Read Caroline’s Cupra Leon review for everything you need to know about buying Cupra’s sporty hatchback in Ireland.
Cupra has been building its name in Ireland with a new range of sporty hatchbacks and SUVs, and the Leon has been a key part of that drive.
While it shares its name with a Seat Leon, it’s considerably more expensive and gets a number of performance upgrades and more powerful engines.
The new facelift also means it looks even more distinct than before.
So it’s fair to say the 2025 Cupra Leon is a much different offering now but are the upgrades enough to tempt you?
Design
For 2025, the Cupra Leon gets a facelift that brings it in line with the rest of the range like the Tavascan, Terramar and Formentor. The new family face is particularly successful here. It sits very well on the Leon and removes much of the Seat comparisons that may have blighted the previous one’s appeal.
Cupra has a sporty positioning in the market and the new look really emphasises that. The LED headlights have a new three-triangle illumination that’s becoming a signature across the Cupra range. At the back there’s a full width light bar with integrated Cupra logo that even lights up.
There’s also a bespoke palette of suitably moody colours including the incredible matt finish of my test car in Enceladus Grey. Then there’s the alloys. Cupra have very eye-catching designs available. 18-inch come as standard, while VZ models get 19-inch but you can upgrade for a more individual look.
Cupra Leon Interior
Inside the Cupra Leon has some upmarket material finishes that give it a premium feel. The seats are a highlight, particularly the bucket seats in VZ models. The digital driver display has been updated and there’s a new 12.9-inch touchscreen that has a better menu structure than before including the option to create shortcuts to your most used features. There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The standard spec is high including features like tri-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging and heated front seats. VZ models add features like reversing camera, power adjustment for the driver’s seat and wraparound ambient lighting.
You can also upgrade to a Sennheiser stereo with 11 speakers and subwoofer.
Cupra Leon PHEV boot space
Petrol and diesel versions are the best for boot space with 380 litres, just like a Volkswagen Golf. However if you opt for one of the plug-in hybrids, that goes down to 270 litres and is shallower overall. It’s still good for a few bags but there’s no place to store the storage cables so they end up in the boot as well.
Practicality
Otherwise the Cupra Leon brings all the practicality of a five-door hatch. There’s Isofix on the two outer seats and the front passenger seat. Rear legroom is generous for passengers on the outer two seats.
There’s also a Sportstourer estate available with more boot space.
Driving the Cupra Leon VZ
The Cupra Leon has an extensive range of engines available. Some are shared with the Seat Leon, but are more powerful, while others are completely unique to Cupra. Kicking off the range is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with 150hp and a 6-speed manual gearbox. There’s also the same engine as a mild hybrid automatic with the same amount of power. It’s also offered as a 2.0-litre diesel automatic with 150hp. For real petrolheads, there’s a 2.0-litre turbo petrol with 300hp.
The plug-in hybrid models are known as ‘e-Hybrid’ with 204hp or 272hp. On test was the more powerful VZ e-Hybrid with 272hp and 400Nm of torque. It doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance, with an impressive turn of speed (0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds) and buttery smooth delivery of power. It’s very responsive to the accelerator thanks to the boost of having an electric motor. There are also drive modes like Comfort, Performance and Cupra to unleash the Leon fully.
All Cupra Leons get a sports suspension, more direct steering and electronic differential lock, so every version is a tidy handler. Dynamic Chassis Control is an option across the range and standard on VZ models. It adds even more sophistication to the Leon’s ride quality for a comfortable but sporty drive. The only bugbear with the plug-in hybrid on test was a lot of road noise, particularly at high speeds on the motorway.
How efficient is it?
My average fuel consumption was 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres, which was very impressive. There’s room for even better fuel economy with more frequent charging of the battery.
What is the range of the Cupra Leon PHEV
The Cupra Leon plug-in hybrid has a larger battery (25.8kWh) than before so now has a longer range on battery power alone of up to 124 kilometres. This makes a difference not only to its electric running if you’re diligent about charging, but also how efficiently it runs as a hybrid.
Motor tax is €140 per year for this model.
It can also be charged in as little as 26 minutes from a fast charger at up to 50kW DC or 2.5 hours at 11kW AC, though it will take a bit longer from a 7kW wallbox at home.
Cupra Leon Price
The Cupra Leon starts from €38,005 for the 1.5 TSI manual, from €40,450 for the 1.5 eTSI mild hybrid automatic, from €43,600 for the 2.0 TDI automatic and from €47,525 for the e-Hybrid 204hp.
The VZ e-Hybrid with 272hp starts from €51,205 and the VZ 2.0 TSI from €58,285.
Is the Cupra Leon a good car?
Cupra is a brand really hitting its stride and the latest Leon is a case in point. The facelift does wonders to give this hatchback a more distinct look. It really plays up to Cupra’s sporty image with brilliant handling, though some of the engines are more potent than others and you will pay for that pleasure. The plug-in hybrids are a case in point. It’s frugal and upmarket but will work best for buyers who can get the best from its substantial battery and can live with a smaller boot.
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year
The post Cupra Leon Review (2025) | Plug-in hybrid performance appeared first on Changing Lanes.