Cupra’s top-selling model will be updated in Australia around March 2026, and the Spanish brand’s local product boss has confirmed initial lineup details including the engine variants we can expect.
The 2026 Cupra Formentor range has been delayed several times for Australia, and will arrive at the end of the first quarter of next year, nearly 18 months after it went on sale in Europe.
Jeff Shafer, head of product for Cupra Australia, confirmed with CarExpert we can once again expect four core members of the Formentor family early next year, with the limited-edition VZ5 halo model – complete with a turbocharged five-cylinder engine from Audi – to arrive in the latter stages of 2026.
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The updated Formentor lineup in Australia will open with a 1.5 eTSI 48V mild-hybrid with front-wheel drive, likely called the Formentor S. From there the Formentor ‘V’ will get a slight power bump to 150kW (up from 140kW), and it remain the entry point for those wanting all-wheel drive.
Further up the range will be the VZ variants, which also bring improvements to performance. The VZe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) gets a new-generation drivetrain upping power to 200kW (from 180kW) and a larger battery that allows for over 100km of electric driving range on the WLTP cycle.
Meanwhile, the VZx gets a power bump from 228kW to 245kW, and also gains a trick rear torque splitter from the Volkswagen Golf R and Audi RS3 that can shuffle drive between the left and the right to ensure the rear wheel with the most grip receives more torque.
Finally, the Formentor VZ5 was just revealed and has been confirmed for right-hand drive, meaning a limited allocation will come to markets like Australia and the UK for the first time. Powered by a 287kW/480Nm version of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the Audi RS3 and RSQ3, the VZ5 will arguably become the most exclusive Cupra ever sold in Australia.
Like the related Leon Hatch and Sportstourer, the mid-life facelift for the Cupra Formentor brings a revised ‘Shark Face’ front fascia incorporating a new LED daytime running light signature, which is also replicated at the rear.
The full-width tail-light bar also sports an integrated and illuminated Cupra logo, again consistent with the brand’s latest models including the aforementioned Leon family as well as the larger Terramar and Tavascan SUVs.
Inside, there’s a new-generation infotainment interface and more soft-touch materials to up the ambience. High-performance variants like the VZx and VZ5 will be available with racy CUPBucket seats which feature carbon-fibre shells.
Rounding out the changes will be new wheel designs and an updated colour pallette, all of which have already been seen in the Terramar and Leon ranges.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest on the Cupra Formentor in the lead-up to its local launch in 2026.
