While it would be easy for the cynical among us to suggest that the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer is nothing more than a Volkswagen Golf wagon cosplaying as a cyberpunk shark, but given you can’t actually buy a Golf wagon here anymore and sharks are cool, there is literally nothing wrong with that.
That said, the Leon’s appeal goes deeper than the fact it shares its underpinnings with an excellent car and looks like an augmented murder machine, as it adds a whole lot more style (admittedly it’s also more polarising – not everyone likes copper) and a slick sheen of “what is that?".
The Leon V is a bit of a throwback in Cupra’s range, being one of the last remnants of the Seat-based models that existed before Cupra was spun off its parent brand.
But don’t think that makes it an orphan, as the newer Cupras still share that VW DNA, and the Leon has quite a lot in common with the Formentor and Terramar SUVs, essentially being a lower and slightly longer version of, well, both really. Hey, choice is good, right?
Anyway, the Seat throwbacks continue with the Leon, with it not being particularly hot. Cupra (which stands for “Cup Racing”, remember) used to be the performance arm of Seat, with more pedestrian models being left to the parent brand.
But with the shift to Cupra (Seat has disappeared from New Zealand and is a “mobility” brand in Europe now) the non-cooking models now benefit from all the sharp looks and equipment, but with more standard power units (to crib an awful F1 term for ‘engines’).
As such, the Leon V is powered by the venerable VW Group 110kW/250Nm 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels through a 7-speed DSG, which you may be familiar with from such models as the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia, Audi A3… the list goes on.
But while this isn’t exactly the most exciting powertrain in the world, it is a genuinely good one and while the Leon V isn’t exactly a wagon-y version of a hot hatch (that’s your hot VZ), it is a truly excellent, well, wagon.
The Leon sits in a proper Goldilocks spot where it feels wonderfully planted and supremely responsive at any speed, like it is ready for anything you want to throw at it.
The choices are limited for anyone not wanting to head down the SUV path, but still needing a decent amount of room in the back (or who just likes wagons), and most wagons available in New Zealand are either much larger or considerably more high end (read: expensive), so while the Leon V isn’t exactly cheap, at $62,900 it is affordable.
And you do get a decent amount of kit for that money, with the Leon V coming standard with a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, keyless entry, tri-zone climate control, sports seats and a heated steering wheel, LED headlights, taillights and DRLs, a hands-free electric tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels and a full suite of safety features.
The 110kW turbo engine is every bit as refined and eager here as it is in, well, everything else it is used in, and it will propel the Leon V to 100km/h from a standing start in 9 seconds.
But that time doesn’t accurately convey the engine’s willingness to rev and the solid chunk of torque in the mid-range that keeps it beautifully on the boil at open road speeds. Well, mainly at least, as the otherwise excellent DSG transmission does have a tendency to try and second-guess you, either shifting up a gear a tad too soon or holding on a tad too long.
It’s not really a problem though, and a few days with the Leon (or literally any VW Group car that uses the same engine/transmission combo) and you get the hang of its slightly wilful nature and simply adjust your throttle inputs to suit.
If you don’t want an SUV, do want lots of practicality, and appreciate a good helping of sharp looks and superb handling on the side, then the Leon V Sportstourer is a very hard one to go past.
Of course, none of this matters when you get the Leon out on a sinuous back road and take full advantage of its delightfully agile chassis. Being longer than the hatches that share its underpinnings and lower than the SUVs, the Leon sits in a proper Goldilocks spot where it feels wonderfully planted and supremely responsive at any speed, like it is ready for anything you want to throw at it.
And it really is ready, as the chassis deals with the worst Kiwi roads have to offer without any complaints, soaking up bumps and weird cambers with aplomb.
The steering is delightfully sharp and accurate, while the ride quality is also right in the Goldilocks zone, being taut and sporty, without ever becoming harsh or intrusive.
Previously my biggest complaint about Cupras was their infotainment system that looked fantastic but was woefully confusing to use. But that has been fixed now (the company was well aware of it...) and the Leon’s new infotainment set up is far more intuitive and actually features things like buttons and backlit controls...
In short, if you don’t want an SUV, do want lots of practicality, and appreciate a good helping of sharp looks and superb handling on the side, then the Leon V Sportstourer is a very hard one to go past.
How much is the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer?
The Leon V opens the Sportstourer range at $62,990, while the hot VZ bumps things up to $84,990 but adds things like AWD and more than double the V's power (245kW versus 110kW).
What are the key statistics for the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer?
The Leon V is powered by the Volkswagen Group's venerable 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine hooked up to the obligatory 7-speed dual clutch transmission driving the front wheels.
Is the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer efficient?
Cupra claims a combined average consumption of 5.1l/100km for the Leon V Sportstourer, which is achievable if you really try. Our real world use was closer to 7 after a week with it.
Is the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer good to drive?
Very much so. As a daily driver around town it is smooth, refined and comfortable, while taking it out on a winding back road shows off its true virtues as a fantastically agile and responsive toy. It's not fast, but it makes the absolute most of all of the110 kilowatts on offer, while the way it goes around corners makes you not really care about that anyway.
Is the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer practical?
It's a wagon baby! So, yeah, it's practical. The Sportstourer is 4656mm long and boasts a 651 litre boot with the rear seats up. Drop them down an you get an SUV-style 1583 litres, while rear legroom is impressive.
What do we like about the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer?
It's a wagon baby! That aside, the fantastic handling is a high point, but the fact it manages this without compromising its ride quality is impressive. Also, it's not an SUV.
What don’t we like about the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer?
It's not the cheapest thing out there and, while you cant get a VW Golf wagon here, the fact that the Golf GTI hatch is only $5k more makes it harder to justify...
What kind of person would the Cupra Leon V Sportstourer suit?
A wagon person, obviously, or - more broadly - someone who wants SUV-style space and practicality without actually having to buy an SUV and sacrifice the Leon's superbly agile chassis as a result.
