√2023 Cupra Leon price and specs: New price-leading Leon V orders open

After launching the bulk of the range in Australia during 2022, the Cupra Leon hatchback range is due to expand with an entry-level variant in 2023, available to order from January.

The 2023 Cupra Leon V small car is due in Australian showrooms early next year priced from $43,990 plus on-road costs, or $47,990 drive-away.

After launching in Australia in 2022, the performance arm of the Volkswagen Group’s Spanish brand Seat – Cupra – is preparing to add a final missing variant to the Leon hatch range, as promised when the brand revealed its line-up in April 2022.

Acting as the entry-level model, the Leon V hatchback is the cheapest Cupra model in Australia, with a similar level of equipment, but slightly less power and torque than the already-available Leon VZ.

A starting price of $43,990 plus on-road costs was confirmed for the Leon V in April, but the company has now revealed a national drive-away price of $47,990.

This sits alongside a $56,990 drive-away price for the more powerful Leon VZ, $62,990 to $65,990 drive-away pricing (depending on state) for the plug-in hybrid Leon VZe and $64,990 drive-away positioning for the range-topping VZx.

As detailed in February, the Leon V will use a 140kW/320Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG) automatic transmission for a 7.4-second dash from zero to 100km/h.

Standard features on the Leon V include LED headlights and tail-lights, keyless entry and start, heated power-folding exterior mirrors, fabric-trimmed sports seats, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting and illuminated scuff plates, three-zone climate control, and auto-on headlights and windscreen wipers.

A 12-inch central touchscreen with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive dampers, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, and and auto-dimming interior mirror are also included as standard.

A full suite of safety and driver assist technology including Travel Assist with adaptive cruise control and lane assist functions, semi-automated self-parking, driver fatigue monitoring, and rear-view camera are also standard.

The Leon V is available with an optional Leather and Sound Package which adds leather seat trim, heated front seats, powered driver’s seat with memory, copper dashboard stitching, and a nine-speaker Beats audio system. A stand-alone electric sunroof is available for $1800, while premium metallic paint finishes Desire Red and Graphene Grey are priced at $475.

From there, the Leon range remains as before, with the mid-trim Leon VZ switching to a a 180kW/370Nm version of the Leon V’s engine, good for a 0-100km/h time of 6.4 seconds thanks to front-wheel drive and the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This is shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Sitting atop the range on price is the Leon VZx, powered by a 221kW/400Nm version of the familiar 2.0-litre turbo engine – as used in Europe’s Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport – matched with the same transmission and drive layout for a 5.7-second 0-100km/h dash.

Buyers keen on skipping the bowser can opt for the Leon VZe plug-in hybrid, which combines a 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with an 85kW electric motor, 13kWh battery and a six-speed dual-clutch auto for 180kW and 400Nm combined.

Cupra claims a 6.7-second 0-100km/h time – three tenths slower than the VZ, due to the weight of the batteries – and 59km of claimed all-electric range, according to European WLTP testing.

Optional on the VZx are Brembo performance brakes, with 370mm front discs replacing the standard-fit 340mm items ($3600).

A full list of standard features, available options and the colours on offer is included at the bottom of this story.

Orders for the 2023 Cupra Leon V officially open from January 2023, with customer deliveries set to commence in the first half of 2023.

Cupra has also announced that the brand’s three year complimentary service program will continue into 2023, applicable across the Leon, Formentor and Ateca ranges.

2022 Cupra Leon Australian pricing

Leon V – $43,990 plus on-road costs/$47,990 drive-away
Leon VZ – $52,990 plus on-road costs/$57,490 drive-away
Leon VZe – $60,490 plus on-road costs/drive-away prices vary
Leon VZx – $61,490 plus on-road costs/$65,490 drive-away

2022 Cupra Leon V standard features:

140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder with seven-speed dual-clutch auto
18-inch Sport wheels in Black and Silver (with space-saver spare)
Adaptive dampers
Progressive sport steering
LED headlights with auto high beam
LED daytime-running lights and tail-lights
Fog lights with cornering function
12-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite navigation
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
Wireless phone charging
Heated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
Cloth sports bucket seats
Tri-zone climate control air conditioning
Keyless entry and start
Illuminated sill plates
Four USB-C ports
Drive mode selector
Ambient interior lighting
Rear privacy glass
Rain-sensing wipers
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Power-folding side mirrors with heating
Aluminum pedals
Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
Adaptive cruise control
Lane-keep assist
Lane following assist
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Safe exit warning
Driver fatigue monitoring
Tyre pressure monitoring
Front and rear parking sensors
10 airbags
Metallic paint (Nevada White, Magnetic Tech, Urban Silver, Midnight Black or Asphalt Blue)