The Cupra Leon Sportstourer has been confirmed for the Australian market, and the Spanish model will undertake a two-pronged native strategy for the sporty wagon in 2025.
The facelifted mannequin can be obtainable in two distinct flavours: the full-fat VZx with 245kW and all-wheel drive, which is undeniably a efficiency automotive in a sensible physique; or the VZ e-HYBRID, a 200kW plug-in hybrid with greater than 120km of EV driving vary potential.
For this overview, I drove the latter in Spain throughout a mixture of completely different conditions to see if it can also supply the enjoyable issue a purchaser would need, and the frugality it guarantees.
And wow. I used to be very, very impressed.
How does the Cupra Leon evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Cupra Leon in opposition to equally sized autos.
Cupra
Leon
How a lot does the Cupra Leon Sportstourer value?
That’s the in all probability $70,000 query.
There isn’t any pricing confirmed for both model of the Cupra Leon Sportstourer, but when the model takes an identical technique to its Leon hatch line-up, we might see value parity between the VZx efficiency petrol and the VZ e-HYBRID energy plug-in.
For context, the present Leon hatchback in both VZx and VZe trim prices $61,690 plus on-roads, and I’d anticipate these wagons to hold a premium for the bodystyle, the extra tech, and the additional energy they provide.
What’s the Cupra Leon Sportstourer like on the within?
The inside of the up to date Sportstourer fashions is improved, with a brand new media display screen and new controllability to that show that makes it a extra livable factor than the final mannequin.
I used to be with Paul Maric in 2023 once we drove the pre-existing mannequin, and we each lamented the controls on-screen.
Now, there’s a devoted local weather panel on the backside of the show, with illuminated sliders for the temperature and quantity slightly below. And additional, the highest of the display screen could be set with a variety of ‘favourites’ so you possibly can extra merely click on and bounce to the place you need to be, reasonably than making an attempt to determine the (nonetheless complicated) house display screen menus.
Including to that, there’s much more customisation with a drop-down system so you possibly can rapidly reconfigure your most well-liked settings for the lane-keeping and velocity signal recognition system, for instance.
Past that, there’s the anticipated stunning finishes, lashings of copper trim, and a variety of eco-friendly supplies too.
The steering wheel has buttons, not haptic controls (hallelujah), and also you get useful storage between the seats with cupholders and a centre bin, plus huge door pockets with bottle holsters.
All of it seems, feels and works nice up entrance.
Within the again, there’s ample house for an grownup my dimension (182cm/6’0”) to take a seat behind their very own driving place with heaps of room to spare, and you may match three adults throughout – even tall ones – as shoulder house and headroom are each spectacular.
You actually do sit down into the automotive, and which may spell again ache for folks with youngsters – there are ISOFIX factors within the window seats and top-tethers for all three positions as nicely.
Different facilities within the again embrace USB-C ports, directional air vents, and a local weather zone controller for rear occupants, in addition to lighting, seize handles, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, and that additionally converts to a ski-port for longer gadgets.
One draw back of the mannequin I examined was no rear map pockets. That’s as a result of it had the attractive carbon-backed bucket seats.
Now, boot house?
The VZ e-HYBRID has its battery pack mounted below the rear ground space so it has a bit smaller cargo capability of 470 litres, in comparison with a beneficiant 620L within the AWD petrol variant (that determine, although, assumes no space-saver wheel).
There are storage sections to the aspect plus purchasing bag hooks and a light-weight, a cargo cowl and a caddy below the boot ground, too.
What’s below the bonnet?
Okay, let’s begin with the VZ e-HYBRID PHEV.
It makes use of a 1.5-litre eHybrid turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that, in itself, delivers 130kW/250Nm. It combines with an electrical motor (85kW/330Nm) that attracts cost from a 25.8kWh (gross, or ~20kWh web) NMC battery pack.
All instructed, the utmost outputs are 200kW and 400Nm, and all of that has to get to the bottom by means of a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto and front-wheel drive.
Yep, that’s so much to get right down to the tarmac, however the claimed 0-100km/h time for this mannequin remains to be a reasonably sprightly 7.3 seconds.
However should you want a quicker automotive, the VZx is likely to be the go. It has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with 245kW and 420Nm, and makes use of a seven-speed DSG auto together with all-wheel drive, with a claimed 0-100km/h of simply 4.8 seconds.
There’s no gas use determine for it but, however there’s extra it’s essential know concerning the PHEV.
So, the claimed EV driving vary from the battery is 120-124km WLTP, which is exceptionally good.
Even so, the VZ e-HYBRID has an official gas use variety of 0.4 to 0.5 litres per 100km, however as we’re now seeing within the specs of some manufacturers, there’s additionally a ‘battery depleted’ or ‘cost sustaining’ mode quantity, which is 5.5-5.6L/100km.
On this check, the VZ e-HYBRID eclipsed 100km of EV driving, together with some spirited testing. Past that, a bunch of media swapped out and in of it, and it returned a mindblowing common of 4.8L/100km over greater than 250km of whole driving.
How does the Cupra Leon Sportstourer drive?
For somebody like me – an individual who likes to drive and enjoys household getaways on the street, however dreads the commute and the costliness of operating a efficiency petrol in these conditions – this could possibly be the perfect resolution.
With a correct battery pack providing immense EV driving vary and the automotive primarily defaulting to EV when it’s charged up, you would have the ability to get to work and again with out utilizing a drop of liquid gas.
That degree of vary makes it a extra critical starter in comparison with the final VZe, which had about 50km of vary. Nonetheless usable for some, however not most.
And as said, the ‘as soon as the battery is depleted’ effectivity was bloody Prius-like, so there’s no complaints concerning the powertrain in these cases.
Nor relating to asking a bit extra of it in enjoyable driving, other than the truth that 200kW/400Nm is stretching the friendship of the tyres, and fortunately the Bridgestone Potenzas fitted to the check car positively did it justice.
Even so, there’s a bit extra chatter and communication on the tiller while you’re making an attempt to get issues grooving in twisty corners, and the progressive steering system makes for involving progress, too.
It’s a contact heavy feeling, too, which isn’t shocking contemplating this wagon mannequin weighs 1756kg, the place the VZx with AWD hits the scales at simply 1651kg.
And as you’d anticipate, with as a lot grunt as this powertrain has, it’s quick. Not neck-snapping in a straight line, however you possibly can slink via esses with extra velocity than you would possibly anticipate, such is the prowess of this chassis. And naturally, there are a number of drive modes to play with as nicely.
Out check car was fitted with the non-obligatory Brembo brake bundle, which nonetheless wasn’t probably the most best expertise for me. There’s an airiness on the high of the pedal in any hybrid or EV mannequin due to the regenerative braking system, and so it simply didn’t really feel prefer it had the chew I’d like for critical driving.
However in additional sedate commuting and touring in and between cities, the regen system was nice. Simply be conscious that, like a number of present VW Group merchandise, it may be a bit of loud on rougher street surfaces.
What do you get?
Closing specs and particulars aren’t confirmed for Australia but.
Cupra Leon Sportstourer highlights:
- 19-inch wheels – space-saver spare for VZx seemingly, no spare for hybrid
- Matrix LED headlights
- LED daytime operating lights
- Copper exterior highlights
- Roof rails
- Rear LED gentle bar
- Electrical tailgate with kick operate
- Recharging cable (Mode 2 – hybrid solely)
- Eco-leather and microsuede inside trim
- 10.25-inch digital instrument show
- 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi cellphone charging dock
- Keyless entry and push-button begin
- Three-zone local weather management
- Heated seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Electrical driver’s seat with reminiscence settings
- Adaptive chassis management suspension
- A number of drive modes
- Panoramic glass roof
Is the Cupra Leon Sportstourer secure?
The present Leon vary has a five-star ANCAP score from 2020.
| Class | Cupra Leon |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 91 per cent |
| Baby occupant safety | 88 per cent |
| Susceptible street person safety | 71 per cent |
| Security help | 80 per cent |
Customary security gear consists of:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Bike owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management
- Lane maintaining help
- Visitors Jam help
- Blind spot detection
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Velocity signal recognition
- Exit warning
- Emergency help
There are seven airbags fitted – twin entrance, entrance centre, entrance aspect, and curtain airbags for each rows of seats.
How a lot does the Cupra Leon Sportstourer value to run?
The aftersales provisions that Cupra Australia presents for the present Cupra Leon vary ought to supply information as to what to anticipate for the brand new Sportstourer fashions.
There’s a five-year/limitless kilometre guarantee, and for PHEV and EV fashions the model presents a high-voltage battery guarantee for eight years/160,000km, assured for a 70 per cent state of well being by the top of that interval.
Pay as you go servicing is on the market, with the selection of three years/45,000km for $990, or 5 years/75,000km for $1990. These are the present charges, however they’ve been secure for some time now.
You get 5 years of roadside help for a Cupra, as nicely.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Cupra Leon Sportstourer
The Cupra Leon Sportstourer VZ e-HYBRID proves hybrids don’t need to be boring.
This thrilling and lovable wagon is enjoyable, quick and correctly frugal, and if the worth is attractive, it is likely to be a implausible match for a lot of household funds, as nicely.
Involved in shopping for a Cupra Leon? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here.
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery
