Cupra Leon review

If you’re familiar with Cupra’s current trim levels across the rest of its range, then this will probably be fairly easy to understand. If you aren’t, it’s probably best that you’re sitting down…

Let’s start with the hatchbacks. Your first three level trims are called V1, V2 and V3, but those can only be had with the non-sporty engines. That means you get a choice between the 1.5-litre petrol (manual or auto) and the lesser 201bhp plug-in hybrid. V1 prices start at £31,770 for the manual, £33,630 for the petrol auto and £38,940 for the PHEV.

For that you get standard equipment such as 18-inch alloy wheels, auto wipers, LED lights all round, interior ambient lighting, the 12.9-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, sports seats, front and rear parking sensors, predictive and adaptive cruise control and plenty of active safety systems. Not bad.

Keep going...

For just over a £2k jump, V2 trim adds 19-inch wheels, the DCC adaptive dampers with a sportier suspension setup, heated front seats, fancy Dinamica upholstery, a rear-view camera and wraparound ambient lighting across the dash and doors.

V3 is around £1,500 more and adds different 19-inch wheels, leather bucket seats and fancy advanced lane assist.

That wasn't too painful.

Oh we're not done. After V3 comes VZ1, VZ2 and VZ3 trims. These bring more equipment as standard and also open up access to the sportier powertrains. You can have either the 268bhp PHEV or the 296bhp 2.0-litre here, with VZ1 prices kicking off at £42,075 for the former and £42,130 for the latter. That makes the Cupra around £600 cheaper than the entry-level Golf GTI Clubsport.

Standard VZ1 equipment includes 19-inch wheels, Matrix LED lights, heated front seats, a rear-view camera, adaptive dampers with sports suspension, and Dinamica bucket seats and that wraparound interior lighting.

Take the step up to VZ2 for around £2.5k and that adds different 19-inch wheels, leather seats and intelligent park assist. Top-spec VZ3 cars are another £2.5k or so and bring fancy forged 19-inch wheels, a black spoiler, side skirts, those CUP Bucket seats with carbon backs, a Sennheiser audio system, performance brakes (Brembo for the PHEV, Akebono for the petrol) and extra airbags.

I'm dizzy.

One last push. The estate is slightly more expensive: prices for the V1 with the 1.5-litre engine and a manual gearbox start at £34,085, while the same car with an auto ‘box and mild hybrid is £35,960. The entry-level 201bhp PHEV in V1 trim is £41,220.

Again, VZ1 trim opens up the option of the more powerful hybrid (£44,400 in VZ1 guise) and the 2.0-litre turbo engine, although here the most powerful engine makes 328bhp and is paired with all-wheel drive. That starts at £45,905 in VZ1 trim.

All Cupras get a five-year/90,000-mile warranty.