Regardless of being a reasonably new model to Australia and a brand new model normally, SEAT offshoot Cupra has plans to make the wagon a factor once more in Australia.

Carefully associated to the Volkswagen Golf wagon, the Cupra Leon Sportstourer is obtainable in quite a few specs, together with a plug-in hybrid, and a automotive with a Golf R-specification engine and all-wheel drive.

Cupra is within the throes of determining whether or not the Leon Sportstourer will work for the Australian market, and invited us to have a drive of each the plug-in hybrid and go-fast VZx variations at its house in Spain.

How a lot does the Cupra Leon Sportstourer value?

We don’t know pricing but, but it surely’d be a secure guess to imagine the wagon will command a worth premium over the equal hatchback.

The Leon VZe plug-in hybrid hatchback is priced simply shy of $62,000 earlier than on-road prices in Australia. A wagon would add a premium over that determine.

The go-fast VZx model is identical worth – however the wagon not solely provides additional sheetmetal, it modifications the drivetrain structure from the hatchback’s front-drive to all-wheel drive.

We’d anticipate it to be cheaper than the outgoing Golf R wagon’s price ticket of $71,990 earlier than on-roads.

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

We had the prospect to tour Cupra’s headquarters simply exterior Barcelona, the place it grew to become evident fairly rapidly that Cupra’s goal is to be the youthful upstart arm of Volkswagen.

That is evident within the Leon Sportstourer’s inside. The seats look unreal, and the plug-in hybrid model we examined featured an optionally available carbon package deal that added carbon fibre exterior mirrors and seat backs contained in the cabin.

The seats hug you in properly and have a suede-esque materials with quite a few helpful changes.

Tender contact supplies are seen alongside the dashboard and doorways, and in depth use of LED backlighting helps with issues like blind-spot monitoring and navigation alerts.

Central to the cabin is a 12-inch infotainment show that options contact delicate controls for temperature and quantity. It options inbuilt satellite tv for pc navigation, together with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Forward of the driving force is one other show that’s customisable with quite a few completely different layouts, together with mapping.

Small touches like transferring the starter button to the steering wheel give it a degree of differentiation too.

Leg- and headroom within the second row is definitely fairly good regardless of the wheelbase, and the way small the car appears from the surface.

Cargo capability is available in at 620 litres with the second row in place for the VZx, and 470L for the plug-in hybrid VZe. That area expands to 1600L and 1450L respectively with the second row folded.

You’re robbed of some cargo area with the plug-in hybrid because of the 12.8kWh battery and plug-in hybrid parts that sit beneath the cargo ground.

What’s below the bonnet?

Let’s kick off with the plug-in hybrid VZe. It makes use of a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 110kW of energy and 250Nm of torque.

It’s mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, but additionally makes use of an adjoining electrical motor.

The electrical motor produces 85kW of energy and 330Nm of torque, however when utilized in unison with the inner combustion engine the mixed outputs are 180kW of energy and 400Nm of torque.

This affords round 60km of driving vary and a mixed gasoline economic system of 1.4 litres of gasoline per 100km. It’s additionally good for a 0-100km/h dash of seven.0 seconds.

The potent VZx model however makes use of a tried-and-tested 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 228kW of energy and 400Nm of torque (there’s a barely much less highly effective model additionally offered within the European market).

In contrast to the plug-in hybrid, which is front-wheel drive, the VZx makes use of all-wheel drive powertrain mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It’s good for a bonkers 0-100km/h time of simply 4.9 seconds and consumes a mixed 8.0L/100km.

How does the Cupra Leon Sportstourer drive?

We spent most of our time driving the plug-in hybrid variant, and solely had a brief stint within the go-fast model.

Like all plug-in hybrids, if the battery is full you’ll drive on electrical energy till the battery runs out of juice and kicks over to a mix of electrical and internal-combustion operation.

There’s a formidable quantity of efficiency on provide from the electrical system earlier than the internal-combustion engine kicks in.

Sequence hybrids like a Camry or RAV4 (for instance) will solely permit small throttle inputs earlier than the internal-combustion engine kicks on. You really want to mash the throttle onerous to get the engine to fireplace to life within the Leon.

On the charging entrance, like most plug-in hybrids, the VZe could be charged utilizing a single-phase 3.6kW plug, which suggests you need to use a 10A energy outlet, or alternatively use the next powered 15A outlet to cost quicker.

Whereas the journey is comfy more often than not on the 19-inch alloy wheels, it will probably grow to be fairly busy over cobblestones and imperfect metropolis streets.

It does use adaptive damping relying on the spec and we discovered there was a noticeable distinction between the drive modes, however there was nonetheless a degree of firmness when it was being pushed within the confines of town.

There was additionally an honest quantity of street noise coming into the cabin at freeway speeds; we suspect this was from the low profile, sporty tyre ] chosen.

From a dealing with perspective, you possibly can see Cupra has gone for the sportiest tune doable for the Sportstourer. It tucks in superbly by corners and even in plug-in hybrid spec it’s a enjoyable car to drive.

The additional punch on provide from the electrical drivetrain combo is great, making it a hoot to drive.

The VZx takes that to a different degree with a degree of refinement similar to what is obtainable by the Golf R wagon.

The plug-in hybrid may even be optioned with a mega set of cross-drilled Brembo brakes that measure 370mm in diameter. Not a foul setup.

We are going to get a greater likelihood to check economic system and dealing with if these automobiles finally make their technique to Australia.

Is the Cupra Leon secure?

Whereas the Leon Sportstourer hasn’t been rated by ANCAP, it has been examined by Euro NCAP the place it achieved a five-star security score.

It obtained an grownup occupant safety score of 91 per cent, a toddler occupant safety score of 88 per cent, a susceptible street consumer safety score of 71 per cent, and a security help score of 80 per cent.

Commonplace security tools consists of autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross visitors alert, entrance and rear parking sensors, secure exit warning and a driver fatigue monitor.

How a lot does the Cupra Leon value to run?

The Cupra vary is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia.

Particulars for the Sportstourer haven’t been locked in, given it’s not confirmed for an Australian launch.

Relating to the hatch, nonetheless, Cupra not gives three-years of free servicing – as an alternative patrons 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

Whereas SUV gross sales in Australia have gone by the roof, some individuals don’t need the majority of an SUV however nonetheless want the cupboard space for all of their issues.

One thing just like the Sportstourer hits the nail on the top for a efficiency providing that also has stacks of cargo area.

Whereas the plug-in hybrid achieves of the aim of minimising gasoline use, the VZx actually will get us excited for a go-fast household wagon. Let’s hope the enterprise case stacks up and it makes its technique to Australia.

It suffers from street noise that comes from a sportier tyre mixture, however the remainder of the package deal ought to make up for it.

Click on a picture to view the complete gallery.

MORE: All the pieces Cupra Leon
BUY: Cupra Leon