Review: Cupra’s Formentor hits the sweet spot with its standard 1.5-litre automatic petrol

Yellow warning lights suddenly appeared on the binnacle informing me the oil level was low and to top up as soon as possible. I duly obliged with a litre of the golden syrup and all was well for a couple of days.

The same message flashed up and again I swung by the motor factors, only this time I brought the car to my mechanic who did a diagnostic and gave the old girl a clean bill of health.

Next time the dash illuminated, it was in crimson red and it read “Oil Pressure Dangerously Low”, followed by “Do Not Exceed The Speed Limit”.

By the time I got back home the damage was done. I didn’t need to hear the official diagnosis – the clattering noise from under the bonnet said it all.

Luckily I was testing the Cupra Formentor that week and the kind folks at the Volkswagen-owned Spanish brand extended the loan for a couple of weeks. It’s what our colleagues in the UK call a long-term test.

Now, for those who don’t know, Cupra is the performance wing of SEAT and top of its crossover SUV pile is the savagely powerful Formentor VZ (Veloz – meaning quick or fast in Spanish), packing a whopping 310bhp.

But you don’t have to have that level of face-peeling grunt, you could simply opt for a petrol or even a hybrid model.

Ours was a 1.5-litre TSi with a decent 147bhp and mated to a seven-speed automatic DSG gearbox.

So, you get half the power but 100pc of the sexy styling that makes this marque stand out from the crowd.

This includes the same piano-black honeycomb grille, two-tone, 19-inch, five-spoke rims, 18-inch copper-coloured Brembo brake callipers, high-gloss cladding running from the front apron, around the wheel arches to the rear diffuser, and you’ll even get twin exhausts. Throw in the signature LED headlights, embedded spots and Audi-esque wing-to-wing rear lightbar and you have one seriously good-looking machine.

Inside, the cabin is also identical and a masterclass in luxury and technology.

The driver-focused cockpit is almost completely digital and sports a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, which is interchangeable from controls in the steering. Complementing this is a 12-inch high-definition infotainment screen, which is home to apps, music, phone and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The mid-range spec offers heated bucket sports seats covered in either black or blue leather – complete with the Cupra logo embossed into the headrests.

Over the winter it was a godsend and also warmed the heart of my brand-conscious better half.

For me, the V1 (model spec) hits the sweet spot for a family car and will be easy on tax and insurance.

Coming from a diesel, the petrol is a little costlier – now that the prices are on a par – but you’ll make up the shortfall in maintenance bills.

The auto box, especially around town in heavy traffic, is worth the extra cash as it eases the stress of the commute.

The biggest plus for me was the heady mix of SUV and hatchback – you get a lofty driving position while maintaining the drive dynamic of a smaller car.

The big dilemma now is the colour (I want Petrol Blue Matt with black roof liner, she wants Black with White cloth).

I fear the monochrome may just win the day. The Cupra Formentor starts at €35,945.

First Look: Mercedes loads tech into new V-Class

Mercedes-Benz has announced the arrival of its latest V-Class (below) and all-electric EQV equivalent.

The two sumptuous people-carriers are even more luxurious and come with greater levels of tech, including the latest MBUX infotainment system, digital networking and advanced safety and driver assistance systems.

Based on the humble Vito van, the new shuttles will accommodate seven seats (with the option of swivel mode to face row three) and 610 litres of luggage space.

The new bus gets a striking radiator grille, new alloys, four new colours and revised cockpit layout.

Both models get interior ambient lighting, smartphone wireless charging, dimmed cabin lighting, and “Hey Mercedes” voice assistance.

The V-Class is available in Avantgarde and Avantgarde AMG lines, plus a top-end Exclusive version, while the EQV comes in Avantgarde line only.

Powering the V-Class is a choice of diesel engines generating 190/237 bhp respectively.

The fully electric EQV is powered by a 90kWh battery with 204bhp and has a range of up to 365km.

The battery is capable of fast charging up to 110kW which will see it juice up from 10-80pc in around 40 minutes.

Prices for the V-Class – the first units of which are due to arrive here next month – begin from €132,460 for the V 250d with Avantgarde and automatic transmission.

The EQV is scheduled to arrive in August, with prices to be confirmed then.

BMW’s new electric SAV to be world Klasse

BMW has given us a sneaky peek at future SAVs (sports activity vehicles) with its Neue Klasse X concept.

It will be the first of six fully electric vehicles built on a new platform to go into production at Plant Debrecen in Hungary, in 2025 to 2027.

The new model is super futuristic with much slimmer kidney grilles, vertical LED lighting and cleaner, crisper lines throughout.

At the rear it’s a similar affair, with an almost coast-to-coast signature light bar and sporty diffuser lifting its rotund backside.

Keeping in line with the space-age feel, the wing mirrors are replaced with high-tech cameras, while the door handles are also flush with the body.

The new crossover will be powered with the sixth-generation of BMW eDrive technology, promising greater dynamic performance, more precision and more efficiency.

Further details on range and power in the coming months.