Our cars Struggling to be negative
The Cupra Leon continues to impress with its exceptional breadth of talents, so it’s time for some serious nit-picking. Pete Tullin
The natural cynic in me inevitably means I find it is easier to muster a diatribe of negatives to describe a poor car than I do to summon up a slew of sugary syllables to critique a motor which is close to flawless. That’s probably why I find it a bit of a struggle to pontificate about our long-term Cupra Leon. Not that I’m saying the Leon is perfect, but it does tick a hell of a lot of boxes.
For instance, without even trying, I generally get mid-to-high forties mpg out of its 1.5-litre petrol engine, which is pretty impressive, given it is being driven by a bloke with a notoriously impatient right foot. What’s more, on a recent sojourn to France, with nothing but miles of soporific emerald green countryside and the relaxing tones of a chill-out live- lounge podcast for company, I managed to eke out a diesel rivalling 58mpg. I have to admit there were a couple of persuasive contributors to my loud pedal abstinence and my resultant record- breaking returns, including the countless average speed cameras which populate northern Normandy and the nearly 2 euro per litre price tag of French E10 unleaded. Really though, achieving this type of return wasn’t that difficult, as the Leon has a whole raft of economy measures built into its DNA. These include the ability to run on just two cylinders, in some cases up to 80mph/130km, and a transmission
Cupra Leon Hatchback 1.5 eTSI 150 DSG
P11D price £32,285 As tested £33,480 Official consumption 47.9mpg Our average consumption 44.6mpg Mileage 2675
which insists on disconnecting itself from the engine at every available opportunity, effectively allowing the Leon to freewheel as the engine idles.
From a refinement perspective, the way the transmission cuts out and then reconnects is impressively seamless, while the engine’s stop-start regime, except for the initial cold start first thing in the morning, is as quiet and as vibration free as any I’ve encountered.
I’ve lauded the ride and handling aspects of the Leon in previous reports and nothing has happened to change my opinion. I still find the steering sweetly weighted and responsive, and the suspension’s balance between comfort and control is particularly effective.
Despite the engine’s modest output, so far, I haven’t struggled for performance. Whether that be driving in traffic, where the additional initial shove from the small belt-connected electric motor aids the engine’s initial reactions, or at higher revs where the engine provides plenty of overtaking grunt. If I really extend matters, then the engine note can get a wee bit strained but because of the strong mid-range torque that is readily available, I seldom find myself straying into the thrashier numbers on the rev counter. If there is a slight fly in the Leon’s driving ointment, it is the inconsistent reactions of the brake pedal. Now the Leon is by no means unique in this respect, as most cars, with regenerative aspects to their braking systems suffer similar issues. To be fair, it can’t be easy developing the software required to marry a fly-by- wire braking system’s electric recharging requirements and friction braking requirements and still retain a consistent pedal feel. The processing power alone required to recognise the speed and ferocity of a driver’s braking inputs and decide whether a first response should be to prioritise the recharge generator, or to ignore that strategy in favour of a more forceful brake interaction must be nothing short of mind-boggling.
I particularly like the Leon’s driving position, which, thanks to the wide range of steering wheel and seating adjustments enables me to dial in a perfect perch. Unlike many rear-wheel drive cars, which
WEBSITE Please visit
www.businesscar.co.uk/tests/long-term-test/ for previous reports on our fleet
Standard equipment: 18in alloy wheels, climate control, sports seats, heated sports steering wheel with shift paddles, LED headlights LED taillights, Digital configurable cockpit, 12in touchscreen, 4 USB type C, Sat nav, smartphone integration including Mirror Link, Apple Car Play, Android Auto
Options: Metallic paint £870
accommodate intrusive gearboxes, causing offset pedal box arrangements, the Leon’s front-wheel drive layout frees up loads of space in the footwell, allowing the pedals to be aligned perfectly with the steering wheel and plenty of room for a wide footrest.
The driver’s seat also comes close to blending the ideal combination of support and comfort, and the simple twist lever lower lumbar support is a nice touch. That said perhaps a little bit more padding in the cushion wouldn’t go amiss, as I have noticed a touch of derrière numbness on a couple of sustained mileage journeys. Even so, I’ll gladly take that over some of the vice-like seats fitted to many sportier models, which although looking great, restrict movements and inevitably bring on the onset of early backache. Boy, I’m certainly showing my age now.
Why we’re running it
To see how the eTSI version of the Cupra Leon works for our fleet.
www.businesscar.co.uk | June 2023 | 45
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