The rain is coming down in buckets and it’s not letting up. I do know as a result of I’m charging alongside in nation NSW within the Cupra Leon V, and I’ve needed to change from auto wipers to the all-out setting.

Solely a few hours earlier than I’d been sitting by means of a short product presentation that identified Leon V’s decreased energy output in contrast with different variants. 

By no means thoughts the numbers, as a result of we’re setting a cracking tempo in slippery situations and the bottom Leon couldn’t really feel extra at residence. It truth, I’m hoping for the inclement climate to set in for a number of days, such is the progress we’re making and the enjoyable we’re having. 

It’s not simply the velocity that surprises us, it’s extra that we’re carving up these remoted B-roads and doing it in such an easy style, with such reassuring confidence.

Whichever manner you have a look at, there’s a robust case for the bottom Cupra Leon hatch providing the very best bang-for-buck within the vary, particularly given its beneficial steadiness of efficiency, gear, and worth. 

How a lot does the Cupra Leon V value?

Cupra has simply bumped up Leon pricing for its 2024 by as a lot as $1700, and added DAB+ radio to its record of normal gear to assist offset it – however the automobiles impacted by that haven’t touched down simply but.

Within the meantime, there’s nonetheless inventory of cheaper 2023 fashions round at their authentic costs – together with the Leon V examined right here from $43,990 earlier than on-roads, or $47,990 drive-away. 

For the up to date MY24 mannequin vary, count on to pay $49,190 drive-away (+$1200) for the entry-level Leon V.

2024 Cupra Leon worth

• 2024 Cupra Leon V: $49,190 (+$1200)
• 2024 Cupra Leon VZ: $57,990 (+$1500)
• 2024 Leon VZe: $61,690 earlier than on-road prices (+$1700)
  • $64,690 (ACT) (+$1700)
  • $65,690 (QLD) (+$1700)
  • $66,690 (NSW) (+$1700)
  • $66,690 (SA) (+$1700)
  • $67,190 (VIC) (+$1700)
  • $67,690 (WA) (+$1700)
• 2024 Cupra Leon VZx: $65,690 (+$1700)

All costs are drive-away.

What’s the Cupra Leon V like on the within?

It may be the budget-conscious variant within the Cupra Leon vary, however you don’t miss a lot given the standard of supplies and beneficiant gear record throughout the vary.

Cupra brings a recent strategy to design, particularly with regards to the inside. It’s decidedly sporty, but there’s additionally a premium appear and feel about all the cabin.

The sports activities seats seats up entrance, even within the base Leon, wouldn’t look misplaced in a Lamborghini.

They’re solely partial leather-based with patterned materials inserts, however they’re extremely snug on longer stints behind the wheel with additional bolstering all spherical.

For these consumers a fan of full Nappa leather-based upholstery we’d suggest the Leather-based & Sound Bundle, which provides heated seats with energy adjustment for the motive force, in addition to a Beats sound system.

Cupra does flat-bottom steering wheels higher than most, utilizing perforated tactile leather-based emblazoned with its distinctive copper-coloured emblem and brightwork . The rim itself is of excellent thickness, making fast adjustments of path a driver’s delight. 

Knobs and dials are non-existent within the Leon. Fortunately although, the designers have had the nice sense to depart a few scroll wheels on the tiller for quantity adjustment and driver’s show configurability. 

That degree of practicality hasn’t been prolonged to the local weather controls, the place contact buttons are the one shortcut possibility for temperature management. It’s truly fairly intuitive, or you may faucet the Clima button on the central display screen which brings up all the HVAC show.

The centrally-mounted touchscreen is a large 12-inch unit providing first-rate readability and color, together with fast response, whereas the motive force’s show is barely smaller at 10.25 inches however stays usefully configurable. 

Annoyingly, the’s no drive mode button on the centre console the place you’d usually discover it.

Quite, you faucet the an icon on the touchscreen which brings up a number of modes together with Particular person, permitting additional customisation over your steering, powertrain, and suspension setup. I’d want a rocker change conveniently positioned subsequent to the stubby transmission selector. 

General, it’s spacious and devoid of muddle with stacks of storage for all the standard stuff like telephones, keys, sunnies, and bottled water. The door pockets are significantly giant in that respect. 

The front-most compartment doubles as a wi-fi cellphone charger and also you’ve the selection of each wired and wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s sturdy, with not one dropout throughout hours of driving in regional New South Wales. 

That very same feeling of spaciousness applies to the second row which provides correctly bolstered seating for the 2 outdoors passengers, with nonetheless loads width for the centre seat if it’s not in use as an armrest. 

Legroom is sweet again there, with the added comfort of computerized local weather management and twin USB-C ports. Nonetheless, smaller passengers would possibly really feel a tad claustrophobic with the one-piece sports activities seats blocking the view ahead.   

The rear seats are 60/40 split-fold and don’t drop utterly flat, with the added inconvenience of a giant lip to handle for those who’re carrying cumbersome stuff like bikes and even surfboards.

It’s manageable however not very best. There’s 380 litres of boot house again there. 

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Energy within the Leon V comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 140kW of energy between 4200rpm and 6000rpm, and 320Nm of torque between 1500rpm and 4100rpm.

It’s delivered completely to the entrance axle by means of a seven-speed moist dual-clutch transmission. The zero to 100km/h dash takes a claimed 7.2 seconds.

The plain comparability is with the Cupra Leon VZ for these consumers with the means to step up a notch. It makes use of a model of the identical 2.0-litre turbo-four tuned to ship 180kW and 370Nm – ok to cowl off the 100km/h dash in 6.4 seconds.

Claimed gas financial system for the Leon V is 6.2 litres per 100km on the mixed cycle, we noticed as little as 6.8L/100km on a freeway run again to Sydney from the Blue Mountains.

Premium 95 RON unleaded gas is required at the least, and the gas tank holds 50 litres.

How does the Cupra Leon V drive?

Ordinarily, I sink to a gentle degree of melancholy when confronted with the realisation it’s going rain cats and canines on what may have been an pleasant, hard-charging drive.

However, the roads are utterly abandoned, and at the least the rain is constant if not heavy. There’s no wind which may hamper progress additional or worse nonetheless, unsettle the automobile much more.

Quite the opposite, progress is brisk and completely sure-footed on the identical time, and we’re smack-bang in the course of the actually twisty stuff. The sensation from behind the wheel is uncanny. It feels utterly tied down.

What’s much more encouraging is there are a number of Leon VZe plug-in hybrids within the combine, and we’re staying with them with them – comfortably, due to the automobile’s steadiness, grip, and very good steering really feel.

Ultimately we simply hold getting on the ability on (all of it), even because the rain falls tougher, and there’s not a second of front-wheel slippage or wheel spin. I’m placing our tempo of progress all the way down to the suggestions by means of the steering wheel. It’s a whole shock given the Leon V is the entry level to the vary.

It’s not simply the steering that conjures up; it’s as a lot about damper tuning in Leon. It’s as if somebody at Porsche was introduced in specifically to arrange the suspension up on this automobile, so good is the journey compliance at velocity over some fairly abnormal surfaces.

The tarmac is affected by bumps, deep potholes, and crumbling edges, however you don’t really feel them within the Leon – so that you drive straight over them. Mid-corner abrasions don’t appear to unsettle the automobile, so you retain pouring on the cornering tempo

Do you miss the 40kW of energy or 60Nm of torque gained by shifting up the vary? Not in these situations, particularly realizing the Leon V is lighter by 30kg. It appears to make all of the distinction right here. 

Maybe the mixture of rain falling, tyre roar, and common street noise cancelling out any four-pot snarl that may be man-made or electronically synthesised, however I’d like extra of it, even on the V.

Similar goes for the auto throttle blips on downshifts, which aren’t loud sufficient to correctly excite both. Maybe a loud button is so as, and even the synthesised be aware from the VZe would suffice. 

What do you get?

The 2024 Cupra Leon V comes with the next customary options:

• 18-inch black-and-silver alloy wheels
• 18-inch space-saver spare wheel
• Heated, energy folding aspect mirrors
• LED headlights
• LED daytime operating lights
• Fog lights with cornering operate
• LED tail lights with static indicators
• Computerized headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Rear tinted home windows
• 12-inch touchscreen infotainment show
• Wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Digital DAB+ radio (New)
• Two entrance and two rear USB-C ports
• Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Paddle shifters
• Inside ambient lighting
• Black headliner
• Fabric sports activities bucket seats
• Driver profile choice
• Dynamic Chassis Management
• Progressive steering
• Keyless entry and begin
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Three-zone local weather management
• Illuminated sill panels
• Rear spoiler
• Semi-autonomous parking help
• Two entrance and two rear cup holders

Is the Cupra Leon V secure?

The Cupra Leon wears a five-star ANCAP security score, primarily based on Euro NCAP testing carried out on the SEAT Leon in 2020.

It acquired an grownup occupant safety score of 91 per cent, a baby occupant safety score of 88 per cent, a weak street consumer safety score of 71 per cent, and a security help score of 80 per cent.

Commonplace security gear contains:

• 10 airbags incl. front-centre, driver’s knee
• AEB incl. Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Driver fatigue monitoring
• Lane hold help
• Proactive passenger safety (pre-crash)
• Reversing digicam
• Secure exit warning
• Journey Help (adaptive cruise + lane centring)

How a lot does the Cupra Leon V value to run?

The Cupra Leon is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Cupra now not provides three-years of free servicing, as a substitute consumers can select from three and five-year  service packs. The three-year pack prices $990, whereas the five-year pack is $1990. 

CarExpert’s Take

Hardcore fans who like Cupra’s edgy designs will doubtless look previous the Leon V in favour of extra highly effective variants, however that will be promoting it brief in so some ways.

By no means thoughts the shortfall in output relative to the VZ, the bottom Leon is an exceptionally well-sorted hatch and much more succesful that the numbers would possibly recommend, particularly within the twisties – and particularly within the moist.

Then there’s the value-money side. There’s not a variety of package the Leon V misses out on, however if you need the total suite, the Leather-based and Sound Bundle is a sure-fire discount.

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