2026 Cupra Leon review

How do you say ‘Golf’ in Spanish or Catalan? Depending on who you ask, they might actually say ‘Leon’.

Spanish automaker Cupra has given its take on the Volkswagen Golf a mid-life facelift, and it returns to Australia hoping to get a bigger slice of the premium small-car pie – but it has its work cut out for it.

The Cupra brand is still finding its feet in Australia, where it’s less known compared to its other Volkswagen Group stablemates, largely because its Seat parent hasn’t had a presence here in a very, very long time. Still, the company tends to offer a spicier take on its German and Czech compatriots’ products, like the 2026 Cupra Leon you see here.

Refreshed looks, more user-friendly tech, and elevated cabin ambience headline the updated Leon range, along with the introduction of the Sportstourer – wagon enthusiasts, rejoice!

There’s more – the Leon Sportstourer debuts the VW Group’s second-generation ‘e-Hybrid’ plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with over 120km of WLTP-certified driving range, and there’s a PHEV hatch coming early next year ahead of a 245kW AWD wagon performance hero in mid-2026.

That’s a lot of choice for a nameplate that barely has 1.5 per cent share of a declining segment so far this year, so Cupra clearly is committed to offering choice and conquesting other players in this small, posh space.

In the firing line are the closely related Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf, as well as the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. You can throw in high-spec versions of the Hyundai i30 and Mazda 3 as well. After all, the Seat/Cupra Leon competes with basically every small hatchback and wagon available in Europe.

Is this latest version worth a look? We joined the Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out.

How much does the Cupra Leon cost?

Cupra hasn’t announced national drive-away pricing for the facelifted Cupra Leon range, though there have been price rises for the hatchback models relative to their equivalent predecessors.

Before Cupra’s huge clearance sales across the pre-update Leon and Formentor lineups, the 140kW Leon V was priced around $49,000 drive-away. The less powerful but more efficient and better-equipped Leon Hatch S is about $2000 more.

Meanwhile, the Leon Hatch VZx costs around $5000 more than its predecessor, with no changes to its drivetrain but it benefits from the full suite of design, equipment and tech updates that come with the updated range.

As for the Leon Sportstourer VZe, that’s an all-new body style for Australia. Its closest rival currently is probably the related Skoda Octavia RS Wagon, which runs a 195kW 2.0 TSI petrol-only drivetrain, and starts from $64,490 drive-away.

To see how the Cupra Leon lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

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What is the Cupra Leon like on the inside?

There aren’t wholesale changes inside like there have been outside, but there’s a noticeable uplift in perceived quality and ambience thanks to some minor new touches.

Regardless of which variant you choose, the fundamentals are the same. A 10.25-inch ‘digital cockpit’ instrument cluster and 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen are the primary areas of display real estate, with a unique look and feel compared to anything from the Audi, Skoda or Volkswagen brands.

Like we’ve seen from other VW Group brands, improvements have been made to the interface to make it more user-friendly, such as the permanent toolbar at the base of the touchscreen dedicated to climate controls, and the touch sliders are now illuminated.

While the central touchscreen isn’t quite as large as the 15-inch display available in the Golf or Tiguan, it’s more than big enough for such a cocoon-like cabin and offers the usual equipment like embedded navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as DAB+ digital radio. Sadly, there’s still no connected-car tech.

The driver’s instrument display probably remains my favourite amongst the MQB evo platform-based product family (ie: A3, Golf, Octavia) thanks to its wider configurability options and smart colour scheme including flourishes of the brand’s signature copper.

You can opt for a central rev counter that’s reminiscent of the Audi R8 supercar and previous-generation Audi S and RS models, and in the VZe plug-in hybrid it smartly incorporates a hybrid power meter that flashes blue when at full noise with electric ‘Boost’.

I’m also a big fan of the new padded leatherette sections lining the centre console, which is a very nice change from the outgoing model’s hard, scratchy plastics. This is something you don’t get from Audi, Skoda or Volkswagen, mind you.

Contrast copper stitching and accents are littered throughout the interior, lining the shift-by-wire gear selector module as well as the air vents. All Leon vehicles now add the satellite buttons for the push-button start and drive mode functions on the steering wheel too – another Audi R8-esque touch – having previously been reserved for the flagship VZx.

There’s also trick LED lighting, with a dynamic strip lining the base of the windscreen which switches functions from ambient lighting to indicators and safety systems like blind-spot monitoring. Cupra has programmed a number of lighting profiles to match your driving mode and mood, too.

Further, all versions of the Cupra Leon get sport bucket front seats as standard. The Leon S gets Dinamica microfibre upholstery with blue accents as standard, while the VZx and VZe get a new Moonslate leather design. Sadly, it appears the leather hide isn’t as plush as the leather option in the pre-facelift Leon, which was often labelled as Nappa-grade.

Still, the embossed Cupra logo on the head restraints is a nice touch, and the pews themselves are nicely comfortable and offer plenty of adjustment. Speaking of, there’s now electric adjustment and memory presets as standard for the driver, as well as heating for both front seats.

The front passenger seat gets power and memory when you opt for the Leather and Sound Package ($2200) in the Leon S, which also adds the thumping 12-speaker Sennheiser premium sound system – all of which is standard in the Leon Hatch VZx and Sportstourer VZe.

You can also get racy carbon-backed ‘Cup Bucket’ front seats in the VZx as part of the $7600 Extreme Package, though sadly we didn’t get a look or feel of these at the launch event. These seats also score ‘SEAQUAL’ sustainable textile inserts, made out of recyclable fabrics.

Despite being a small car (regardless of body style) there’s good storage space throughout the cabin, including a cubby ahead of the shifter with a wireless phone charger (with a holder to stop it from flying around), as well as tandem cupholders (which are still oddly different sizes).

Storage under the front-centre armrest is also good, but while the door bins are nicely sized, you don’t get the felt-lined sections in the doors like you do in a VW Golf, nor are the bins themselves quite as large as those in its German relative.

General perception of quality is pretty good, with the Leon’s front cabin feeling more elevated in terms of ambience compared to the Golf and Octavia, and in some respects it outdoes even the Audi A3.

Still, there are some cheaper materials applied to low-traffic areas, such as the silver plastic door trim accents and the textured dashboard insert that lack the tactility of Audi’s metal options, but for a circa-$50,000 hatchback it’s up there at the pointy end of the class.

Regardless of whether you choose the Leon Hatch or Sportstourer, the second-row accommodation is the same. Both body styles share the same 2686mm wheelbase, making for decent if not quite standout rear passenger space.

Knee and leg room is pretty good even behind a taller driver, but those chunky front seats with their integrated head restraints mean forward visibility from the rear can be a challenge, especially for smaller kids. The rising lower window line may also limit visibility out the sides for shorter passengers, too.

That said, you get a third-zone of climate control, which is handy, and bottle holders in the rear doors, as well as cupholders housed in the chunky fold-down centre armrest.

Both the Leon Hatch and Sportstourer also get the requisite child seat attachments (ie: ISOFIX and top-tether), and the centre seat also has a ski port if you ever need to stow a longer item (like… skis) without folding down either of the outboard rear seats.

Further back, the Leon Hatch offers 344 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats up, and 888L with them folded down. The Sportstourer VZe ups those figures to 470L and 1045L respectively – noting the big battery under the load floor.

The Leon S comes with a space-saver spare wheel, though the VZx and VZe only get tyre repair kits.

To see how the Cupra Leon lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

At launch, there are three distinct powertrain variants, with two more on the way in 2026.

Towards the end of Q1 2026 (ie: March), the Leon Hatch will gain a Ve plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is the same as in the Sportstourer VZe but detuned to system outputs of 150kW/350Nm – this will somewhat replace the old Leon V.

Further, the Leon Sportstourer will add the most powerful powertrain in the lineup in June-July, with the upcoming VZx to boast the same 245kW/420Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and all-wheel drive system as the Audi S3 and VW Golf R.

Further details about these new variants will be made available in due course.

To see how the Cupra Leon lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Cupra Leon drive?

We had pretty long stints behind the wheel of each Leon variant – each of which is billed as having a distinctly different personality, thus necessitating around 90 minutes of drive time per car.

Leg one (and then the return leg the following day) was spent in the Sportstourer VZe, heading out of Sydney and towards Mudgee via the Blue Mountains.

Given we had such a long drive ahead of us, I flicked the Sportstourer into ‘Hybrid’ mode to better assess its fuel-saving abilities over longer distance drives, given plenty of naysayers question PHEV efficiency beyond their claimed EV ranges.

The Sportstourer leg was 95km from Cupra Macarthur in Sydney’s south-west, to the town of Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. Most of this was high-speed freeway and country roads and travelling uphill – not a PHEV’s favourite hunting ground.

I quite enjoyed the pre-facelift Leon Hatch VZe, so I was keen to find out if the updated Leon Sportstourer with its bigger battery and beefier outputs could give me the same enjoyment behind the wheel.

Setting off with a very-nearly-full battery (with an indicated EV range of around 100km), the Leon Sportstourer set off in silence. Even in Hybrid mode, the Cupra will largely lean on its 85kW/320Nm electric motor for low-speed driving and cruising, only engaging the petrol engine when you need a bit more shove.

Bury the throttle and you get both power units going full attack for those quoted 200kW/400Nm combined outputs, and while Cupra offers a modest 0-100km/h claim of 7.3 seconds, response in the real-world especially when rolling is very spritely – I’ve seen videos out of Europe clocking low-6.0-second 0-100km/h runs too.

Standard Progressive Steering means there’s a more focused and purposeful feel through the tiller, even if it’s still light enough in all drive modes to keep the Leon feeling maneuverable and light on its feet. The Sportstourer retains the hatchback’s darty front-end feel, and there’s good grip and power delivery even without the VZx’s electromechanical front diff lock – the S and VZe have an e-diff with torque vectoring via braking.

You’ll often find the wagon’s beefy outputs can overwhelm the front wheels if you plant it hard, spinning them even once you’re rolling. In Performance and Cupra modes there’s a fake engine sound that almost sounds like a V8 at full noise – while I’m normally not one for synthesised engine notes, this one actually makes you smile.

The Sportstourer is pitched as the ‘Grand Tourer’ of the lineup, and it was certainly the most composed and comfortable of the three variants. The added length and weight over the rear axle settles the ride nicely at speed, and after spending another 2.5 hours driving back to Sydney the following day, I found it incredibly capable at touring.

I ended the Sydney-Blackheath leg with the trip computer showing fuel use of 2.1L/100km and energy consumption of 15.5kWh/100km after 94km at an average speed of 58km/h. The Sportstourer was showing 27km of EV range remaining and pretty much a full tank of fuel with 560km of range remaining.

The following day I tried a similar experiment but on a much longer trip, a 250km route back to Cupra Macarthur from Mudgee. Again starting with a nearly full battery (~100km range indicated), but with about two-thirds of a tank of fuel (~280km range indicated).

I returned to the dealership with indicated readouts of 3.5L/100km and 6.7kWh/100km at an average speed of 65km/h, noting the high-speed, windy and undulating roads I travelled on with plenty of spirited driving to get there. So to the anti-PHEV crowd, you can still be very, very efficient on long journeys if you know how to use them.

The Leon Hatch S was second and the other new powertrain of the lineup, and also gets a torsion-beam rear axle unlike the multilink rear setup that has exclusively underpinned the Leon range locally until now.

We piloted the Leon S from Blackheath to Sofala, which was a 130km stint over mostly high-speed country highways and winding passes. Again, being an efficiency-leaning entry-level drivetrain, this probably isn’t its natural habitat.

But the base Cupra hatchback sure proved me wrong. While the 110kW power output seems meek, it’s the 250Nm torque figure that comes in low down in the rev range and helps the 1.5 eTSI feel stronger than its displacement and outputs might suggest.

It’s not ‘fast’ by any means, but offers strong response both off the line and when rolling for overtakes, and the 48V mild-hybrid system both shuts off the system when cruising to save fuel and can also assist the engine under hard acceleration.

The other advantage of the base grade is its relatively light weight. At 1446kg, it’s 100kg lighter than the more powerful VZx with a smaller engine over the front axle, resulting in a very pure and agile handling character.

It turns in keenly and doesn’t have too much power, so it doesn’t spin up the front wheels at every opportunity. The raspy engine note isn’t too thrashy under load and there’s plenty in reserve for a rolling overtake on a country highway.

Even better, you’ll barely notice the Leon S’s less sophisticated rear suspension system unless you hit a bump mid-corner or high-frequency corrugations. Remember that some of the best baby hot hatches employ a similar setup – think Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N.

I’d even go as far as to say that, in particular, the base Leon has the sort of driving character that I recall from the non-QV Alfa Romeo Giulia. That light but responsive and agile steering feel is very reminiscent of the highly regarded Italian sports sedan, and certainly makes the base car a top driver pick among compact vehicles priced under $50,000.

Some of the rougher patches of roads on this leg revealed the Leon’s vulnerability to tyre roar over coarse-chip country road surfaces, not just in the S but across the range. It’s certainly not a deal-breaker but something to consider if you travel out of town often – as is the sole availability of a spare wheel in the base mild-hybrid.

At the conclusion of the drive leg to Sofala, the Leon S returned an indicated 5.3L/100km over 130km at an average speed of 75km/h. Given there was plenty of 110km/h signed highway motoring and spirited stints of driving through the mountains, I’d say it didn’t do half bad.

Finally, the VZx. The pinnacle of the lineup. I was very keen to complete the final leg – arguably the most dynamic – in the 221kW Leon VZx, which is basically a sleeper-spec version of the track-ready VW Golf GTI Clubsport sold in Europe.

The Century Bronze matte example I drove looked quite menacing with its forged alloy wheels and quad-tipped exhaust, though it lacked the Extreme Package so there were no Cup Bucket race seats. Still, this is a serious bit of kit for hot hatch enthusiasts.

Sofala to Mudgee was an incredibly twisty and technical route, and generally high-speed with 100-110km/h signed speed limits. Of the three variants we drove, the VZx certainly felt most at home on this program.

I drove similar roads in the VW Golf R earlier this year, and like its German cousin the updated Leon has seen some updates to the drive modes and transmission programming to help drivers get the most out of it.

The transmission has an S+ mode when the Cupra drive profile is selected, pre-loading the turbocharger. Left to its own devices, it will very aggressively rev out and then blip the throttle on downshifts. Flick it to manual (M+) and it will not upshift even if you hit the 6500rpm redline.

Most of this leg was spend in Cupra mode with the transmission in S, S+ and manual – so fuel consumption numbers are worthless – but, my goodness, despite being front-drive the Leon VZx is seriously quick.

A claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds is plenty quick for any FWD hot hatch, and once you’re rolling the 221kW/400Nm Leon VZx feels just as fast as an S3 or Golf R, and the front-driven layout demands a bit more skill and expertise to get the most out of it in the bends – the latter is a key reason why I drive a Golf GTI and not an R myself.

With the electromechanical front diff constantly shuffling torque to the wheel with the most grip to avoid slip and understeer, the flagship Leon was relentless through the high-speed twisties. It does a great job of getting all its power through the front wheels, allowing you to really blast out of bends.

The tight steering and grippy Bridgestone Potenza S005 tyres make for a very capable and enjoyable road car, though I do wish there was more bark from the quad-outlet exhaust. I could barely hear it on the rougher sections of road.

As noted earlier, I didn’t get a chance to try the Leon VZx with the optional Extreme Package, which brings the more aggressive bucket seats as part of the $7600 outlay along with Akebono performance brakes.

Something tells me that most people won’t need it if they’re planning to stick to public roads and not hit the track, but they’re cool for bragging rights – as well as the trick Matrix Ultra LED headlights with graphic projection which really should be standard in my view.

To see how the Cupra Leon lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

2025 Cupra Leon S equipment highlights:

• 18-inch ‘Windstorm’ black and silver alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Semi-autonomous parking assist
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• Paddle shifters
• Selectable drive modes
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• Sports front bucket seats
• Soul Black Dinamica upholstery
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory
• Heated front seats
• ‘Supersport’ heated steering wheel
• 6-speaker sound system
• 3-zone climate control
• Ambient lighting
• Auto-dimming interior mirror

Leon VZx adds:

• Multi-link independent suspension
• DCC adaptive dampers
• Electrohydraulic front differential locking
• Customisable engine sound modelling
• Upgraded brakes
• Tyre repair kit (replaces space-saver spare)
• Cupra drive mode
• Quad exhaust outlets
• Side skirts
• 19-inch ‘Hailstorm’ black and copper alloy wheels
• Moonslate leather-appointed seat trim
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat with memory
• 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system

Leon VZe adds (over Leon S):

• 19-inch ‘Polar’ black and copper alloy wheels
• DCC adaptive dampers
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Black roof rails
• Mode 2 & 3 charging cables
• 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat with memory
• Moonslate leather-appointed seat trim

To see how the Cupra Leon lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Options

Depending on variant, there are a handful of options available.

Leather and Sound Package: $2200 – Leon S

• Leather-appointed seats
• Power front passenger seat incl. memory
• 12-speaker Sennheiser premium audio

Extreme Package: $7600 – Leon VZx

• Cup Bucket front seats
• 6-piston Akebono performance brakes
• Matrix Ultra LED headlights (MY26)

Panoramic sunroof: $1800 – Leon Hatch

Panoramic sunroof: $2000 – Leon Sportstourer

Premium paint: $260

Matte paint: $2600 – VZe, VZx

Is the Cupra Leon safe?

The Cupra Leon wears a 2020-stamped five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on Euro NCAP tests of the related Seat Leon.

Standard safety equipment across the range includes:

• 10 airbags
  • incl. front-centre
  • incl. rear-side
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Front cross-traffic assist
• Lane Assist
  • Lane departure warning
  • Lane-keep assist
• Parking sensors – front, rear
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Speed sign recognition
• Speed limit assist
• Travel Assist
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Adaptive lane guidance – centring
  • Traffic jam assist

To see how the Cupra Leon lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Cupra Leon cost to run?

The Leon range is covered by Cupra Australia’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

To see how the Cupra Leon lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Cupra Leon

If you’re wanting to resist the SUV trend, there’s a lot to like about Cupra’s revitalised Leon.

The Leon Hatch retains its ballistic performance halo while introducing a more efficient – and admittedly less powerful – entry point that counters the loss of grunt with more standard equipment (for more money, naturally).

Perhaps the standout of the launch range is the new Sportstourer, which while incredibly niche in today’s market landscape is impressively well-rounded and capable as a sporty compact family car.

Despite its low volumes, the 2026 Cupra Leon range will eventually offer no less than five flavours to cater to most tastes, and from the base level is competitively equipped against mainstream- and premium-badged rivals.

The Leon presents an upmarket and dynamic alternative to everything from the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla to the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class – let alone the related Audi A3 and VW Golf.

It’s not perfect though. Road noise on rough roads and price rises following very sharp clearance deals on the pre-update model are knocks against the new Leon, and those wanting a PHEV will need to wait a little longer.

Those that associate connected services and remote phone app functionality with a premium vehicle experience will also be disappointed by its absence here, even if Cupra says it’s actively working on a solution with its global parent.

My pick is the Sportstourer. Even without the flagship drivetrain with AWD, the wagon stands out as a very spritely, efficient and capable performer, and pretty much stands alone at this end of the market – #SaveTheWagons!

In fact, I liked it so much I’m genuinely considering buying one, if that holds any weight.

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