2023 Cupra Leon V review: First Australian drive

It’s Friday night, you’re on the way home from a long week at work and you’re tasked with getting take-away for dinner. A cheeky Nando's is no bad way to indulge you and the family. A juicy roast chook, chips, and side salad is ordered, but now comes the tricky question of sauce: Medium, Hot, or Extra Hot?

Cupra’s Leon range effectively follows this structure, and in no other marque can you peruse such a broad selection of performance-focused hatchbacks – we rather like that.

One who considers themself particularly macho will, of course, be wooed by the 221kW VZx – the Extra Hot. But some would argue that well-cooked chicken is best enjoyed without tongue-burning sauce obscuring the flavour. Plus, backing off the heat means the rest of your spice-averse family can enjoy it just a little more.

The Leon V sits at the mild end of the spice spectrum, but the core free-range ingredients are exactly the same as you’ll find in the $66K (drive-away) VZx. It should be pretty tasty.

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JUMP AHEAD

• How much is it, and what do you get?
• How do rivals compare on value?
• Interior comfort, space and storage
• What is it like to drive?
• How much fuel does the Cupra Leon use?
• How safe is it?
• Warranty and running costs
• VERDICT
• Specifications

How much is it, and what do you get?

At $43,990 ($47,990 drive-away) the Leon V serves as the entry point to the Cupra brand.

Not just the Leon range, but the Spanish performance marque as a whole. A good experience here can turn your average car buyer into a lifelong devotee.

The great thing about the Leron V is that, although it isn’t cheap on the surface (dearer than a Mark 7 Golf GTI, thanks to inflation) it still features the top-spec VZx’s fruits. Outside, only the 18-inch alloys and body-colour rear diffuser set it apart from a range-topper.

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We’ve tested the MY23 car, the model that will be delivered if you order now. In a few months, the MY24 will come along with DAB+ digital radio, as well as a $1200 price increase to $45,190 ($49,140 drive-away). Buy now, if you can.

To enhance the interior you can get a leather and sound pack (detailed below), though in our opinion the Beats sound system is only a marginal improvement over the standard stereo. A sunroof costs $1800, and premium paints (Desire Red and Graphene Grey) are $475.

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How do rivals compare on value?

Cupra deliberately doesn’t benchmark rivals, it says. In a way, the Leon V sits in a no man's land between Hyundai i30 N Line Premium ($41K on the road) and full-fat N auto (about $53K drive-away).

There are some other stylish options in the fray, including the rather slow Peugeot 308 GT Premium ($48,990), Volkswagen Golf R-Line ($40,490), as well as basic versions of the BMW 118i ($49,900), Audi A3 35TFSI ($47,700) and Mercedes-Benz A200 ($63,400). All before on-road costs.

You get much more on-paper spec than the premium-badged bunch in a Leon, with build and material quality to beat the Koreans. If that sounds like your bag, then the Leon V is a solid value proposition.

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Interior comfort, space and storage

The Leon V sacrifices none of the VZx’s interior style and even choosing to forgo the $2400 leather pack doesn’t see you lose the lovely bucket seats with granular manual adjustment for a great driving position.

A heated steering wheel is standard, and the leather pack – I should add it’s soft Nappa leather, not the plasticky Dakota leather you’d find in a 1 Series – brings seat heating. Two-position memory also features, which is great if you regularly share the car.

Incidental storage is much the same as a Golf with the stubby gear selector freeing up space for an excellent wireless charging pad, two cup holders, and a covered centre cubby. Two USB-C ports in the front (two more in the back) and a 12-volt socket will keep devices charged.

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That said, even the hard plastics have an expensive-looking grain, and we didn’t detect any rattles on the road.

Cupra’s plastic quality is on par with Volkswagen’s, with soft materials in heavy-traffic areas and on the dash, but harder materials below the beltline. That said, even the hard plastics have an expensive-looking grain, and we didn’t detect any rattles on the road.

With its conventional roofline, the Leon’s back seat offers great headroom, a supportive bench, a third climate zone, a fold-out armrest, and generous legroom. It would make a great car for a growing family, too, with two ISOFIX ports and three top-tether points for baby seats.

The Leon’s boot is usable, with 380 litres of cargo space and some extra storage beneath the floor. The Leon V features a space-saver spare tyre, a manually-operated tailgate and some useful shopping bag hooks. The rear seats fold in a 60:40 split for carrying longer items, with a ski port between.

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What is it like to drive?

Looking at the specs, the V reads as easily the most mundane Leon to drive. It’s ‘only’ putting out 140kW from a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, after all – the VZx develops nearly a whole Up GTI’s worth more power from the same basic engine.

Writing a car off from the spec sheet is never a good idea, though, and the Leon V’s 320Nm torque peak is available from 1500rpm right through to 4100rpm for easy overtaking. Cupra claims 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds.

Unlike the VZ and VZx, the little Leon’s engine note is subdued. There’s a slight throaty growl in the mid-range, but the exhaust is pleasantly refined – even in Sport mode. There’s none of the droning on the highway that we noted in the VZ, and overall the noise, vibration and harness suppression is better than a basic Audi A3.

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Ride comfort helps here, the Leon scoring multi-link rear suspension rather than a torsion beam for extra silkiness.

The 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/40R18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersports cushion blows better than the 19s on upper trims, as does a slightly softer suspension tune that suits the V’s lighter 1461kg weight.

Having to deal with the sodden, cold, and pot-holed roads of Central Western NSW is a tough ask for a front-drive hot hatch, but the Leon V’s agility and balance made it a perfect companion. Even the lack of a limited-slip differential failed to dampen the Leon’s progress.

The trick is driver confidence, aided in this case by firm brake feel and good chassis feedback thanks to suspension that allows enough body roll to communicate grip levels without ever feeling at sea. Modulating the left pedal as you approach a corner even brings the rear Goodyears into play.

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It may not be as fast as ‘the best’, but it’s not less satisfying.

The Leon V doesn’t reward the fast and aggressive driving style that makes Hyundai i30 Ns and Civic Type Rs sing; you need to step back into a Peugeot 306 GTi-6 mindset, where deliberate and sensitive inputs are required. It may not be as fast as ‘the best’, but it’s not less satisfying.

A whole 15 stages of adjustment for the dampers can be daunting at first, but it's pretty simple. Comfort is an excellent all-round setting, while the customisable Individual mode is best for NSW’s testing roads. Putting the engine, transmission and steering in Sport with dampers in ‘Malcolm Turnbull’ setting (just right-of-centre), was my preference, but there’s breadth for all drivers to enjoy.

Adjusting the drive modes via the central touchscreen is one bugbear; you have to exit phone mirroring and swipe through the menus. Although the screen itself is responsive, Cupra’s colourful graphics and menus feel a little clunky and unintuitive.

In contrast, Cupra’s seven-speed dual wet clutch transmission is typically excellent, swapping ratios effortlessly in auto and letting you take full control with paddles in manual mode.

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How much fuel does the Cupra Leon use?

The Cupra Leon V is Rated at 6.2L/100km in ADR combined testing, although we used 8.0L/100km of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.

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How safe is it?

The Cupra Leon was awarded five stars in Euro ANCAP tests conducted in 2020 – the result has been ported over for a maximum ANCAP rating.

It features 10 airbags and well-calibrated driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-trace assist, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

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Warranty and running costs

Every Cupra model, including the Leon, is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Servicing is due every 12 months or 15,000km at a Cupra garage. There are currently two each in NSW, Victoria, and Brisbane; and one in the ACT, South Australia, and WA. You can pay as you go or opt to buy a three- or five-year care plan. Three years cost $990 for the Leon, and five $1990.

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VERDICT

The decision is in: Mild chicken tastes a little different to the spiciest bird, but it's no less delicious.

A less rorty exhaust and more comfortable ride make the subdued Leon V a whisker more liveable than the vocal VZ and VZx, yet without sacrificing the ability to get up on its toes and dance down a good road.

Somewhat convoluted software aside, the Cupra Leon range is very well-appointed inside and sports space to carry four adults with their luggage.

If you need the VZx’s extra 81kW, or particularly like the Copper pack, you’ll find that extra $20K in the bank account. For someone chasing a hot hatch that doesn’t make you want to turn your baseball cap backwards, the sophisticated Leon V is a cracker.

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2023 Cupra Leon VZ specifications