Cupra Formentor VZ5 coming to Australia! Triumphant return of hot five-pot small SUV to put the fear into BMW X1 M35i and Mercedes-AMG GLA

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Cupra has announced the return of its five-cylinder powered Formentor VZ5 performance SUV — and this time it’s bound for Australia.

Borrowing Audi’s renowned 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo petrol from the RS3 to create something truly special, the fresh VZ5 produces 287kW and 480Nm — about the same as before. 

Limited to just 4000 units globally, the Cupra Formentor VZ5 also boasts wider wheel arches, grade-specific bumper and splitter front and rear, copper-trimmed diagonal exhaust tips, and 20-inch copper-coloured alloy wheels.

More exciting is the fact that Cupra’s hottest Formentor to date is confirmed for Australia, although just how many models will reach our shores is yet to be finalised.

Aussies missed out on the first generation VZ5 when it debuted in 2021, and had to make do with the admittedly rather good 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder powered VZx, developing 228kW and 400Nm. 

Cupra Australia confirmed that the Formentor VZ5 will enter production in the first quarter of next year, with local arrivals slated for ‘later in the year’. 

Tentatively mark that as early into Q4 2026. 

Audi fans will likely be familiar with the 2.5-litre five cylinder ‘TSI’ turbo petrol engine under the bonnet of the VZ5 – a longstanding staple found in several performance Audi models. 

It produces a healthy claimed 287kW and 480Nm, nearly identical to the outgoing Audi RSQ3, and delivers power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch automatic and trick integrated torque splitter with lateral torque control. 

The first iteration of VZ5 was capable of sprinting 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds. 

The power output of the Formentor VZ5 is over 50kW and 80Nm ahead of the competition, making light work of the $99,000 Mercedes AMG GLA, which produces 225kW and 400Nm, and BMW’s $92,900 X1 M35i xDrive, which pushes out 233kW/400Nm. 

Pricing for Cupra’s limited numbers Formentor has not yet been confirmed. Expect a sticker somewhere between $90,000-105,000, considering the extremely similar Audi RSQ3 started at $104,215 before it was discontinued earlier this year. All prices above are before on-road costs. 

Additional features for the Cupra Formentor VZ5 include ‘Cupra’ branding, ambient lighting, and bucket seats on the inside, and a choice of five paint colours in either matte or gloss on the outside. 

Those colours are Midnight Black, Dark Void, Magnetic Tech Matte, Century Bronze Matte, and Enceladus Grey Matte.