Cupra, the sporty brand born out of Seat, continues to shed its "common" identity. After presenting the distinguished Formentor separate from other models of the parent company Seat, and introducing unique models such as the Born and electric Tuscan, as well as the gasoline/plug-in hybrid Tramontana, the brand is now looking to disconnect the ties between the hatchback Leon and its Seat origin.
Externally, the most notable change is the adoption of the brand's "shark nose" front, which we’ve already seen on the new and refreshed models from the manufacturer. This front also includes new lighting units, which resemble other models in the brand, and like the Formentor, which has already landed in Israel, it will also feature a lit brand logo at the rear.
Inside, changes include the replacement of the multimedia screen with a larger one, growing from 10 to 12.9 inches, and a new steering wheel with a driving mode selector. Unfortunately, the arrangement for controlling sound volume and climate control via a touch "slider" remains.
In terms of equipment, the main highlights beyond the increased screen size include wireless connectivity for Android and Apple, a wireless charging pad, and a sunroof. The three-zone climate control system remains, as do the keyless entry and start. The BEATS sound system is no longer offered in the base version, while a Sennheiser system will be available as part of a package called CARRERA, which adds NIS 15,000 to the price and includes 19-inch wheels and adaptive dampers.
In the higher VZ version, you get the sound system, 19-inch wheels, and deep "bucket" seats, along with electric seat adjustment for the driver and heating for both the driver and the front passenger.
The safety systems still include autonomous braking, lane departure correction, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, and rear cross-traffic alerts, now supplemented with lane-change prevention when detecting vehicles in the blind spot and door opening alerts when a passing vehicle is detected.
The engines of the Cupra Leon carry over from the pre-facelift version but with updates. The 1.5-liter turbo engine remains with 150 horsepower and 25 kgm, but adds a mild hybrid 48V system that allows for electric "gliding" assistance at cruising speeds and powering electrical consumers for longer periods, even when the engine is off in standby mode. Performance remains unchanged at 8.7 seconds for 0-100 km/h and a maximum speed of 215 km/h, but the official combined fuel consumption improves by 9%, from 16.7 to 18.2 km/l.
The VZ version continues with a 2.0-liter engine, 300 hp, and 40.8 kgm. It also has a dual-clutch gearbox with 7 speeds, but here the acceleration is 5.7 seconds for 0-100 km/h, with a maximum speed of 250 km/h. The combined fuel consumption is 13.3 km/l.
Other technical differences between the two include standard adaptive shock absorbers for the VZ, a limited-slip front differential, and a stronger braking system.
However, the broader move of the Cupra brand, as reflected in the case of the Leon, is worth noting. Originally, Seat was a sort of sporty, common, Latin brand within the Volkswagen group, where each division had its own purpose, role, and function in the internal hierarchy. But the Cupra brand, which began as the more sporty sub-brand of Seat, now aims higher, with the ambitious Wayne Griffiths as CEO. They want to target younger customers who do not want their parents’ luxury brands.
The entry price of the Leon, with the 1.5-liter engine, stands at NIS 180,000, a relatively modest increase compared to the added equipment and the new engine, around NIS 3,000. For those who don’t know, this price is quite close to its sibling, the Volkswagen Golf, which has also increased in price after its facelift and now costs NIS 170,000. The sporty VZ version already raises the price to NIS 260,000, adding about NIS 10,000 without significant additional value.
The Seat Leon ceased to be sold by the importer about two years ago, leaving the Ibiza, Arona, and Ateca in Seat's "common" showroom while reserving the larger (and more profitable) models for Cupra. There, it tries to attract the audience of Honda, which is stunned by the price of the new hybrid Civic starting at NIS 218,000, those who used to look for the Audi A3, which has struggled in recent years and has increased to NIS 212,000, BMW customers, as the update of the 1 Series has yet to arrive in Israel, and the Mercedes A-Class, which has skyrocketed with an entry price of NIS 320,000. All of these leave plenty of room for those who want a "different" brand and are willing to pay for it.