The Cupra Leon VZe hatch offers a tasty Spanish take on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review
cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review

Okay, let’s explain this one more time. Cupra is a Spanish performance brand that was spun off from its former parent Seat in 2018. Both are divisions of the Volkswagen Group. Cupra arrived here in 2022 with a line-up of performance-oriented models including the Golf-sized Cupra Leon small car. Included among those four Leon derivatives is the VZe petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV). After a few examples landed last year, the VZe is about to become a full-time member of the range. So, time to check it out then.

How much does the Cupra Leon VZe cost?

One of four models in the five-door small car range, the plug-in hybrid 2023 Cupra Leon VZe is priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs.

While an initial batch of 100 Spanish-built VZe hatchbacks sold out months ago, more examples are due starting early in the second half of 2023. Order books have been reopened since February.

Cupra sells its model line-up in Australia online and through a small chain of agents (not dealers) known as Cupra Garages, so there is no haggling.

The Leon VZe pricing places it at the top of the model range alongside the hot hatch VZx, $8000 above the VZ and $16,000 more than the entry-level V.

There are few legitimate PHEV rivals for the Leon VZe. The recently launched Peugeot 308 GT Sport Hatch is the obvious one (from $64,990 plus ORCs), while in-house you could also consider the Cupra Formentor VZe SUV (from $62,990 plus ORCs) with the same powertrain.

But there are only a smattering of affordable PHEVs on sale in Australia, reflecting the fact buyers have more interest in hybrids and pure-electric vehicles.

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What equipment comes with the Cupra Leon VZe?

The 2023 Cupra Leon VZe is highlighted externally by 19-inch black and silver alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler and copper (Cupra’s colour) exhaust outlets.

There is a choice of three metallic paint colours for no additional cost.

Inside, the seats are cloth and leather trimmed, while the manually reach- and rake-adjustable heated steering wheel is wrapped in leather.

Keyless entry and start, tri-zone climate control, aluminium pedals, ambient lighting which lights up when a car is in your blind spot, and illuminated scuff plates are also standard.

Power adjustment of the driver’s seat is optional along with heating of the one-piece front sport seats and full leather seat trim. A sunroof is also optional.

There is no spare tyre, instead the VZe makes do with a tyre repair kit and pressure monitoring.

The Cupra Leon VZe comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, eight-year/160,000km high-voltage battery warranty and five years’ roadside assist.

Servicing is scheduled every 15,000km or 12 months. A three-year service pack for the Leon range costs $990, while a five-year service pack is $1990.

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How safe is the Cupra Leon VZe?

The 2023 Cupra Leon VZe comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2020 testing protocols. The rating applies to all Leon models built from March 2021 onwards.

The VZe is fitted with front, knee, centre, side (front and rear) and curtain airbags.

Driver assist systems include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with ‘follow to stop’ function, semi-autonomous lane keeping and centring assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert and side assist with an exit warning.

Other important safety features include LED headlights with auto high beam and dusk sensing, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, hands-free park assist and driver fatigue detection.

There are three top tether anchors for child seats and two ISOFIX mounts in the outer rear seats.

cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review

What technology does the Cupra Leon VZe feature?

The 2023 Cupra Leon VZe technology package includes a 12-inch infotainment touch-screen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

The touch-screen can display Cupra’s own embedded sat-nav and other functions or wired or wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Leon VZe offers wireless smartphone charging, while there are also two USB-C ports up front and two in the rear.

Audio is broadcast via a six-speaker system and AM/FM radio bands are standard inclusions. There is no digital radio.

cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review

What powers the Cupra Leon VZe?

The 2023 Cupra Leon VZe uses a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine fed by 95RON premium unleaded fuel. It’s teamed with an e-motor fed electricity by a 12.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

The engine makes 110kW at 5000-6000rpm and 250Nm from 1550-3500rpm. The e-motor makes 85kW and 330Nm.

Combined, they produce a healthy 180kW and 400Nm, driving the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The powertrain defaults to pure EV on start-up. It then runs as a petrol-electric hybrid when the battery is exhausted.

Cupra claims the Leon VZe can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds, which is one second slower than the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol VZx (221kW/400Nm) and 0.3sec slower than the VZ (180kW/370Nm).

cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review

How fuel efficient is the Cupra Leon VZe?

The official fuel consumption claim for the 2023 Cupra Leon VZe is a miniscule 1.8L/100km, while the energy consumption claim is 11.2kWh/100km.

Cupra claims the Leon VZe can run solely on electricity for 67km. We ran out of juice after 48km of driving that started in gridlock and ended running at 100km/h on the freeway.

This result suggests you can commute emissions-free if you can charge the battery overnight, which should be easily achieved using a standard 230V plug.

For most of our drive the VZe ran as a hybrid, using its petrol engine to provide motivation, run the e-motor and recharge the battery (aided by regenerative braking that is noticeable and tuneable).

Come the end of our testing, the consumption average ended up at 5.9L/100km. That real-world result still undercuts the official claim of any orthodox Leon.

cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review

What is the Cupra Leon VZe like to drive?

The 2023 Cupra Leon VZe is an enjoyable vehicle to drive.

Based on the same MQB Evo platform basics as many other VW Group models including the latest Volkswagen Golf Mk8, it is nevertheless imbued with Cupra’s identifiably sporty character.

It’s a drive feel that has already been rewarded by carsales with a podium place for the Cupra Formentor SUV in 2022 Car of the Year judging.

The powertrain performance is strong and flexible, aided by the e-motor’s willingness to supply maximum torque from tip-in throttle. It feels quicker than its 0-100km/h claim, although the edge is taken off by the car’s substantial 1634kg tare mass.

That’s well over 100kg more than any other Leon model and is the unavoidable consequence of fitting a car with two powertrains.

The combination of well-sorted independent suspension with adaptive dampers, accurate electric-assist steering, fast-acting transmission and strong disc brakes provides a reassuring dynamic that worked when both commuting in town or stretching the car’s legs on the open road.

There was some wheelspin and torque steer on tight turns, especially when the road was wet, but it wasn’t especially annoying.

Dial the powertrain into the most aggressive Cupra mode and a fake exhaust signature more akin to a V6 than a turbo-four invades the cabin. It is quite unexpected.

Otherwise, the Leon VZe is pretty quiet, especially when rolling along in EV mode.

What is the Cupra Leon VZe like inside?

The interior presentation of the 2023 Cupra Leon VZe is minimalist.

There are not many buttons and dials on the dashboard, which means drilling into the touch-screen for some basics like air-con fan speed adjustment, drive mode selection and even powertrain modes.

That will drive some people mad.

Manual gear section is only made via flappy paddles as the drive selector on the centre console is a stubby tab and not a lever.

The instrument panel is impressively configurable. Among other options, it can look like a traditional set of dials or transform into a sat-nav map.

The essentials like seat comfort and passenger space are well resolved. In fact, room in the rear is especially impressive considering this is a car that measures up just under 4.4m long. Two 180cm-tall passengers will fit comfortably back here.

But with the battery pack encroaching, the boot offers only 270 litres of storage, which is 110 litres less than orthodox Leon models. A split-fold enables more luggage space.

In-cabin storage includes bins in all doors, various cubbies for stuff up front and map pockets behind the front seats. There are also air-con vents for rear seat passengers.

Should I buy a Cupra Leon VZe?

The problem for the 2023 Cupra Leon VZe is not many people seem excited by the PHEV concept in Australia. If they plug in, they mostly elect to do it with an EV.

The Leon VZe is priced in a region where an increasing amount of EVs live, including the new Cupra Born, so that makes its task harder.

It’s also priced right up against the spicier and faster combustion-engined Leon VZx, so petrolheads are probably going to be more attracted to that, or myriad other hot hatches.

If you consider all that and still decide the Leon VZe is your sort of car, then go ahead. This is an impressive example of the PHEV breed.

cupra, leon, car reviews, hatchback, family cars, hybrid cars, cupra leon vze 2023 review

2023 Cupra Leon VZe at a glance:

Price: $59,990 (plus on-road costs)

Available: Now

Powertrain: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric

Output: 110kW/250Nm (electric motor: 85kW/330Nm)

Combined output: 180kW/400Nm

Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic

Battery: 12.8kWh lithium-ion

Range: 67km

Fuel: 1.8L/100km (ADR Combined)

CO2: 40g/km (ADR Combined)

Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

Keyword: Cupra Leon VZe 2023 Review

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