Get Driving -> Driving tips Guide for Cupra Formentor SUV First Generation (2020-2024)

Start and driving

gine speeds. Always engage a lower gear

when the engine works “irregularly”. For the

first 1000 km or 600 miles, please note:

General notes

●

In the VZ5 version, when you switch the

ignition off and on again, the Comfort

driving profile is activated by default.

On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine

power is distributed to all four wheels. The

distribution of power is controlled automati-

cally according to your driving style and the

●

When the vehicle is restarted after using

●

Do not use full throttle.

the Offroad profile, the system is always ac-

tivated in the Comfort profile.

Do not force the engine above two thirds

road conditions. Also see page 269 .

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of its maximum speed.

●

Your speed and driving style must always

The four-wheel drive is specially designed to

complement the superior engine power.

This combination gives the vehicle excep-

tional handling and performance capabili-

ties, both on normal roads and in more diffi-

cult conditions, such as snow and ice. Even

so (or perhaps especially for this reason), it is

important to observe certain safety points

●

Do not tow a trailer.

be adjusted to visibility, weather, and traffic

conditions.

Between 1000 and 1500 kilometres (600

to 1000 miles), gradually increase power

until reaching the maximum speed and high

engine speeds.

Driving tips

Running in new tyres and brake pads

Running in

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●

Replacement of wheel rims and new tyres

page 340.

Please observe the instructions for running-

in new components.

›››

●

Winter tyres

Information about brakes page 264 .

›››

Thanks to four-wheel drive, your vehicle will

have plenty of traction in winter conditions,

even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless,

we still recommend that winter tyres or all-

season tyres be fitted on all four wheels to

give even better braking response.

Running-in the engine

For the sake of the environment

A new engine must be driven through a run-

in period during its first 1500 kilometres

(1000 miles). During its first few hours of

running, the internal friction in the engine is

greater than later on when all the moving

parts have bedded down.

If the engine is run in gently, the life of the

engine will be increased and the engine oil

consumption reduced.

Snow chains

Four-wheel drive (4Drive)

On roads where snow chains are mandatory,

this also applies to cars with four-wheel drive

How the vehicle is driven for the first

On four-wheel drive models, the engine

power is distributed to all four wheels

1500 km (1000 miles) influences the future

engine performance. Throughout the life of

the vehicle, it should be driven at a moderate

speed (especially when the engine is cold)

this will reduce engine wear and increase its

useful life. Never drive at extremely low en-

page 345.

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Changing tyres

On vehicles with four-wheel drive, all four

tyres must have the same rolling

229

Driving

circumference. Also avoid using tyres with

Changing gear to save energy

Economical and environmentally

friendly driving

varying tread depths page 340 .

›››

An effective way of saving is to change in ad-

vance to a higher gear.

Off-roader?

Fuel consumption, environmental pollution

and wear to the engine, brakes and tyres all

depend largely on driving style. Consump-

tion can be reduced between 10-15% with

an efficient driving type. The following sec-

tion gives you some tips on lessening the im-

pact on the environment and reducing your

operating costs at the same time.

Manual gearbox: change from first to sec-

ond gear as soon as possible. Choosing the

correct gear saves fuel. Select the highest

possible gear suitable for the driving situa-

tion (the engine should continue to run with

cyclical regularity).

Your CUPRA vehicle is not an off-roader: it

does not have enough ground clearance to

be used as such. It is therefore best to avoid

rough tracks and uneven terrain as much as

possible.

Automatic transmission: accelerate gradu-

ally and without reaching the “kick-down”

position.

WARNING

●

Even with four-wheel drive, you should

Active cylinder management (ACT®)

always adjust your speed to suit the condi-

tions. Do not let the extra safety features

tempt you into taking any risks when driv-

ing. Risk of accident!

Depending on vehicle equipment, the active

cylinder management (ACT®) may deacti-

vate some of the engine cylinders if the driv-

ing situation does not require too much

power. The number of active cylinders can

be seen on the instrument panel display.

Avoid driving at high speed

Avoid travelling at your vehicle’s top speed,

whenever possible. Fuel consumption, emis-

sion of harmful gases and noise pollution

multiply as speed is increased. Driving at

moderate speeds will help to save fuel.

●

The braking capability of your vehicle is

limited by the tyres' grip. It is therefore no

different from a car without four-wheel

drive. So do not be tempted to drive too

fast on firm or slippery roads just because

the vehicle still has good acceleration in

these conditions. Risk of accident!

page 67.

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Foresight when driving

Reduce idling time

If you think ahead when driving, you will

need to brake less and thus accelerate less.

Take advantage of the inertia of the vehicle

whenever possible, with a gear engaged.

This takes advantage of the engine braking

effect, reducing wear on the brakes and

tyres. Emissions and fuel consumption will

drop to zero.

In vehicles with the Start-Stop system idling

is automatically reduced. In vehicles without

the Start-Stop system it is worth switching off

the engine, for example, at level crossings

and at traffic lights that remain red for long

periods of time. When an engine has

reached operating temperature, and de-

pending on the cylinder capacity, keeping it

switched off for a minimum of about 5 sec-

onds already saves more than the amount of

fuel necessary for restarting.

●

On wet roads bear in mind that the front

wheels may start to “aquaplane” and lose

contact with the road if the car is driven too

fast. If this should happen, there will be no

sudden increase in engine speed to warn

the driver, as occurs with a front-wheel

drive car. For this reason you should always

choose a driving speed suitable for the road

conditions. Risk of accident!

230

Start and driving

The engine takes a long time to warm up

when it is idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-

tant emissions are also especially high during

this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore best

to drive off immediately after starting the en-

gine. Avoid running the engine at high

speed.

tion may increase by 5%. Due to the greater

rolling resistance, under-inflation also in-

creases tyre wear and impairs handling.

Note

●

If you have the Start-Stop system, it is

recommended that it should not be discon-

nected.

Do not use winter tyres all year round as

they increase fuel consumption by up to

10%.

●

It is recommended that you close the

windows when driving at more than

60 km/h (37 mph).

Avoid carrying unnecessary loads

●

Do not drive with your foot resting on the

Regular maintenance

clutch pedal, as the pressure can make the

plate slip. This causes wear and can damage

the clutch plate.

Given that every kilo of extra weight will in-

crease the fuel consumption, it is advisable

make sure that no unnecessary loads are be-

ing transported.

Regular servicing helps in saving fuel even

before the engine is started. A well-serviced

engine gives you the benefit of improved

fuel efficiency as well as maximum reliability

and an enhanced resale value. A badly serv-

iced engine can consume up to 10% more

fuel than necessary.

●

Do not ride the clutch on a hill, use the

brake. The fuel consumption will be lower

and you will prevent the clutch plate from

being damaged.

Since the luggage rack increases the aero-

dynamic drag of the vehicle, you should re-

move it when not needed. At speeds of

100-120 km/h (62-75 mph), this will save

12% of fuel.

●

Use the engine brake on downhills by

changing to the gear that is best suited for

the gradient. Fuel consumption will be

“zero” and the brakes will not suffer.

Avoid short journeys

The engine and catalytic converter need to

reach their optimal operating temperature

in order to minimise fuel consumption and

emissions.

Save electrical energy

The engine drives the alternator, thereby

generating electricity. This implies that any

increase in power consumption also increa-

ses fuel consumption! For this reason, switch

off any unneeded electrical devices. Devices

that use a lot of electricity include the blower

at a high setting, the rear window heating or

the seat heating.

Driving on flooded roads

A cold engine consumes a disproportionate

amount of fuel. The engine reaches its work-

ing temperature after about four kilometres

(2.5 miles), when fuel consumption will re-

turn to a normal level.

To prevent damage to the vehicle driving on

flooded roads, take the following into ac-

count:

●

The water should never come above the

lower edge of the bodywork.

Plug-in hybrid drive: brake early and evenly

Check tyre pressure

●

Drive at pedestrian speed.

to take advantage of energy recovery.

Always make sure the tyres are inflated to the

correct pressures page 342 to save fuel. If

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the pressure is below half bar, fuel consump-

231

Driving -> Driving tips for Your Cupra Formentor SUV First Generation (2020-2024)

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