2024 Cupra Leon V review

Despite looking like an adrenaline-pumping driver’s car, this European ‘hot hatch’ left us feeling cold heading into winter.

Disrupter brand Cupra brings Spanish flair to the warm hatch arena.

Here are five things to know about the entry-level Cupra Leon V.

2023 Cupra Leon V.

Despite its looks and price, this isn’t a hot hatch

Australia is the first country where Cupra operates exclusively as a ‘performance brand’. Depends what you mean by performance. The Leon V’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder offers a respectable 140kW and 320Nm, but you’ll wait 7.2 seconds to reach 100km/h.

Not a brag-worthy figure in 2024 – a Toyota Prius Hybrid matches it – cementing warm rather than hot hatch status.

This ‘V’ is the entry-level front-wheel-drive Leon, usually priced from about $49,000 drive-away - though it is currently on sale for $44,888 drive-away.

For proper hot hatchness, pick the Cupra Leon VZx with 221kW/400Nm and 5.7-second sprint pace. But that’s $65,690 on the road. For value and performance, point your wallet towards the benchmark Hyundai i30N. The Korean cracks the ton in 5.4-seconds, and is on the road with auto gearbox for about $54,000.

Think of the Cupra Leon V as a detuned Golf GTI.

You’ll constantly be explaining what it is

Cupra? What’s one of them? It’s a stand-alone brand from Spanish company Seat, itself under the VW Group umbrella. Think of it as a more youthful, flamenco version of VW’s Golf – the two similarly-sized cars share platforms – as Cupra aims is to ‘bring Barcelona to Australia’. Bienvenido, Leon.

Just over 400 Leons sold here last year, so you’ll rarely spot another. But good grief it attracts attention. Check out the Transformers-like bronze grille logo, LED rear light bar, 18-inch black and silver alloys, roof spoiler and graphite wing mirror covers. The boot opens by pushing a tilting faux-carbon fibre panel, and when locking there’s a Knight Rider-esque light show. Young drivers would love it, if only they could afford one.

The Cupra Leon V has a high-tech cabin.

The cabin blends familiarity with personality

Clamber inside and the layout and size mimics a VW Golf. But while the German feels austere and clinical, the Spaniard adds matador flair.

There’s genuine sportiness with sculpted bucket seats, fake carbon fibre weave dash top, racy flat-bottom steering wheel, tiny toggle gear shifter and bronze stitching, inlays and trim.

A 12-inch infotainment screen has wireless smartphone mirroring, there’s digital driver display, two USB-C ports, and a wireless charge pad large enough for phablets – tablet-sized phones if you’re wondering. Adding to the youthful appeal, there’s a perfectly vape-sized storage area in the centre console.

Roomy rear seats enjoy individual climate control, while a deep boot makes the Leon more family-friendly than many small hatches.

Cupra’s Leon V isn’t as rapid as it looks.

It’s a great overall drive, but not thrilling

The turbo four-cylinder has decent poke, accompanied by a seven-speed dual clutch auto scything through gears when pushing on. There’s a rorty exhaust note at higher revs, while bucket seats grip your bum well when fast cornering.

The Leon V’s well-balanced, grippy and communicative through its sporting chassis and firmly-weighted steering when in Sport mode, but there are no ‘Oh Wow!’ moments as found in a Hyundai i30N or Toyota GR Corolla.

The Cupra’s easier to live with day-to-day though. Its adaptive dampers have no fewer than 15 settings, and in comfiest mode it manages road bumps well, helped by not rolling on giant 20-inch rims with rubber band tyres.

Purchase price aside, it won’t crush the family budget. We returned 7.0L/100km on test (but it needs 95 unleaded); a five-year service pack’s $1990 and the safety kit’s generous.

Inside the Cupra Leon.

Its screen and nannying safety spoil the serenity

Like VW’s Golf, the Leon relies too much on screens and touch-sensitive temperature controls. No buttons, just the touchscreen to access a menu offering rear climate, i-climate, warm my hands, warm my feet, cool my feet, etc. All fine when stationary, but an eyes-off-the-road chore when actually driving.

After a week’s test, I was still prodding lifeless plastic after missing my temperature target. Comically, there’s a menu guide on how to use the climate control – you never needed that when it’s buttons and knobs.

Other grumbles include seats not going low enough for sporty driving; rear occupants have a poor outward view past the giant one-piece front seats, and brushed aluminium dash trim is actually plastic.

Worst of all, the Leon gets angry at you. A stern English accent states: “Drive in the middle of the lane!” if you stray close to lines, then wrongly insists your hands aren’t on the steering wheel if you’re not gripping tightly enough.

Fiery, these Spaniards.

Originally published as 2024 Cupra Leon V review