USED BUYER'S GUIDE Cupra Leon

FROM £16,000 Sporty Spanish brand’s hatchback and estate are understated but capable, and make a great choice for driving enthusiasts

- Richard Dredge

SEAT was founded in 1950 and introduced its first car three years later. By 1983, Volkswagen had bought a stake in SEAT, which it then acquired completely in 1990. The idea was that SEAT would be Volkswagen's sporty division, but consumers have often been unsure as to what the Spanish company stands for, and as a result it has struggled to make headway in the UK — a brand-conscious market. Having introduced the sporty Cupra trim in the mid-nineties, this was then spun off as a separate brand in 2018. Its first product was a revamped SEAT Ateca and its second was a warmed-up version of the SEAT Leon. This morphed into the Cupra Leon.

HISTORY

THE Cupra Leon made its debut in February 2020, in hatchback and estate forms. At first there was only a 241bhp plugin hybrid, which was marketed as the e-Hybrid, but thanks to Covid the first examples weren't delivered until spring 2021.

By this point the hatch was also available with a 296bhp engine; within weeks there was a 241bhp option, while a 306bhp Leon estate also appeared, with 4Drive four-wheel drive. All of these were powered by a 2.0 TSI petrol engine, as was the 187bhp Leon 190 that was added in autumn 2022. At the same time a 148bhp option was added, with a 1.5 TSI engine.

A facelifted Leon went on sale in July 2024, with a refreshed design inside and out, higher-quality trim materials, a bigger (12.9-inch) infotainment screen and a 328bhp Sportstourer (estate) option. A 268bhp engine was also added to the range, and since then a 201bhp e-Hybrid variant has also been introduced.

WHICH SHOULD I BUY?

THE hottest Leons (with 304 and 325bhp) come in estate form only, and this is the only bodystyle available with four-wheel drive. But we wouldn't steer you away from any variation on the Cupra Leon theme, because they're all good.