The CUPRA Leon is a force to be reckoned with, thinks Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review

The CUPRA Leon might not be the stand alone CUPRA hot hatch model we'd hoped for but it does offer a very appealing and satisfyingly sophisticated lower priced alternative to a fast Volkswagen Golf or Audi A3. This Spanish shopping rocket comes with a choice of conventional petrol turbo or PHEV powertrains.

Background

For about as long as many of us care to remember, a SEAT Leon Cupra was a cheaper way to get into a Golf GTI. Okay, so you had to put up with an interior that was notably less attractive, but in the way it drove it was pretty much identical. Same engine and running gear, same great way it went up the road - you just paid less. These days, the Leon has stepped out from the long shadow cast by the Golf GTI and has got a bit Rafa Nadal on us. All bulging biceps and attitude, the CUPRA Leon has us all in a bit of a spin.

In theory, it's a hot hatch from a fresh brand, CUPRA being a marque created by SEAT in 2018 for its sporting models. In practice though, this car functions as the flagship variant for the latest SEAT Leon range and can be had with either faster versions of that car's 2.0-litre TSI petrol turbo engine or a quicker tuned-up take on the e-Hybrid PHEV powertrain also familiar to Leon customers. What's more important is what this car is like. And here, we're going to find out.

Driving Experience

There's a choice of hatch or Estate body styles. And a conventional 2.0 TSI petrol turbo engine is also offered - in 245 or 300PS front-driven forms; or in 310PS guise if you go for the top AWD 4Drive Estate flagship derivative. You have to have your unit of choice linked to a 7-speed DSG twin clutch auto paddleshift gearbox.

Whatever CUPRA Leon model you choose, it should handle well. SEAT's engineers have revamped the previous model's electric power steering system and say it's the 'most progressive feeling' rack they've ever delivered. The ride has been lowered by 25mm at the front and by 20mm at the rear over a standard Leon. Plus on most models there's a standard DCC adaptive damping system to vary ride quality based on your choice from a range of drive modes. Stopping power's taken care of by a larger set of Brembo 370mm disc brakes gripped by copper-coloured calipers.

Design and Build

Any Leon that wears a Cupra badge has to dose up the attitude a degree and this CUPRA Leon looks really gym-toned. The CUPRA logo sits boldly on the front grille, with a large front splitter and big air intakes highlighting this car's assertive look. There are side skirts that visually lower the vehicle and you get CUPRA-specific 18 or 19-inch black alloy wheels with either copper or silver finishes.

Inside, there are sporty bucket seats and a CUPRA steering wheel, which houses the engine start and driver mode selection button. You also get an interactive digital driver display to replace conventional binnacle dials. And as with other Leons, there's a large, central 10-inch infotainment touchscreen that reduces the button count. This look is further accentuated by the vehicle's compact DSG shifter. Otherwise, it's much as in any other Leon.

Market and Model

From launch, four trim levels were on offer - 'VZ1', 'VZ2', 'First Edition' and 'VZ3'. All models get, amongst other things, full-LED headlights, sports suspension, a reversing camera and the SEAT Digital cockpit with an interactive driver display screen and a 10-inch central infotainment monitor. All that comes with base 'VZ1' trim, priced from around £32,000, but with that spec level, you're restricted to the hatch body style and the conventional 2.0 TSI 245PS engine, so you'll probably want to upgrade yourself at least as far as 'VZ2'-spec, which gives you the option of both body shapes and the e-HYBRID powertrain if you want it.

Depending on the spec level chosen, there's plenty of autonomous driving tech and safety equipment too fitted across the range. Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses feeds from GPS data delivered from the navigation system and input from the front-mounted camera and Traffic Sign Recognition, allowing it to proactively adjust the cruise speed depending on the road layout ahead. When the road becomes more congested Traffic Jam Assist takes the stress out of driving, maintaining a safe distance to the vehicle in front. There's also an 'Emergency Assist' system that can bring the Leon to a controlled stop if you're taken ill at the wheel. And a 'Blind Spot Detection' system that alerts the driver to another vehicle in their blind spot.

Cost of Ownership

Owners of previous generation Leon CUPRAs will look incredulously at the WLTP efficiency stats of the e-HYBRID version of this current model - up to 217.3mpg on the combined cycle and up to 30g/km of CO2 for the hatch version which. For the CUPRA Leon e-HYBRID Estate, it's up to 201.8mpg and up to 31g/km.

Powering a PHEV CUPRA Leon up from a domestic socket would take around five hours, but most owners will want to find an extra few hundred pounds to install a wallbox charger in their garages. Use such a wallbox - or indeed plug in to one of the many public charging points springing up around the country - and you'll be able to reduce your charging time period from empty to around four hours. Once that's been done, a PHEV CUPRA Leon can travel up to 32 miles on a single charge.

With the more conventional 2.0 TSI CUPRA Leon models, think around 38mpg on the combined cycle and about 170g/km of CO2; that's for the 245PS front driven version. The 300PS variant manages up to 37.2mpg and up to 171g/km.

Summary

There's never been a CUPRA-badged Leon quite like this one. For some hot hatch customers, the idea of being able to combine storming performance with the all-electric drive capability of the e-HYBRID variant will be novel. Others will want to stick to the familiar 2.0-litre petrol turbo formula of the more conventional derivatives. If that kind of twist on the usual Volkswagen Group shopping rocket confection appeals, we think you'll bond quickly with this Iberian road burner.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: CUPRA Leon

PRICES: £32,005 - £41,060 - on the road

CATEGORY: Family Hatch – GTi Hatchbacks

INSURANCE GROUP: {e-HYBRID} 28E-34E

CO2 EMISSIONS: {e-HYBRID Hatch} 30g/km

PERFORMANCE: {e-HYBRID Hatch} Max Speed 155mph / 0-62mph 6.7s

FUEL CONSUMPTION: {e-HYBRID Hatch} (combined) 217.3mpg

BOOT CAPACITY: {litres} {e-HYBRID Hatch} 270

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/width/height 4398/1992/1442mm