A detailed review of the 2023 Cupra Formentor, advantages, disadvantages, specifications and prices

With a smarter and more exciting interior, the 2023 Cobra Forminitor outperforms the fast Volkswagen SUV

We look like the 2023 Cupra Formentor of the SEAT brand, wonderful inside and out, and fun on the road. Of course, it is not SEAT, and the Formentor badge will only be associated with the Cupra, but the CUPRA remains the SEAT sports and electric sub-brand. Its elevated body and athletic stance place the Cupra Formentor in the coupe-crossover segment. It is an ideal family car with an interior space.

The 2023 Cupra Formentor is a bit more expensive and less practical than the Seat Ateca. In return, it has a coupe-like look, a muscular stance, an SUV, and the smarter interior. The 2023 Cobra Forminitor is also a practical car, it handles well, and it also offers multiple engine options, the best of which is the 1.5 TSI V1 – fuel economy, inexpensive, and well-equipped. Many of its components carry the Volkswagen DNA.

The Cobra Forminator is taller than the Attica, has a more muscular stance, and is brutally handsome. And under the wrinkled leather of the 2023 Cupra Formentor you’ll find the same components as the Seat Ateca, and some Volkswagen Golf equipment, such as the common gearbox, and it got a (very excellent) infotainment center from the Cupra Leon hatchback.

The origin of the name Cobra Forminator 2023

Formentor is actually a picturesque peninsula in the Spanish state of Mallorca, and the name means a nod to the Spanish roots of the Cupra brand.

The quality of the 2023 Cupra Formentor

The Cupra Formentor is the first premium model of the Seat sub-brand. The Cupra name used to be placed at the end of Seat’s hot models, but now you’ll start to see it singularly, on models that Cupra produces from performance-oriented cars. This Formentor is a family SUV, similar to the Volkswagen. Wagon T-Roc and BMW X2 M35i.

It can be said that the 2023 Cupra Formentor is a golf car with a different design. The heart of the Cobra Forminator is the same as that of the iconic Volkswagen Golf. It’s built on the same platform as the MQB Evo, with the same engines, same gearboxes. So it’s hard to say it’s just a golf car.

The exterior design of the 2023 Cobra Forminator

Despite the common foundations, the Formentor differs from the design and body of the Golf, and Cobra engineers gave it a unique personality from the outside, and they managed to give the Cobra Forminitro 2023 an independent personality. With an odd tribal logo symbolizing a Cobra, the sloping roofline and sharp creases give it a sportier edge than the brand’s other SUVs, despite having the same number of doors and seats. It’s even more interesting than the Attica, with interestingly designed doors.

The design itself pushes the outer envelope for the sub-$60,000 SUV segment. To make it able to withstand the fierce competition in a category that includes cars such as the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, designers have succeeded in attracting attention to it with touches inspired by “Baby Lambo”, I mean the Lamborghini Urus that Forminator is approaching.

In any color or trim, the 2023 Cupra Formentor is relatively attractive. With a set of striking lines, echoed by those wrinkles and triangular shapes, there’s nothing wrong with it aesthetically. It looks positively sexy with a set of black and copper sport wheels. In general, Cobra is not interested in badge lovers, but rather targets lovers of distinction from the crowd.

Interior cabin design of the 2023 Cobra Forminator

One of the main differences between the Cobra Forminator and the Golf is its size. The Cobra Forminator is 166mm longer and 50mm wider. It rolls on a wheelbase that is 44 mm longer, and the extra volume translates into a tangible boost to cabin space. The result is pleasantly comfortable front seats and ample space in the back.

The formidator’s cabin flourishes, exemplified by the bronze leather trim, the handsome standard front bucket seats, and the cabin are tightly assembled. As for the entertainment system, it deserves praise, both in size and in the operating system.

Driving position and dashboard of the 2023 Cobra Forminator

If you like a sporty driving mode, you must enjoy Cupra Formentor. It sits lower than most other SUVs, and the pedals align neatly with the steering wheel.

Vision and sensors in the 2023 Cobra Forminator

The Cobra Forminitor’s lowered driving position narrows the forward viewing angle, reducing the wide and sweeping view as in some of its higher-end competitors. Although the windshield pillars are reasonably narrow, visibility from the front at junctions should never be an issue.

Rear visibility isn’t all that good, the rear pillars make reversing more difficult. So the company has made standard rear parking sensors in every 2023 Cobra Forminitor lineup, and front sensors and a rear-view camera are being added starting with the V2 and VZ2 and higher models.

The comfort of the Cobra Forminitor 2023 cabin

The base Cupra Formentor V1 and VZ1 get PVC upholstery that looks (but definitely doesn’t) feel like leather, while the rest of the range has genuine Nappa leather upholstery, used on the seats, doors and dashboard, with the option of power-adjustable seats.

The quality of the interior finishes of the Cobra Forminitor 2023

The Cobra Forminitor has plenty of visual appeal and a unique cabin identity. Well built, the instrument panel and interior doors are made of soft-touch plastics, but harder plastics are found in the rear of the cabin, and the lower part of the rear doors. And I loved the perforated leather steering wheel and contrast stitching on the dashboard.

The Cobra Forminitor’s cabin looks sportier than a Volkswagen product, with bronze stitching accents on the dashboard, doors and steering wheel adding to the design’s sophistication. With carbon fiber parts that make it more attractive, and ambient interior lighting with LED lights.

The spaciousness and spaciousness of the Cobra Forminator 2023

The 2023 Cupra Formentor’s sporting ambitions don’t stand still as a great family car. It can be said that the front space of the Cobra Forminitor 2023 is very wide, and the Cobra Forminitor SUV sits in the middle, with a large headroom in the front, and its seats slide back a long distance to provide the largest legroom. In fact, they are incredibly comfortable for all tall people.

Talking about the rear space in the Cobra Forminitor 2023 takes us by surprise, as the rear roof line did not affect the rear area much larger than some competitors, and it accommodates two adults comfortably, with good head and legroom. Yes, the space is not huge, and if you tend to use the three seats a lot, the passengers in the back seat will find the shoulder room tight.

2023 Cobra Forminitor seats

The front seats offer plenty of adjustment, including lumbar support, so everyone will find a comfortable place to sit. And I found the driver’s seat comfortable for long trips and supportive, especially the electrically adjustable bucket seats, which are standard starting with the V2 and VZ2 models. Height adjustment and adjustable lumbar support are standard on all models.

The front seats can make the passenger in the back feel a little claustrophobic by blocking their view of the road, and the center seat in the rear seats is more comfortable than you’ll find in most family hatchbacks. The rear seats fold 60/40 as standard. It folds easily, but it is not very versatile.

The infotainment system of the 2023 Cobra Forminator

Cobra is equipped with a 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment system. Its size and resolution are very impressive, it’s bright and clear, and it’s responsive, but the colorful, flashy menus take some learning, as the menus can be tricky at times. Each Forminator configuration is equipped with built-in satellite navigation.

You also find a DAB radio, 4 USB-C ports, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, smartphone mirroring, and wireless phone charging. And you get natural voice control and voice commands starting with the word “Hola, Hola” followed by commands like “I’m cold” to turn on the hot air conditioner. However, it doesn’t always work.

Storage space in the 2023 Cobra Forminator

Storage up front is ample, with the 2023 Cobra Forminitor offering matching door bins, two cup holders that easily accommodate a cup of coffee, a small compartment to put your phone in and space inside the front armrest, which is standard across the lineup. In the back, there is not much storage space in the rear area, and passengers will have to make do with the storage space in the small doors and nothing more.

The luggage compartment of the 2023 Cobra Forminator

You get 450 liters of boot space in front-wheel-drive models, dropping to 420 liters in 4WD versions. That’s more space than the Toyota C-HR, and slightly less than the BMW X2.

The exception is the hybrid models. Trunk space drops to 345 liters, equal to the Volkswagen Golf, and I was able to fit five small handbags under the parcel shelf in the hybrid version.

Cobra Forminator 2023 engine

The 2023 Cupra Formentor offers a wide range of engine options, including four four-cylinder engines: one of which is a 1.5-liter with 150 horsepower, along with three 2.0-liter engines producing 190, 245 and 310 horsepower. The lower engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, which can be shifted to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Standard on all other engines, it offers smooth gear changes in all gears.

The most powerful and fastest versions are inexpensive to run, the least expensive of which is the 1.5-liter 150 TSI petrol engine, with 148 hp. You don’t have to work hard to make decent progress to top the standard Toyota C-HR to 62 mph. And for even more speed, there’s a 187-hp 2.0-liter engine badged as the TSI 190 4Drive with all-wheel drive that covers acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in 8.9 seconds.

Cobra Forminitor with 245 TSI Engine It’s brisk, but the fastest model of the Forminitor is the 2.0-liter, 4WD, badged 310 TSI, it’s an SUV. Closer to the speed of the BMW X2 M35i, it goes from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.9 seconds.

If you want a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), our pick would be the e-Hybrid 204. With a combined power output (including electric motor) of 201 horsepower, it can go from 0-62 mph in 7.8 seconds—taking you for 37 miles using Electric power only. While the more powerful e-Hybrid 245 takes 6.8 seconds to reach 62 mph.

Driving impressions of the 2023 Cobra Forminator

The 2023 Cobra Formentor is offered with many options of power, speed, and performance ranging from standard to sporty. We first start by getting to know the performance of the different models.

2023 Cobra Forminitor Powertrain Performance

The 150PS model is a good entry-level car. With a smooth and quiet engine, it delivers a decent acceleration performance from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, with a top speed of 127mph. In fact, the 190 4Drive and 245PS provide additional performance gains, accelerating from 0-62mph. The time is at 7.1 and 6.8 seconds, respectively. The model adds 190PS all-wheel drive for slippery conditions, and both versions have useful overrunning power when driving on country roads.

The 310-hp model is the fastest car here, by some margin. It does 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds – a second less than the Porsche 911 – and faster than the hot hatchback Cobra Leon (5.7 seconds). And a lot of this is due to the all-wheel drive system that launches it from a standstill as if it were attached to the catapult of the transporter.

Hybrid powertrain performance in the 2023 Cobra Forminator

Hybrid models offer a special driving experience. Its ability to accelerate using electric power makes it very comfortable, but the steering and handling are a bit heavier, and they tend to push through corners if you’re pushing them really hard. It’s heavier, at 1681kg (204hp model) and 1704kg (245hp), yet it clocks decent 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds. Acceleration can be frustrating in practice.

Suspension of the 2023 Cobra Forminator

The standard suspension on V1, V2 and VZ1 models is stiffer than its less sport-focused competitors, yet manages to strike a good balance between comfort and body control. And if you choose the VZ2 or higher, you get adjustable dampers as standard.

Forminator has three simple modes for customizing ride quality. In Comfort mode, you’ll find it a bit stiffer than the best SUVs, and even in the stiffer Cobra mode, the Forminitor is comfortable enough, giving you enhanced agility and control without the snarls.

The comfort and ride quality of the 2023 Cobra Formentor

Cobra models are performance-oriented. Equipped with bigger wheels and tires and all-wheel drive, the 310-hp model behaves better in some ways than the less sporty versions. The special four-wheel drive feels nail-biting around the corners.

As well as being fun, the Formentor proves to be comfortable, and not overly bouncy over bumps and asphalt changes. The standard setting delivers decent on-road performance, while VZ models get Dynamic Chassis Control so you can set the car to be firm on tight corners or softer for more comfort on a long trip.

2023 Cobra Forminator Performance On The Highway

The Forminator performs well on the highway. It’s equipped with active cruise control as standard so it follows the other car from a safe distance, and lane assist does a good job of keeping the car in the lane (helpful given how distracting the infotainment system is).

2023 Cobra Forminator City Performance

The Cobra Forminator is easy to drive around town. The raised suspension gives you a good view ahead – means you can enjoy speed over the humps – and although the rear window looks a bit far out, the base model has rear parking sensors, while every other model gets a camera and park assist, too.

The handling and stability of the Cobra Forminator 2023

The Formentor doesn’t feel nimble around corners, but it’s very easy to use. With better weight and accuracy. Slightly tactile feel of the road surface, but it’s stable, perfectly grippy, and the more racing models can handle more cornering speed thanks to the wider tyres.

All models have excellent body control that allows you to drive aggressively and with confidence – more so than the Citroën C4. As for the e-Hybrids, they abandoned this aspect. It’s still practical, though the extra weight of its batteries upsets the handling balance.

The levels of refinement, noise and vibration in the 2023 Cobra Forerunner

All Formentor engines are smooth and relatively unobtrusive, and the engine sound is well muffled on the petrol versions, you won’t hear the engine growl, but you do hear a fair amount of road and wind noise when you get to highway speeds. Caused by large wheels (at least 18 inches in size),

The 1.5 TSI 150’s six-speed manual gearbox is easy to use and has a defined clutch bite, while the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic shifts gears smoothly and swiftly. The only problem we found is that the car can be a bit jerky when navigating parking lots as you pull away from intersections.

Operating costs for the 2023 Cobra Forminator

Forminator’s range of engines means you can choose any engine, not all of them are fuel-thirsty, and whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed with the diesel option. The 150-horsepower automatic model delivers official fuel economy of 42 mpg, and in our testing we got 38 mpg.

Officially, all-wheel drive in 190PS 4Drive or 245PS models results in fuel economy of 37.7 or 36.7mpg. Sounds exciting, but if you opt for the 310-horsepower model, fuel economy drops to 33 mpg.

Park assist system in Cobra Forminator 2023

Park Assist can engage the Formentor in both parallel and perpendicular parking spaces, guiding you as you operate the accelerator pedal.

Safety and security equipment in the 2023 Cupra Formentor

There’s really no need to go overboard with the standard V1 because it’s stacked with equipment. Parking aids, full LED headlights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry/start and adaptive cruise control.

All models get adaptive cruise control that can accelerate and brake the car for you, along with lane keep assist that keeps the car on your side of the road using the steering instead of applying pressure to the brakes like lesser systems.

Options and additions to the 2023 Cobra Forminator lineup

You can add road sign recognition to this area, which displays signs on the infotainment screen — handy for 20 mph limits within town — and high beam assist that lowers your full beam when another car is detected.

VZ2 models and up get the Driving Pack XL. It adds Blind Spot Warning that detects vehicles in your blind spot, Lane Change Assist — if safe, automatically pulls the car when you signal to overtake — and Emergency Assist, and you also get Exit Assist, which will alert you if you try to open your door in the path of a cyclist.

The VZ1 model is an automatic upgrade to the more powerful engines (242 hp or 306 hp) and adds 19-inch alloy wheels and a power tailgate with gesture control. V2 and VZ2 models add heated front seats in nappa leather and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Only the top-tier VZ3 is available with the most powerful engine, bigger Brembo brakes, Matrix LED headlights that don’t dazzle oncoming cars, but they’re a bit pricey, and unless those brakes are really important to you, we’ll stick with the cheaper models.

2023 Cobra Forminator reliability

As a relatively new model, it’s hard to tell how reliable the Forminator will be. But Seat’s reliability record is fair to average, and that goes for the Cupra because it’s a subsidiary of Seat. In the reliability survey, Seat ranked 17th out of 30 manufacturers, but came 22nd out of 30 in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk satisfaction index.

Crash test results for the 2023 Cobra Forminator

The Cupra Formentor was awarded a five-star safety rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2021, so you can expect it to stand up well in the event of an accident.

Maintenance and warranty costs for the 2023 Cobra Forminator

All Formentor models come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. This matches what you’ll get with the Volvo XC40 but isn’t as good as the BMW X2’s three-year unlimited mileage warranty or the Toyota C-HR ‘s five-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

Positives

• Stunning design with the latest technology is closer to the Lamborghini Urus
• Great chassis, excellent damping and handling it is very well equipped
• A solid range of engine options
• Exquisite interior design and high quality for a spacious cabin
• Really good fun to drive especially the 4WD version

cons

• It gets expensive when you add the options you need
• Not the quietest car at 70 mph