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 £32,140 for the manual, £33,960 for the petrol auto and £39,050 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.

It's then a two grand jump between each ascending trim level; V2 brings spanglier 18in wheels, heated front seats, a reversing camera and electronically operated tailgate.

V3 adds the smart DCC adaptive dampers, leather trim and park assist functions. Still with us?

A new Shadow Edition trim starts at £39,335 and adds 19in wheels, a more extrovert exterior body kit and swish Matrix LED headlights to the already long V3 kit list.

That wasn't too painful.

Oh we're not done. After V3 comes VZ1, VZ2 and VZ3. 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 £42,400 for the former and £43,775 for the latter. That makes the Cupra around £500 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 DCC dampers with sports suspension, and Dinamica bucket seats and that wraparound interior lighting.

Take the step up to VZ2 for around £2,500 and you'll get different 19-inch wheels, leather seats and intelligent park assist. Top-spec VZ3 cars are another £3,000 or so and bring more body kit, those CUP Bucket seats with carbon backs, a Sennheiser audio system and performance brakes (Brembo for the PHEV, Akebono for the petrol). So yes, a proper FWD Leon hatch is nudging fifty grand. The new Leon VZ might just breach that barrier.

Cupra Leon estates add around £2,500 to each of those figures; all Cupras get a five-year/90,000-mile warranty.