LAOIS MOTORING: The new Cupra Leon is here and it's really rather good!
It is nice to be driving a pure petrol engined car again. It’s not an EV, it’s not even hybrid. Its a 1.5 litre petrol powered turbo charged sports hatch from the Cupra brand and it is rather good.!
Cupra is part of the Volkswagen/Audi (VAG) group. Many of it’s models including the Leon on test here share many of their components with VW and in this case the Golf, but in terms of style and character and indeed driving dynamics it is quite a different car.
So has it any street cred?
The Cupra Leon is one of the smartest looking 5-door hatchbacks on the road today. It has that real touch of Mediterranean flair making it stand out from the crowd.
It may be based on the VW Golf platform and have Golf running gear but it looks way better! I love it and its a bit of a head turner!
So what’s it like inside?
The cabin is very well laid out and feels equally well built. The configurable digital instruments are excellent, clear and easy to read.
The centre of the dash is dominated by a large 10” touchscreen which again functions very intuitively. It all feels very well put together with a feel of quality evident throughout.
Standard equipment is comprehensive and highlights include, 18” machined alloy wheels, Keyless start, LED headlights, Rear Park distance control, adaptive cruise control, Heated front seats,Full link for Android Auto, Apple Car Play, leather multifunction steering wheel, lane keep assist, folding exterior mirrors, rain sensors, Bluetooth, wraparound interior ambient lighting, and much more.
Too much to list here! In short it wants for nothing. My test car had a few options including a panoramic sunroof, Beats audio system, Design pack, and metallic paint which added about €3,591 to the price.
Accommodation both front and rear is good for a car in this class and the large load area is easily accessed via the rear tailgate. Split fold rear seats give a huge load area when folded down.
What is under the bonnet?
In this case a 1.5 litre TSI 150 bhp petrol turbo mated in this case to a DSG auto gearbox. The whole combination works very well giving this new Leon plenty of get up and go just when you need it.
I found performance to be good and its equally impressive on fuel consumption burning 6.7 litres per 100km.
What is it like to drive?
On the road it proves lively and nimble with agile handling. The steering is light and precise, in general it proves to be an enjoyable car to drive. I did find there was quite a lot of road noise.
The test car was shod with Bridgestone tyres, a tyre I often find that is more noisy than other brands so maybe this explains it but at 82 decibels ( I tested it) the car is not as refined as some rivals on the motorway.
The suspension is set up to give a nice combination of agile handling without sacrificing too much in terms of comfort. It feels more dynamic to drive than its Golf cousin.
Hugh’s Verdict
The Cupra Leon is a striking looking car that really is a breath of fresh air in this class. It certainly outranks the Golf here. Inside its no less impressive, offering a high quality feel with plenty of standard kit and a host of option packs to choose from.
The new Cupra Leon scores top marks. Priced from €36,310, the car on test costs, €39,090 before options.