You only need to take a stroll around any corporate car park to remind yourself that hatchbacks no longer enjoy the same levels of popularity as they once did.
Ok, so quite a few may be hidden behind shipping container-sized SUVs but when you do come across a hatchback as good as the Cupra Leon you’re also reminded just how brilliant these cars really are.
Newly refreshed with a raft of reconfigured engines along with some tweaked tin-work and a striking new lighting scheme, perhaps the only marmite aspect is the new Cyrano de Bergerac style proboscis.
If you can see beyond the frontal appendage however and take the Leon for a test drive, then there’s every chance you will be totally smitten.
Interior tech
Before you hit the road though take time to appreciate the Leons’s excellent ergonomics. A newly installed 12.9in central touchscreen dominates matters and while it runs the latest software, which is claimed to make things faster and easier to use, perhaps the smallest improvement is also one of biggest. Although touch-sensitive sliders are still the primary source of adjusting the cabin temperature they are now illuminated, most probably by a pair of 10p LEDs, and because of this vast expenditure there should be no more fumbling in the dark when driving at night.
Another feature perhaps best viewed in lower light conditions is the digital driver’s display with its eye-catching graphics, however, from a purely practical perspective, the 15-watt wireless charging pad with a cooling function will probably seem like more of a win to anyone who has inadvertently toasted their phone by leaving it on an old-style hot-plate charging mat for too long.
The rest of the Leon’s fixtures and fittings feel reassuringly upmarket due to some refreshed material finishes, although primarily this is down to the consistency and positive feeling switchgear, complimented by the neat, flat-bottomed steering wheel, copper-burnished air vents and similarly toned accent stitching.
Drive and performance
Thanks to its wide range of seating and steering collum adjustments and perfectly aligned pedal box the Leon delivers what is effectively the elasticated waistband of driving positions. Consequently, all manner of shapes and sizes will enjoy an engaged feeling of being sat in rather than perched up in a car. That engagement is only enhanced by sweetly tuned steering, immaculate body control and suspension that is appropriately tuned to feel progressively firmer and more controlled to mitigate the increased demand dished out by the more powerful versions. As a result, even when just driving the lowest 150hp version up and down the High Street, you are treated to levels of interaction SUV drivers can only dream of.
Speaking of powertrains, the entry point 1.5-litre petrol engine is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, but it is also available as a seven-speed DSG auto linked to a 48V mild hybrid which provides mild electric assistance to help enhance efficiency. In all honesty, because these motors are so smooth and such willing performers, they are probably all you’ll ever need but if you wish to reduce your BIK contributions then there are two 1.5-litre plug-in hybrids, producing 204 or 272hp. Each comes with a 19.7kWh battery offering a pure-electric range of up to 72 miles. With a maximum charging speed of 11kW when hooked up to a home wall box or up to 50kW DC from a motorway charger they’re also swiftly re-energised. These motors are obviously quicker but in real-world conditions they don’t feel much more urgent than the entry-model cars.
If you are inclined to blow your skirt up every now and then though the Leon has got you covered thanks to a pair of ballistic 2.0-litre TSI lumps. Pumping out either 265 or 333hp the most potent version is reserved for the range topping Leon estate, which also comes with traction boosting four-wheel-drive. Offering truly scintillating performance and super secure high-speed stability, when allied to additional space and practicality of its estate bodyshell this is a proper Q car. Expect to see one bedecked in dayglow stripes and blue flashing lights in your rear-view mirror anytime soon.
Positive: Excellent blend of comfort and control, smooth and potent powertrains, classy interior
Negative: Smallish boot, hybrids feel rather sedate
Standard equipment: 18in alloy wheels, keyless entry and start-up, 12.9in infotainment screen, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, front and rear parking sensors, wireless phone-charging pad, faux leather seats.
Engines: Petrol: 150hp 1.5, 265hp 2.0, 333hp 2.0; Mild hybrid: 150hp 1.5; Plug-in hybrid: 204hp 1.5, 272hp 1.5
Equipment grades: V1, V2, VZ1, VZ2, VZ3
Transmissions: Six-speed manual, six and seven-speed automatic
| Model | Cupra Leon 1.5 150 M-HEV V1 |
| P11D | £32,700 |
| Residual value | 42% |
| Depreciation | £18,975 |
| Fuel | £7,689 |
| Service, maintenance and repair | £1,797 |
| Cost per mile | 47.43p |
| Fuel consumption | 51.4mpg |
| CO2 (BIK%) | 124g/km (29%) |
| BIK 20/40% a month | £158/£316 |
| Luggage capacity | 380 litres |
| Engine size/power | 1,497cc/150hp |
| Score | 8/10 |
