• Less economical than the SEAT Leon
• PHEV model claims up to 217.3mpg
• Based on proven Volkswagen mechanicals

What are the running costs?

It’s the smallest 1.5 TSI that promises the best economy, with the official figure in the low to mid 40s. With some enthusiastic driving this dropped to the mid 30s, though. The 2.0-litre Cupra Leons are considerably less economical than the SEAT Leon, due to their larger displacement engines and the amount of performance the brand has extracted from them. In basic terms, more horsepower = more fuel consumption.

Still, it isn’t too bad for a performance car. Cupra says the 245hp version of the Leon can manage between 37.2–39.2mpg on the WLTP combined cycle – and we saw figures well into the high 30s when cruising along the motorway. But, if you step on the loud pedal often (which you’ll want to because it’s fun), those figures will decrease quickly.

The 300hp model is slightly less economical, with claimed WLTP fuel economy figures of between 35.8–37.2mpg. CO2 emissions for the pure-petrol models also range between 162–186g/km depending on the specification, which places the Cupra Leon’s Benefit-in-Kind rating at 37%.

Cupra says the plug-in hybrid powered Leon e-Hybrid can remedy all of these issues. The brand makes some impressive claims about the powertrain’s efficiency, stating it’ll return up to 217.3mpg and emit just 30g/km of CO2. As a result, the PHEV’s BiK figure tumbles to 12%, which might be enough to swing the deal for company car buyers.

Whether or not you’ll actually achieve these incredible economy figures in the real world depends entirely on how often you can use the electric portion of the powertrain and how regularly you charge the car’s battery pack. Run the battery flat and your economy will drop to around 35mpg as penalty for hauling around the dead weight of the hybrid system.

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Servicing and warranty

There are three servicing plans available to Cupra Leon buyers. Term lengths are available from 12 to 36 months, with prices starting from around £15 per month. The most basic plan covers the cost of two services, one pollen filter replacement and (rather strangely) gives buyers a 10% discount on all of the company’s branded merchandise.

The most expensive plan starts from £34 a month, spread over 36 monthly payments. It covers the cost of the Leon’s first three services and the car’s first MOT, as well as one set of wiper blades, one set of front brake pads, one set of spark plugs and a brake fluid change. The package also gives drivers a 20% discount on branded merchandise.

Cupra offers a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard with the Leon, but buyers can choose to extend that to either four years/75,000 miles or five years/90,000 miles for some extra cash. The former plan costs £275, while the latter is priced at £460. Cupra also throws in an eight-year battery warranty for the PHEV model and free roadside assistance.

Reliability

The SEAT Leon has had four recalls since it was launched, the most serious of which was an issue with the seat belt anchor points in 2021 that affected 346 vehicles. Cupra (as a brand) hasn’t had any recalls according to the DVLA website.

The mechanicals that underpin the Leon are basically the same as you get in a Volkswagen Golf – and they’ve proved fairly reliable thus far. Owners’ biggest complaints about the Leon relate to the infotainment technology, which has proved to be slow and unreliable. There are reports of the lane assist system being dim-witted – and buyers are irritated by the fact you need to switch off the tech every time you drive the car.