2022 Cupra Leon features announced for Australia

Cupra is continuing to drip-feed information for its range of performance-orientated vehicles, ahead of its July market launch.

The 2022 Cupra Leon will touch down mid-year with four powertrain options and a unique grade per engine, the brand announced today.

​​​​Based on the same platform as the Audi A3 and S3, Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia, the Cupra Leon is anticipated to start from around $40,000 in Australia.

Exact pricing details are expected in the second quarter (April-June inclusive).

9

Unique to Australia is the entry-level Leon V grade, which will offer a lower-output version of the Leon’s 2.0-litre turbo engine that is unavailable overseas.

For Australia, the Leon V is a rebadged Seat featuring the same 140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine found in the Octavia 140TSI – rather than higher-output engines seen across the bulk of the range.

This base grade will arrive in early 2023, instead of the July 2022 date estimated for other variants.

“There is an ascending order in terms of output, but we’ve equipped all Leons with such a level of standard equipment that no-one will feel short changed in any version,” said Jeff Shafer, Cupra Australia’s head of product and planning.

9

“With outputs ranging from 140kW/320Nm to 221kW/400Nm, each Leon has the power and torque to match its design.”

The Leon will join the Ateca and Formentor SUVs in the Australian model launch of Cupra in July this year. An electric hatchback, the Born, is slated to arrive towards the end of 2022.

A plug-in hybrid variant – badged VZe – will join the Formentor in becoming the first electrified VW Group product offered in Australia.

Last week, Cupra announced first details for its single-variant Ateca range, exclusively powered by the flagship 221kW/400Nm mill. More information can be found here.

Initial specification and powertrain details for the 2022 Cupra Leon are detailed below.

2022 Cupra Leon features

Leon V

Leon VZ (in addition to V)

9

Leon VZe (in addition to VZ)

Leon VZx (in addition to VZ)

Metallic paint is included as standard across the Cupra Leon range (nevada white, magnetic tech, urban silver, midnight black and asphalt blue), with petrol blue exclusive to the flagship VZx grade.

Options

Leather and Sound package (V, VZ):

Leather package (VZe):

Panoramic sunroof (V, VZ, VZx)

Brembo brake package (VZx)

Premium paint:

Desire red, graphene grey (all grades); petrol blue matte, magnetic tech matte (VZx only).

9

Engine, drivetrain and fuel economy

As mentioned above, the entry-level Leon V is exclusively paired with a lower-output version of the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, producing 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque.

It is matched with a seven-speed ‘wet’ dual-clutch automatic transmission, as with all other 2.0-litre variants.

The proper Cupra range begins with the mid-spec VZ, which shares its 180kW/370Nm engine with the Volkswagen Golf GTI – although it is expected to undercut its German cousin, priced around the high-$40k bracket.

Meanwhile, the flagship VZx carries the same 221kW/400Nm engine as the previous Golf R, but with front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive.

At 5.7 seconds from 0 to 100km/h, the 221kW VZx is the quickest Leon, followed by the VZ petrol and VZe plug-in hybrid, quoted at 6.4 and 6.7 seconds, respectively.

A 0-100km/h time for the Leon V is yet to be announced, but the related Seat Leon 2.0 TSI is quoted at 7.4 seconds.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain, known as the VZe, is also on offer.

This variant combines a 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor, for a combined total system output of 180kW/400Nm.

It includes a 13kWh battery, with a WLTP-rated electric driving range of up to 52 kilometres.

Local fuel economy figures will be announced closer to launch.

Safety

9

Based on testing conducted in 2020, the related Seat Leon scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating. This score was based on crash tests completed by Euro NCAP, and also applies to the Cupra Leon in Europe.

This is based on an adult protection score of 92 per cent, child occupant protection score of 88 per cent, vulnerable road user protection score of 71 per cent, and safety assist score of 80 per cent.

Ten airbags (dual front and rear side, dual front and rear head, driver’s knee and centre) are standard across the Cupra Leon range.

Each variant includes the following active safety equipment as standard:

9

Warranty and servicing

The 2022 Cupra Leon will come standard with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Servicing details will be announced closer to the local market introduction of Cupra in mid-2022, however, the marque has confirmed servicing will take place through selected VW Group dealerships.

Availability

Cupra has confirmed the 2022 Leon VZ, VZe and VZx hatch will form part of its Australian launch in July this year. Further details around pricing and full specifications will be announced closer to that time.

The entry-level Leon V will arrive in Australia in early 2023.

A wagon variant will not be offered locally, at least initially.