This New Wagon Is (Almost) Perfect! (Cupra Leon Sportstourer Hybrid 2024 Review)
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- With Volkswagen Australia calling time on wagon-based passenger cars, the importer is eyeing Spanish VW cousin Cupra’s Leon Sportstourer as a fresh alternative for showrooms down under.
Editor Tom Baker heads to Cupra’s hometown of Barcelona to test drive two versions of the Leon Sportstourer: the plug-in hybrid VZe and the petrol-powered performance guise of the VZx.
We find that the Leon Sportstourer combines elements wagon-lovers are drawn to in the likes of Golf R and Skoda Octavia wagon, if with the Curpa brand’s own distinctive spin.
In this pairing, the PHEV VZe produces 180kW while offering up to 59km of all-electric range, while the petrol VZx weighs in with a fulsome 221kW and AWD. Both are a possibility for the Australian market in 2024.
Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Possible pricing
0:27 - Two engines for Australia?
0:43 - Is it a Golf R replacement?
1:06 - Interior
1:24 - Cabin highlights
1:45 - Touchscreen media
2:22 - Digital driver’s screen
2:42 - Euro-spec sports seats
3:07 - Row two room
3:50 - Boot space
4:29 - Hybrid stats
4:47 - On road impressions
5:18 - Formentor or Leon?
5:31 - Underpinnings
5:58 - Handling character
6:13 - Under their bonnets
6:27 - PHEV rundown
6:53 - Output data
7:30 - Transmission
7:55 - PHEV fuel consumption
8:12 - 221kW VZx rundown
8:32 - Leon Vs Golf R wagon
9:18 - VZx fuel economy
9:45 - Handling
10:05 - Is it fun to drive?
10:42 - Adaptive dampers
11:15 - Tyre noise
11:55 - Verdict
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I'm in Germany at the moment on holiday. Been to Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Nurburgring and now Munich. The SUV brainwashing program has failed here. The number of wagons on the road is incredible. Most wagons are 3 and 5 series BMW. Also many Panamera wagons. And the Cupra brand is very very popular. I see them everywhere (all models). Add to that the utter freedom and joy of unlimited autobahns and overall its bloody fabulous here, unlike the over policed, nanny country of Australia, full of lumbering ugly SUVs and drivers who think they need them.
Totally agree. Have also just returned from Germany and the amount of new wagons on the road is staggering. No digs at Australians buying what they want, but the superiority of the estate form factor for fuel efficiency, ride and handling is simply an objective fact
@@chasingcars we should dig at Australians. They need to wake up! 🔥💯🍺
Why do we have to wait so long!! Get them here before Christmas!!! I can’t wait!! So much more practical than a SUV, better to drive and more fuel efficient. Hurry up Cupra Australia!!
The Cupra will do. It's bloody awesome. I test drove a couple of variants in the UK last month & it's a beauty . Quality Is very good . Reckon they'll do well
The timing if this review is bang on. In the Netherlands and checking one out tomorrow! Wagons over SUVs :)
I'm in the UK, have had one of these for about 6 weeks on a really good 2 year lease deal. It called the cupra leon hybrid vz2 here. Had a number of cars in my time but have to say, estates are by far my faves. SUV,s aren't a patch on these for driver enjoyment.
Have to say this is a great review, i saw the one you did on the hatch a while back. Its nice to get a proper explanation on how the car works and how the electric motor and petrol engine relate to each other.
I've mostly been doing urban driving pretty much 100% of the time in electric mode. I charge every 2 or 3 days and in full ev the cost works out at around 3 pence a mile which is ridiculously cheap.
The ride is much better than i thought it would be on those 19 inch wheels, and I'm in sport mode much of the time.
Was worried that the bucket seats would be a bit tight, but not so, very comfortable, and hold you in place a treat.
I haven't had a proper chance to test out the hybrid capability and at times its kicked in i haven't felt the marriage of the two was as smooth as it could be, but i probably need to take it out on a longer trip to see its full working potential.
So far very pleased, the infotainment system gets a bad press but ive had no issues.
Keep up the good work, and nice to see you guys drive on the proper side of the road too!
Petrol blue + bronze stitching interior is a must! That's a winner. Should b available throughout all models.
A sensible buy and will suit the driver’s driver. Can’t wait to get one . Love it . 😉😉
Why didn't you just zip over to NZ for a test drive. We've had them here for a couple of years as both Cupra and SEAT. They are brilliant.
Beautiful looking car a great replacement for the Golf R wagons
It would be a nice addition, for sure.
Chasing cars is surely the best resource for the Cupra lineup.
I have recently bought a Formentor vzx after watching your two videos.
Thanks for sharing another Cupra wagon.
According to the spec in UK, both Formentor and Leon wagon can sprint within 4.9 sec for 0~100km/h.
Glad to hear that!
The 220kw AWD model would be a great option
I currently have a C class estate and was eyeing this off as a replacement, was sad it wasnt coming to Aus, but things lookking good now
If only people realised that cars like this are a far better drive than any equivalent SUV and in wagon form a lot more practical too.
Holy cows! What a looker. ANZ really needs more PHEV, we barely have any. With some markerting, this will sell. Bt people has to know.
A small part of me died when VW killed their wagon line-up in Australia, was planning to upgrade from my B8 206 Passat wagon to the new B9.
Being in NZ I test drove a VZ 228KW AWD Sportstourer. It has the goods mechanically (the EA888 is still a beast of an engine) and drives well but I was very disappointed in the tech. The driver aids were REALLY intrusive (it has an audible junction alarm that went off at every intersection), the infotainment is clunky to use and looks a generation behind the competition. I desperately wanted to like this car because in my opinion it looks gorgeous both inside and out, but in the end I couldn't wait to hand the keys back.
Yes please for Australia!! No more SUVs
I'd definitely go with the Sportstourer PHEV.
Thank goodness, fixing the world, one wagon at a time!
Going by the review (objective) and subjectively seems delightful. Were it not for what I read about the actual ease of living without hard buttons for controls and the prevalence of glitches in the sister golf and Skoda cars of this generation I would be absolutely sold. Please VAG, this one issue blights a number of vehicles which we enthusiasts would just love. A pity, so much of the engineering and the styling is bang on. 98% perfect.
Skoda kamiq update just got HVAC physical buttons for fans speed, could be happening in other models
@@PH-kl5qq music to my ears..let’s hope this gets rolled out across all the coming facelifts.
is there a AWD PHEV? the main drawback on the Formentor is that the VZe is FWD only, was hoping that would be remedied with the Sportstourer.
Nice SEAT
Good review Ed, are we not just getting a old Audi A4 tarted up though - with Cupra aka Seat charging a premium for what i dunno? I used to have an old B6 wagon and still looks the same as this.
Different (and lesser) platform to an A4 - this is MQB Evo, same toolkit as a Golf, Octavia or A3. As for price premiums, it's hard to judge. I think the two Leon wagons - 180kW PHEV and 221kW AWD - will be about $70K driveaway in Australia. There is no PHEV version of the A4 sold locally, and the 180kW/370Nm AWD A4 wagon is $80K driveaway + options.
@@chasingcars for non phev, Octavia VRS wagon $55k far better value and same platform. Maybe no wagon phev alternative.....volvo maybe
Had these in NZ for a while and they look great.
No, there is no stretched wheel base compared to the hatch. Both are 2683 mm.
I bought my focus wagon stline for 35k that has 570 litres of cargo with false floor divider and with space saver. I was excited for phev until you said 470L and no space saver. Image flat tyre with kids in the back waiting for a tow.
No point upgrading to bigger engines with premium ULP going upwards of $2.5+ then you might as well drive SUV
Would u buy a hybrid second hand with low milage? About 2 years old.
What wagon do you own Tom??
Looks like a very acceptable update on my Golf GTI recently replaced by a Cupra Ateca, which I like very much, but I wouldn't be having anything in undercoat. It's a fashion statement and will likely die out - what will it look like in two year's time especially if it's not garaged. Doesn't matt paint need special washing materials, and what if you don't use them? I reckon it's the 'Emperor's Clothes' situation, lots of deception, smoke and mirrors. What do women think about the matt paint look?
did we get any of the 5cyl cupras in aus?
Sadly not - the only one is the five cylinder Formentor VZ5, and that was only developed for left-hand drive, the reason being that Cupra hadn’t yet decided to launch in Australia at the time (which would have delivered sufficient sales volume, along with the UK market, to justify also engineering the Formentor VZ5 for right-hand drive)
I know this thread is old now - has there been more recent informed rumours of the wagon/sportstourer coming to Australia next year? I am looking to replace my Golf estate.
To answer my own question, apparently Cupra Australia announced the facelifted Cupra Sportswagon will come to Australia in 2025. Yay!
they are not sending wagons to australia? thats crazy! We should start penalising SUV drivers for spoiling it for the rest of us.
Gosh 70k for an unknown brand, will be a steal in a few years depreciation will be murder 😊
Its a known brand 😂
70 grand for a small wagon? No way.
That duco is ghastly. How not to sell cars.
hybrids are garbage. (except Toyota / Lexus)
Disagree, this is a good one to drive, and it delivered results.
Bad move VW. Some sedans aren't meant to be wagons.
Leon sedan?