Cupra Leon v Mk8.5 GTi

[Hertsman]

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.

[Exonian]

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! 😁

[Hertsman]

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 

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.

[Exonian]

Did you swap to the white?
(I would have 😁 )

[Hertsman]

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.

[Exonian]

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.

[Hertsman]

Due to the MY 26 price changes, my order was rejected and was told to pick again, and due to the oddities of the system, which is always updating, some different cars came into view, and we decided to go completely left field, so the new order is a Cupra Terramar Fjord Blue VZ1 272 PS

Its on the new VW platform, is 10 cm lowered and has the new DCC system, and interior and especially the seats are are really very nice, and for a medium SUV it has decent styling, especially the light package with Matrix Headlights and the coast to coast rear cluster.

Not expecting it to be anything like what had previous, am consciously moving to comfort but hopefully preserving some sporting intent as a balance.

Surprised ourselves on this one, as not even in frame even a few weeks ago, but Cupra showroom is only 5 miles away and Terramar really impressed us in flesh, think mainly the space, comfort of seats and interior trim quality and styling, Going to be a nice place to sit,. Still have the Golf R for my hot hatch kick, so makes this an easier decision. Due December so will let everyone know what think not too far after.

[Exonian]

The interior of the Terramar looks a great place to be from photos I’ve seen. It’s great that you can get something so different from the norm without having to move away from the VW group.

[Hertsman]

The interior of the Terramar looks a great place to be from photos I’ve seen. It’s great that you can get something so different from the norm without having to move away from the VW group.

The BMW 128Ti has been a good ride for last three years, completed 29,000 miles and its been super capable throughout, however, think that's my only true appreciation of it, and there has been none of that feeling of next one will be a BMW that have had with previous Golfs. Looking at the new BMW, think they gone backwards on interior quality, a lot of chromed plastic and removing the of iDrive is a complete BMW fail.

So its back to what know in VAG, but which one?

As stated earlier my company has gone very green, so nothing over 130g emissions, and so with the minimal BIK the PHEV were what was pitching at and could have had a VW GTE, Audi A3 Black Edition or the Cupra Leon, Formentor and Terramar and the new Audi Q3 is expected on there shortly.

So plenty of VAG to choose from and just think Cupra are the ones of the group who have stepped up interior quality while others are still pinching pennies.

The Terramar interior quality is truly excellent, materials are lovely, and we both looked at each other and said this is really nice. Think Cupra, being very new as an independent entity are trying to make their mark with genuine uplifts.

The Audi Q3 is going to be made in same factory as the Terramar, basically the same car, and do not really like the interior, which is across the Audi range really, too sterile? and some of quality of switches too faux (IE: plastic that's been chromed opposed to the engineered switches of the past)

Like said, bit of a change, but its a free punt, as probably be downing tools in next couple of years, so thought lets give it a go, before hand it back alongside my laptop and headset.

For us personally, can see us trading in our 2019 R for a used MK 8.5 R Black Edition in couple of years as likely just need one car for at least the short term with me being wandering around with not much else to do .

[fredgroves]

Your mob are a bit slow on the green thing Hertsman...

My lot were on 130g/km years ago, which is why I took the cash and did it myself.

Never looked back, its been cheaper than the company car cost me too. There's no BIK advantage unless you go full milk float.