We tested the CUPRA León VZ CUP: the most complete finish raises the level of the most ambitious and sporty León

Earlier this year, CUPRA announced the market launch of a more equipped and sportier version of its compact car, the  CUPRA León VZ CUP . Now that it has started to be marketed, we have been able to drive it to tell you what is special about it and what it feels like to drive this new variant that is destined to attract those who want a CUPRA León "with everything ”.

The CUPRA León VZ CUP comes to market to  spearhead  the CUPRA León, and it does so by paying homage to the competition's CUP models with its name.

This very special finish is available for virtually all CUPRA León. It will be offered both in the five-door compact body versions and in the Sportstourer family. As for  the mechanics , practically the same, since all high-powered versions will have the VZ CUP finish available.

Only the 204 hp e-HYBRID and the 245 hp 2.0 TSI are excluded from this level, since the 245 hp e-HYBRID and the 300 hp 2.0 TSI (5-door body) and 310 hp (Sportstourer body) ) can now be purchased in a normal trim version or this VZ CUP which is an extra between  7,600 and 9,000 euros .

What changes externally in a Leon VZ CUP compared to a normal one?

After learning about the premium this finish represents over a conventional finish, many will want to know  what it offers  to gauge whether it is worth it or not. Let's start the review from the outside.

From the front view, although the VZ CUPs retain the appearance of the front  end unchanged , with the same grille and the same bumper that we already know, they change slightly by incorporating the Matrix LED lights. This system is standard on the León VZ CUP and allows the  high beam  to be used on the road and alone to adjust their range to ensure maximum visibility without disturbing other road users.

If we continue the review on the side, we find the standard  19-inch wheels  in black and copper tones. These rims make it possible to fit sporty semi-slick tires on the petrol versions, in order to get the most out of the car.

They also make it possible to house another of the novelties associated with the VZ CUP. I'm talking about the sports brake team signed by Brembo. This includes four -piston brake   calipers that bite into 370 x 32mm vented and cross-drilled discs, larger than stock.

Associated with these brakes, a sport heel is incorporated, which by generating a greater  negative camber angle  , which ranges from 1º to 1.39º, allows, according to CUPRA, to improve dynamics, cornering grip, precision and management response.

Another of the novelties of the VZ CUPs are the  CUPRA side skirts  that run along the doors in their lower part, joining the two axes. It is a specific element of this version which gives it a sportier look and reinforces its poise on the asphalt.

If we go to the rear, in the five-door compact body versions, we find a small spoiler that adds to the gigantic rear spoiler of all CUPRA Leóns. This element is  made of carbon fiber  and in addition to giving it a sportier look, it also reduces vibrations at high speeds.

The more specific elements of the VZ CUP versions are the mirrors, which are painted in gloss black as standard and optional only for this version, they can be ordered with a  carbon fiber finish  like that of the test unit.

An interior with dream seats

When CUPRA unveiled its crown jewel, the CUPRA  Formentor VZ5 , one of the most acclaimed items was the CUP Bucket seats. These are seats manufactured by  Sabelt , capable of retaining their occupants thanks to their generous side supports. They also have a carbon fiber rear structure and, as if that were not enough, they also offer very good driving comfort.

These seats now come to the CUPRA León for the first time, and in addition to giving the interior a sportier and more sophisticated appearance, they also allow an optimized driving position  , lower and with better control of the vehicle's dynamics, by reducing the height of the center of gravity.

Combined with these CUP Bucket seats, the dashboard and steering wheel show the stitching in  Copper color , both with the upholstery in Black and Petrol Blue.

The other novelty on the interior level is the steering wheel, which has  satellite controls  on both sides. The lower right button is used to start the car, while the left one is used to select the driving modes at will.

Behind the wheel of the 245 hp CUPRA León VZ CUP e-HYBRID

For this first contact with the León VZ CUP, we were able to drive a version with a compact five-door body combined with a plug-in hybrid mechanism. We are therefore talking about a Leon which combines a 150 hp 1.4 TSI turbo petrol engine with a 116 hp electric motor. The set declares a maximum power of  245 hp and 400 Nm of torque .

Starting the mechanics from the button located at the bottom right of the steering wheel, by default the car starts  in electric mode . Even under low battery charge conditions, the car reserves a minimum to be able to start quietly.

This absence of noise and the immediacy and the impulse associated with the electric motor mark the character of the car during the first measurements. The  13 kWh battery  can travel up to 52 kilometers in electric mode only and this gives it the DGT ZERO label.

It's easy to get around solely on electricity in the city as well as on the highway, and unless we press the accelerator too hard or manually switch to one of the other driving modes (normal , Sport, CUPRA and Individual), the car will move with ease and agility using only the electric motor.

The declared range figure seemed very realistic to me, since I managed to cover  48 kilometers  using only electric before the combustion engine was activated.

Beyond this character associated with the electrification of this model, the truth is that the VZ CUP  feels different  from other CUPRA Leóns that I have been able to drive before. One of the reasons is that the e-HYBRID versions, both this one and the 204 hp version, have recently received an update. It consists of a chassis height lowered by 25 millimeters, so the car is more efficient and at the same time the dynamics are improved by lowering the height of the center of gravity.

At the wheel of the León VZ CUP there seems to be a  more direct  and precise connection with the car. It continues to be a model that stands out for its ride quality, a benchmark among those of its size and price, with very high steering precision and cornering hold that is difficult to find in other competitors.

In Sport or CUPRA mode, the character of the car changes noticeably. It becomes a sporty compact that is  fun to drive . The overall response to acceleration is more immediate, the steering is more direct and the suspensions are stiffened to improve dynamics.

In this sense, the  DCC with its 15 levels  of adjustable suspension hardness is a key element, since it allows them to be rigid, but without making them an uncomfortable car as is often the case in other sports compacts. .

In these Sport and CUPRA modes, a sound amplified by the speakers is also emitted, which if it is not the most natural in the world, it nevertheless allows you to gain a touch of emotion behind the wheel.

Price of the CUPRA Leon (with VZ CUP versions)

The CUPRA León range is now on sale with  VZ CUP finishes . This represents an additional cost of between 7,600 and 9,000 euros depending on the bodywork and the associated mechanics, and with the arrival of these versions the range is segmented as well.