- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.4T/85kW Hybrid, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
265kW (comb), 330Nm
- Fuel
Hybrid (95) 1.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2022 Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid review: Australian first drive
The performance offshoot of Volkswagen-owned Spanish brand Seat has arrived in Australia with three introductory models, including the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid hatchback.
- Sleek design inside and out
- Quiet, comfortable and refined
- Decent electric range for a PHEV
- Frustrating infotainment controls
- Brakes feel spongy, lack bite
- 1.8L/100km fuel rating unlikely in the real world
How much does the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid cost in Australia?
There are initially four models in the Cupra Leon hatchback range.
The Cupra Leon V is priced from $43,990 drive-away, the Cupra Leon VZ is priced from $56,990 drive-away, and the performance flagship, the Cupra Leon VZx (effectively a front-drive version of the all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Golf R) tops the Leon range from $64,990 drive-away.
The model tested here is the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid, which is priced from $59,990 drive-away ($1000 less than the Cupra Formentor VZe plug-in hybrid SUV).
Key details | 2022 Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid | |
Price | $59,990 drive-away |
How much space does the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid have inside?
The Cupra Leon is based on the same architecture as the Volkswagen Golf, but has a slightly lower, sleeker body.
The cabin is still roomy and comfortable, though it's better suited as a four-seater rather than a five-seater.
There is good storage in the door pockets, glovebox and centre console. And the interior has upmarket materials and a clutter-free design.
Boot space is small by class standards – 270 litres of capacity versus 380 litres – because the plug-in hybrid hardware occupies some of the underfloor space.
A tyre inflator kit is supplied in lieu of a space-saver or full-size spare tyre.
2022 Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 270L seats up |
Length | 4398mm |
Width | 1799mm |
Height | 1442mm |
Wheelbase | 2683mm |
Does the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid have Apple CarPlay?
The Cupra Leon VZe comes with a 10.25-inch widescreen digital instrument display and a 10-inch infotainment screen.
Embedded navigation – as well as wired and wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto – and AM/FM are part of the package but digital radio is not.
Faced with a choice, we also would opt for traditional AM/FM versus digital radio – given the vast coverage AM offers in remote and regional parts of Australia, which is relied upon to deliver warnings and safety advice during natural disasters such as floods and bushfires.
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By relying heavily on touchscreen controls, Cupra has obliged drivers to use overcrowded clusters on the steering wheel for those who prefer the ease of use of buttons.
Frustratingly, volume and air-conditioning temperature tabs on the black panel below the touchscreen do not illuminate at night.
Chances are the decision to install touchscreens without buttons is made by executives and bean-counters sitting at a desk. The people who design these interfaces also presumably do so in the comfort of an office environment.
We reckon they should buy a mini trampoline, and bounce gently on it while trying to operate the touchscreen without looking at it.
Because that's what drivers must do: attempt to operate a sensitive touchscreen while not averting their eyes from the road in the daily grind.
Is the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid a safe car?
The Cupra Leon was crash-tested in 2020 by Euro NCAP and all variants were awarded a five-star safety rating. The Leon also carries a five-stare ANCAP rating, but officially that only applies to New Zealand-delivered vehicle at the time of writing.
The Cupra Leon range received a score of 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for safety assist systems, but a lower 71 per cent rating for vulnerable road user (pedestrian and cyclist) protection.
The suite of advanced safety technology includes autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, blind zone warning, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing headlights, door exit warning, a rear camera and front and rear parking sensors.
At a glance | 2022 Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid |
Euro NCAP rating & year tested | Five stars (tested 2020) |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
How much does the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid cost to run?
Warranty is five years/unlimited kilometres and service intervals are 12 months/15,000km.
At this article was published, Cupra was offering the first three routine service visits free of charge on vehicles ordered up to 31 December 2022.
Customers can choose to increase the pre-paid service coverage to five years/75,000km, by paying $1400 for a 'top-up' program currently on offer as this article was published (the 'top-up' cost for non-hybrid variants is $1200).
At a glance | 2022 Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | Free for the first 3 years on vehicles ordered before 31 December 2022 $1400 to top-up the free three-year service plan to 5 years |
Is the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid fuel efficient?
While the high-performance Cupra Leon and Formentor VZx editions command 98-octane premium unleaded, the Cupra Leon and Formentor VZe is able to run on 95-octane premium unleaded (according to the brochure). Regular 91-octane petrol is not recommended.
The fuel rating labels shows an ambitious average consumption of 1.8L/100km because the laboratory test this number is derived from is flawed.
For the first 30km to 50km (depending on driving conditions), the Cupra Formentor uses zero petrol. But once the battery pack is depleted, the car switches over to 1.4-litre turbo petrol power, which is a bit underdone given the weight of the car.
We didn't get to run our 150km road loop on this car on this occasion, but the fuel readout showed north of 8.0L/100km during our preview drive when not on electric power.
Fuel Consumption - brought to you by bp
Fuel Usage | Fuel Stats |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 1.8L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | Not recorded |
Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 40L |
What is the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid like to drive?
The 2022 Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid is comfortable, smooth and quiet.
The hybrid system's electric motor works surprisingly well with the six-speed twin-clutch 'DSG' automatic. Indeed, it irons out some of the jerkiness that can occur with such gearboxes on take-off.
It doesn't accelerate with the same verve you might expect with other electric cars – and we did not run our VBox on this one – but Cupra claims a perky 6.7-second 0 to 100km/h time.
So for all its racy looks, the Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid feels slower than this claim. We look forward to testing it more thoroughly at a later date.
Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to get anywhere near the 1.8L/100km claimed average on the fuel-rating label, unless you’re militant about electric charging top-ups. That number is the result of flawed laboratory tests mandated by governments around the world. In the coming years, new motor vehicles will be judged on more realistic real-world tests.
The Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid will use 0L/100km when the battery pack is fully charged (delivering between 30km and 50km of electric driving range after recharging on a household power socket overnight, or for about six hours).
Once the battery runs out, the Cupra Leon VZe consumes petrol at the same rate as a heavy petrol hatchback. This is perhaps one of the reasons motorists around the world have been slow to adopt plug-in hybrids: at some point, you're carrying around an engine you're not using, which adds weight, cost and complexity.
We didn't take the Cupra Leon VZe on our 150km test loop, but on the media preview drive the fuel consumption display showed more than 8.0L/100km was being used, presumably as the turbo 1.4-litre petrol engine was working hard to shift its 1631kg weight.
A side note: the power outputs of the petrol and electric motors are not added to create an impressive total, because their peaks arrive – and blend with each other – at different times.
In reality, the electric motor provides a slight boost to the petrol engine (similar to conventional hybrid cars) on take-off or once on the move.
One element, in particular, took some of the shine away from the Cupra Leon VZe. The brakes felt like the discs were clamped by tea towels rather than brake pads.
The brake pedal felt soft as it was pushed to the floor, and the brakes themselves lacked bite.
It felt like there were air bubbles in the brake fluid, or the brake pads were not properly bedded-in.
Cupra technicians inspected the test vehicle afterwards and found no faults with the braking system.
In that case, what Cupra deems acceptable is below par in my opinion, given the number of vehicles we test each year. To be clear, we were not expecting race-car brakes, just a reassuring brake pedal similar to other cars in the hatchback class.
Key details | 2022 Cupra Leon VXe plug-in hybrid |
Engine | 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol Plug-in hybrid |
Power | 110kW @ 5000-6000rpm petrol 85kW electric 180kW combined |
Torque | 250Nm @ 1550-3500rpm petrol 330Nm electric 400Nm combined |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Six-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 110kW/t |
Weight (tare) | 1631kg |
Spare tyre type | Puncture repair kit |
Turning circle | 10.5m |
Should I buy a 2022 Cupra Leon VZe plug-in hybrid?
Before deciding if you want to buy a Cupra Leon VZe hatchback or Formentor VZe SUV, you need to determine if a plug-in hybrid suits your needs.
Plug-in hybrids promise the best of both worlds: when the battery runs flat the petrol engine takes over.
We initially thought plug-in hybrids would be an ideal stepping stone from petrol to pure electric power.
But customers appear to be skipping plug-in hybrids and going straight to electric cars.
While sales of plug-in hybrids are increasing, according to the latest new-car data they remain a fraction of the market.
In Australia so far this year, 3500 plug-in hybrids have been sold to the end of July, versus 10,200 electric cars, 47,800 conventional hybrids, 214,000 diesels and 320,000 petrol vehicles over the same period.
Plug-in hybrid cars require diligence to top-up the battery pack daily. Otherwise you end up with an underpowered petrol car carrying around a heavy, depleted battery.
Other considerations: as reported in our Cupra Formentor VZx review, the infotainment system in the Cupra Leon VZe is flawed (see our coverage in the relevant section above).
And you'll need to rehearse your answer to the question: "So what's a Cupra?"
We responded with "Spanish Volkswagen" when we didn't have time, or elaborated with "the performance offshoot of Volkswagen-owned Spanish brand Seat" when we did.
Both the short and the long answers were greeted with confused looks. So buyers may need to develop patience until the Cupra badge becomes better known.
Should you buy a Cupra Leon VZe? That's a tough call.
It's not particularly fuel-efficient (unless driven primarily in electric mode), the infotainment system is beyond frustrating, and the brakes feel weird (based on our testing of approximately 250 cars across various categories each year).
In love with the design? Non-hybrid Cupra Leon variants might be worth a closer look.