I'm in a quandary for choosing my next car and was just wondering whether anyone here might have any pointers for me. Perhaps it's all just down to me and my individual preferences - obviously no-one else can decide for me. That's all fine, but any thoughts would be gratefully received. Scenario as follows:
Looking to buy a powerful compact (4wd) SUV/crossover from new. Currently run a 2019 Q3 SB 45TFSI which is OK (in many ways good), but would be nice to have something with rather more power - 300bhp looks to be a sweet spot for this type of car.
Pet hates are very low profile tyres - current Q3 has 40 profile tyres on 20" wheels and that's plenty low enough. I definitely do want DCC and no lower than 40 profile. Another real turn-off is an infotainment screen that just sticks up from the top of the dash eg like a Q2. Pan roof is highly desirable. Don't want a hybrid - I don't do so many miles as to be really bothered about fuel cost and don't see the point of lugging around all the extra hybrid gubbins for some largely theoretical benefit. (My next car after this will likely be a full EV but change to EV models and specs and charging infrastructure is still happening too quickly for now to be the right time to jump for me.)
With these constraints there isn't too much choice and I find myself looking at Cupra Formentor or Ateca (with maybe another Q3 as a fallback). But choosing between Ateca and Formentor isn't easy.
Ateca: Pros are the higher driving position (which I like) and the retention of physical HVAC controls. I can live with the boxy shape I think. Cons to me are that it just feels like an old model now - main infotainment screen is still relatively small (though neatly integrated into the dash, which is a plus) and interior is dull/bland. So I'm guessing that depreciation will be significant. Also,, I like the idea of an active forum for the model. This one obviously exists but does seem pretty quiet. Looking around, there do seem to have been only around 1000 or so Cupra Ateca's sold in the UK so far, so maybe a low traffic forum is unsurprising? Actually one other Ateca con for me would be the Petrol Blue seats but I can't make out whether these are currently mandatory or not for new orders - the brochure would suggest not, but I'm not convinced.
Formentor: Pros are mainly that it's a (relatively) new model and so prices might hold up better, plus handling is suggested to be better than Ateca, though not all road-testers seem to agree except maybe at the limit, which I'm unlikely to explore routinely. Formentor is big enough for my limited needs. Styling I'm really unsure about - it's certainly different but can't decide whether I really like it or not, but probably acceptable. Main cons for me are the seating might be too low - OK I know the seat is generously adjustable but the driving position and ergonomics seem designed around a lower seat. The lack of physical buttons and the high-mounted ICE screen are also reasons to mark down but I can probably live with both. The screen position is semi-integrated into the dash which is one step better than the Q2 and I can probably live with the touch-screen once a few months' muscle memory has been built up.
There is the issue of delivery time for a new order with pan roof, but that's probably a lottery whichever model I choose.
Sorry, long post and I know it's unlikely that anyone can help hugely, but any thoughts would be read with interest.
Looking to buy a powerful compact (4wd) SUV/crossover from new. Currently run a 2019 Q3 SB 45TFSI which is OK (in many ways good), but would be nice to have something with rather more power - 300bhp looks to be a sweet spot for this type of car.
Pet hates are very low profile tyres - current Q3 has 40 profile tyres on 20" wheels and that's plenty low enough. I definitely do want DCC and no lower than 40 profile. Another real turn-off is an infotainment screen that just sticks up from the top of the dash eg like a Q2. Pan roof is highly desirable. Don't want a hybrid - I don't do so many miles as to be really bothered about fuel cost and don't see the point of lugging around all the extra hybrid gubbins for some largely theoretical benefit. (My next car after this will likely be a full EV but change to EV models and specs and charging infrastructure is still happening too quickly for now to be the right time to jump for me.)
With these constraints there isn't too much choice and I find myself looking at Cupra Formentor or Ateca (with maybe another Q3 as a fallback). But choosing between Ateca and Formentor isn't easy.
Ateca: Pros are the higher driving position (which I like) and the retention of physical HVAC controls. I can live with the boxy shape I think. Cons to me are that it just feels like an old model now - main infotainment screen is still relatively small (though neatly integrated into the dash, which is a plus) and interior is dull/bland. So I'm guessing that depreciation will be significant. Also,, I like the idea of an active forum for the model. This one obviously exists but does seem pretty quiet. Looking around, there do seem to have been only around 1000 or so Cupra Ateca's sold in the UK so far, so maybe a low traffic forum is unsurprising? Actually one other Ateca con for me would be the Petrol Blue seats but I can't make out whether these are currently mandatory or not for new orders - the brochure would suggest not, but I'm not convinced.
Formentor: Pros are mainly that it's a (relatively) new model and so prices might hold up better, plus handling is suggested to be better than Ateca, though not all road-testers seem to agree except maybe at the limit, which I'm unlikely to explore routinely. Formentor is big enough for my limited needs. Styling I'm really unsure about - it's certainly different but can't decide whether I really like it or not, but probably acceptable. Main cons for me are the seating might be too low - OK I know the seat is generously adjustable but the driving position and ergonomics seem designed around a lower seat. The lack of physical buttons and the high-mounted ICE screen are also reasons to mark down but I can probably live with both. The screen position is semi-integrated into the dash which is one step better than the Q2 and I can probably live with the touch-screen once a few months' muscle memory has been built up.
There is the issue of delivery time for a new order with pan roof, but that's probably a lottery whichever model I choose.
Sorry, long post and I know it's unlikely that anyone can help hugely, but any thoughts would be read with interest.