, the ride was more brittle. Clearly, the setup is more comfort-focused despite Cupra’s sporting image.
Performance Meets Efficiency
The 1.5 TSI’s biggest strength might be its efficiency. Over a full day of mixed driving, Autobahn, urban Berlin, and Grünewald’s flowing paths, I averaged around 7.5 liters per 100 km. It’s not groundbreaking, but for a car with some visual drama and a hint of performance, it’s respectable.
Turbo lag is minimal, but the engine note is muted to the point of sounding clinical. No drama, no thrill, just forward motion. Fine for most, perhaps too subdued for those who buy a Cupra expecting flair.
Technology & Safety: Mostly Optional
This 1.5 TSI model doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles. Features like traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, and rearview camera are only standard on the more powerful VZ models. You can option most of them, but it adds up.
What you do get is a decent base package, lane keep assist, front assist with emergency braking, and drowsiness detection. In the forest’s shifting light, I found the ambient lighting strip, which doubles as a blind spot alert, to be a clever touch. Subtle, but functional.
Cupra Formentor 1.5 TSI Technical Specifications
All tech info comes right from Cupra’s official site so it’s accurate and trustworthy.
| Specification | Detail |
| Engine | 1.5 TSI, 4-cylinder turbo |
| Displacement | 1498 cc |
| Power | 150 hp (110 kW) |
| Torque | 250 Nm |
| Transmission | 7-speed DSG automatic |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| 0-100 km/h | 8.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 204 km/h |
| Fuel Consumption | 7.5, 7.7 l/100 km (real-world) |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 4.45 m x 1.84 m x 1.51 m |
| Wheelbase | 2.68 m |
| Curb Weight | 1437 kg |
| Boot Capacity | 420, 1475 liters |
Conclusion: Looks the Part, Plays It Safe
The Cupra Formentor 1.5 TSI is a car of contradictions. It looks sporty, but doesn’t feel it. It wears the Cupra badge proudly, but doesn’t really earn it in terms of performance. Still, for many buyers, this might be enough. It rides well on long journeys, has a stylish and practical cabin, and returns good fuel economy.
In the forested calm of Grünewald, the Formentor didn’t excite, but it did impress with how rounded and mature it felt. For those who like the Cupra look but don’t need all the muscle, the 1.5 TSI makes a strong argument, just don’t expect fireworks.
Is the Cupra Formentor 1.5 TSI fast?
Not particularly. It’s more brisk than fast, with a 0–100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds. Adequate for daily driving, but it won’t raise your pulse.
Is this a real Cupra Formentor 1.5 TSI or just a dressed-up Seat?
Mechanically, it’s more Seat than pure Cupra. But design-wise, it holds its own. The sharper styling and interior materials elevate it above its stablemates.
How does Cupra Formentor 1.5 TSI drive on country roads like Grünewald?
It’s stable and comfortable, though not particularly engaging. Sport mode helps, but the suspension and steering are tuned for balance, not aggression.
