Author Topic: Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi  (Read 3098 times)

Offline Hertsman

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Re: Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi
« Reply #10 on: 19 June 2025, 17:16 »
CUPRA Leon DSG VZ1 272 PS e-HYBRID

Just ordered this as replacement for the BMW 128Ti in Magnetic Tech Grey with the Sennheiser Audio upgrade.

Impressive base specification including DCC, ACC, Matrix LED and Memory Bucket Seats, Heated Steering wheel, and 12.9 inch media screen etc, the only real add on for the VZ2 and VZ3 are luxury items like the leather seats and carbon inserts, otherwise, functionally pretty much the same.

The PHEV was always going to be my first dip into EV but there was no car that really attracted me to it that had both design and performance, until these facelift Cupra appeared, To which there is plenty to see in showrooms and been back and forth a few times now.

Really lovely interior with good quality materials, with copper stitching and wrap around ambient lighting and really nice exterior designs with the lighting clusters and DRL.

Would have loved the Matte Grey all these showroom examples were cloaked with but at £2000 decided to pass. Did toy with the Graphene grey as a nod to my previous Pure Grey TCR but think the Magnetic Grey (Metallic) just sits on the Leon better and its £300 cheaper. It was Sennheiser over paint basically.

Colleagues have PHEV and seem to get a long with them really well and as this is a company lease, have dropped my personal contribution including BIK by 2/3.

None have the 272PS so be interested to see how performs in ride and drive as obviously be heavier, but pretty sure it be decent enough as the houses main workhorse with the 19 plate R as more the weekend drive out car still. 

Figures state that the 1.5 liter engine is 177 PS and the electric motor is 116 PS which is 293 PS combined so imagine there is some rounding down to 272PS for actual output. Know there is folk far smarter here than me on the subject so be interested to read any comments.

Did also look at the Formentor and Terramar but they would just be selected to be different and seems once a hatch always a hatch with me.

Usual long wait as they ask you super early to be ahead of delays, so be running the 128Ti till December but quite looking forward to the Cupra coming, nice and fresh updated package from Cupra with decent performance of 7.1 secs 0-60 (most videos have sub 7.0 secs) and opportunity to dabble with EV also.
« Last Edit: 19 June 2025, 18:08 by Hertsman »
Present - BMW 128Ti Alpine White, 18" Performance Tyres, Sun Protection Glass, Parking Assist, Heated Steering, Boston Trim, Split Folding Rear Seats, Electric Lumbar Support
- 2nd car: 2019 Golf R DSG Pure White 19" Black Pretoria, Privacy Glass, Rear View Camera, Dynaudio, Keyless
- 2019 Pure Grey GTI TCR 5 Door DSG Reifinitz Wheel DCC Climate Screen 90% Tint
- 2016 Lapiz Blue Golf R 5 Door DSG Pretoria DCC
- 2013 Pure White GTD 5 Door DSG DCC

Offline Exonian

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Re: Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi
« Reply #11 on: 19 June 2025, 19:47 »
That’s an interesting choice Hertsman, I can see your thinking and it’s a great looking car with a classy interior.
And…

It has the all important heated steering wheel! 😁
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Hertsman

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Re: Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi
« Reply #12 on: 19 June 2025, 20:49 »
That’s an interesting choice Hertsman, I can see your thinking and it’s a great looking car with a classy interior.
And…

It has the all important heated steering wheel! 😁

Yes, first thing looked for  :grin:

Choice was sort of made for me, the company has new policy on nothing above 130g/km and they are boosting allowance to promote the various EV options, so on financial aspect its 2/3 less than paying now and least ever paid personally for company lease.

The choice of cars with any essence of performance was limited and the Cupra face lift range of Leon, Formentor and Terramar really stood out.

The petrol choices also have really leaped in price, and most are quite vanilla, so with this level of saving it kept me renewing company lease over going private used.

We have a local Cupra garage, they are really good at having all their cars in the showroom and been a few times now and more impressed each time go, especially the packed options, quality of interior and overall design.

The VW GTE was equally available, but just not as sold on it all around, so quickly dismissed.

Am having a little wobble on Glacier White, only just advised order so have a cooling period to change colour, so a tomorrow decision.
« Last Edit: 19 June 2025, 20:51 by Hertsman »
Present - BMW 128Ti Alpine White, 18" Performance Tyres, Sun Protection Glass, Parking Assist, Heated Steering, Boston Trim, Split Folding Rear Seats, Electric Lumbar Support
- 2nd car: 2019 Golf R DSG Pure White 19" Black Pretoria, Privacy Glass, Rear View Camera, Dynaudio, Keyless
- 2019 Pure Grey GTI TCR 5 Door DSG Reifinitz Wheel DCC Climate Screen 90% Tint
- 2016 Lapiz Blue Golf R 5 Door DSG Pretoria DCC
- 2013 Pure White GTD 5 Door DSG DCC

Offline Exonian

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Re: Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi
« Reply #13 on: 24 June 2025, 16:21 »
Did you swap to the white?
(I would have 😁 )
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline Hertsman

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Re: Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi
« Reply #14 on: 25 June 2025, 13:35 »
Did you swap to the white?
(I would have 😁 )

Did not realise it was metallic but learning that was reason for the wobble, and order has been changed to Glacial White!

Not sure how compares to the Oryx, which always liked, but was a premium cost option.

Learnt a little more about the PHEV and apparently the shove off torque is pretty decent. Enough unknowns to make this selection an interesting change, what will performance be? the drive and ride? and how will live with the EV aspect? etc.
Present - BMW 128Ti Alpine White, 18" Performance Tyres, Sun Protection Glass, Parking Assist, Heated Steering, Boston Trim, Split Folding Rear Seats, Electric Lumbar Support
- 2nd car: 2019 Golf R DSG Pure White 19" Black Pretoria, Privacy Glass, Rear View Camera, Dynaudio, Keyless
- 2019 Pure Grey GTI TCR 5 Door DSG Reifinitz Wheel DCC Climate Screen 90% Tint
- 2016 Lapiz Blue Golf R 5 Door DSG Pretoria DCC
- 2013 Pure White GTD 5 Door DSG DCC

Offline Exonian

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Re: Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi
« Reply #15 on: 25 June 2025, 20:58 »
Good decision on the white, I saw a FL Leon in white and it suited the car really well. Not that I’m biased.
I’m looking forward to reading how the car drives compared to your string of 2.0 hatches when it eventually arrives.
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten