Tiguan or Formentor?

[Andy.M]

Hi possible Cupra ownership here!

I've had a Tiguan R-Line 1.5tsi with a few extras on order since August 21. There is still no sign of a build and delivery, getting a bit frustrated.

For a while I've seen the Cupra Formentor sponsoring movies on TV and liked the look.

So last week I went and investigated and drove a 1.5 Formentor and liked it.

My first question has to be, I know they are different, the Tiguan being more suv like so will I embrace the lower Cupra?

Secondly, the dealer is suggesting a september delivery due to the options I am choosing. Whats the likelihood of the car actually arriving in the timescale quoted?
I do realise that there is a war in Europe and this is a first world problem!

I don't know yet what sort of deal I'll get on a new order (if any?), but if the deposit isn't massive and is returnable if I cancel, I might just go ahead and see which car turns up first!

 

[Bear]

What do you drive at the mo Andy?

 

[Andy.M]

What do you drive at the mo Andy?

Good question, RR Evoque.
Previous to that Merc GLA.

 

[nwithyman]

Hi possible Cupra ownership here!

I've had a Tiguan R-Line 1.5tsi with a few extras on order since August 21. There is still no sign of a build and delivery, getting a bit frustrated.

For a while I've seen the Cupra Formentor sponsoring movies on TV and liked the look.

So last week I went and investigated and drove a 1.5 Formentor and liked it.

My first question has to be, I know they are different, the Tiguan being more suv like so will I embrace the lower Cupra?

Secondly, the dealer is suggesting a september delivery due to the options I am choosing. Whats the likelihood of the car actually arriving in the timescale quoted?
I do realise that there is a war in Europe and this is a first world problem!

I don't know yet what sort of deal I'll get on a new order (if any?), but if the deposit isn't massive and is returnable if I cancel, I might just go ahead and see which car turns up first!

 

[nwithyman]

For me on looks alone it has to be the Formentor plus it's probably better spec'ed than the Tiguan. Coupe styling does not inhibit interior space and (if it's important) has better street cred/rarity brownie points!

 

[Bear]

Good question, RR Evoque.
Previous to that Merc GLA.

Okey dokey. Well, I've just (last Wednesday) swapped a 64 plate Tiguan 2.0. TDI for a VZ2. The VW was a pleasure to own, never had any issues with it at all, but the Cupra is completely different. You feel you sit 'in' the car, not on it, the standard spec is brilliant (you could easily have no extras and be well pleased), the infotainment system is good (fortunately it has the latest upgrade and I've not had any gremlins) and, best of all, it goes like the clappers. You need to ask yourself what exactly you want the car for...your probably get a bit more shopping in the boot in the VW, but a more 'involved' drive from the Cupra. And as @nwithyman says, the Tiguans are a dime a dozen, the Cupra a bit of a rarer beast (and looks the dog's bollix).
One final point...I reckon the space in the back of the Cupra is ample, my son, who's 6 foot ++, had no problems with head or leg room.

 

[Cuprakash]

Whilst it's a decent car,the Tiguan is so dull and derivative in comparison to the cupra,it's hard to understand how they are in competition with each other on your buying list.

 

[Andy.M]

My racing days are over (got a bike for that) so would go for the V2 1.5. We want the pan roof and wifey (medical reasons) must have the auto opening boot. I also want the xl safety thingy pack for blind spot monitor etc.

I did enjoy driving the Formentor, felt like I was driving it rather than it was driving me. Two cars ago we had a 250 Amg line GLA which was a similar car to the Formentor, a sort of SUV. Initially I loved it but ended up feeling a bit too hemmed in it if you know what I mean. It turned into an effort to drive constantly not aware of what was around me.
The Evoque changed everything. I felt in control and in a bit of luxury at all times and spatially aware. The only thing really is when you push it a little you feel a passenger, for example having to brace my arm on the door to stop myself moving in the seat.

Driving the Tiguan felt much like the Evoque only in a more modern environment. I think I preferred the Formentor but cant wait another year for a car and wondered if I'd eventually feel like the GLA again. I'm really not sure!

 

[Mad Spoons]

I have just come from a 19 plate Tiguan R line. 150bhp diesel to a 310 vz2. Very very different cars, the seating position is one thing I’m taking a bit of getting used to. From being sat up high with your feet more underneath you to being stretched out.
It is however a great place to sit and I don’t miss the body roll in the corners. The kit levels are about the same although I have missed the pan roof the last few days in the sun.
Space wise, it is quite a bit smaller, but I can sit behind my own seat with loads of knee room the spare.
I am yet to put anything in the boot, but if you need a massive boot then stick with theTiguan. That’s where the Tiguan wins, it is much more practical and can fit loads in, but for me I just wanted one last performance ICE car before EVs are the only option.

 

[Gbbeesls]

Whichever car you go for please expect delays unless you find dealer order already in the system. There is going to be more bad news for car manufacturing if the war in Ukraine continues and spreads much further. Quite a few car parts (especially wiring looms) are manufactured in the Ukraine. VW have already had to stop EV production and it will affect other VW marques too, Cupra cannot make the new Born EV. Other parts manufactures in the Ukraine are struggling with staff shortages due to mass exodus of workers. Couple this with a new lockdown in China due to C-19 and things look less than rosy at the moment.

 

[johanr77]

Horses for courses. I went from a mk2 Tiguan to a Formentor.

The Formentor is well specced as standard but so is the Tiguan.

The Tiguan has better visibility and a more practical boot but the Formentor looks nicer.

The interior in the Formentor is nice and looks good but the Tiguans felt better put together.

I got the Tiguan because we were expecting a baby, if I was going to have another baby I would have gotten another Tiguan. It's more practical and it is the more sensible choice. Formentor is still a pretty practical car but goes about it in a more interesting way.

 

[/dev/null]

VW is arguably a more premium brand than SEAT in the VAG group hierarchy, so one would expect trim for trim that the Tiguan be slightly better quality, however styling is a personal preference I guess. Unfortunately it's likely to feel a bit of a downgrade from the Merc, probably most noticeable in the "detail" rather than anything significant, such as interior materials, technology advancement etc.

 

[Cuprakash]

VW is arguably a more premium brand than SEAT in the VAG group hierarchy, so one would expect trim for trim that the Tiguan be slightly better quality, however styling is a personal preference I guess. Unfortunately it's likely to feel a bit of a downgrade from the Merc, probably most noticeable in the "detail" rather than anything significant, such as interior materials, technology advancement etc.

Having driven both,the quality in the vehicles is no different,in fact the leather dash trim is of superior quality than the bland plastics of the Tiguan and to be honest the latest a series mercs are fine if you like huge amounts of fake chrome in your cockpit.

Basically "quality " is entirely subjective especially between brands from the same stable such as vw and cupra.

 

[johanr77]

Subjective is true. Some people never notice the minor differences between brands.

 

[Gbbeesls]

The difference between brands is now down to a very narrow (subjective) margin at the same/similar price point. Before going for the Cupra Formentor I tried soooo many different marques and they were pretty much all the same within the budget. Most, even look the same. However, the only one I drove and liked, plus liked the look of (bit different) was the Formentor.

 

[/dev/null]

Having driven both,the quality in the vehicles is no different,in fact the leather dash trim is of superior quality than the bland plastics of the Tiguan and to be honest the latest a series mercs are fine if you like huge amounts of fake chrome in your cockpit.

Basically "quality " is entirely subjective especially between brands from the same stable such as be and cupra.

I was simply making the point that at a very general level the order of (increasing) premium precedence in the VAG group is generally considered to be along the following lines:

Skoda, SEAT, Cupra, VW, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley.

I've not driven the Tiguan, so couldn't comment on the specifics, it was simply a brand comment.
Obviously in comparing the two though, you'd need to compare the R Line to V2/3 and the R to VZ2/3 for it to be meaningful.