Well, nobody can say it looks like a SEAT any longer. The CUPRA Leon has been refreshed and separated from the SEAT model that it is based on in more ways than one. But first, a bit of backstory: CUPRA was the performance moniker for go-faster SEAT models that began with an Ibiza rally car in the late 1990s. Roadgoing Ibiza and Leon Cupra models followed and in 2018, the brand was spun out from being a subdivision of SEAT and became a manufacturer in its own right - similar to how Polestar was the in-house tuner for Volvo before becoming their own entity. 

Since 2018, the brand has produced the Ateca, Leon and Formentor in varying degrees of swiftness and although the detailing always said CUPRA, from afar they still looked like the models that they were based on. That began to change with the Born and Tavascan - two electric models that brought in extra gold trim and a new light signature, but now with the facelifted Leon, CUPRA is starting to find its form.

CUPRA Leon facelift - Design and Styling

I say form in the literal meaning of the word - the form/shape of the products. At the front, the 2024 model Leon gets the new triple-triangle light signature that made its debut on the Tavascan. Combined with triangular headlight clusters, this guides the eye towards the centre of the grille and to the new shark-nosed face that dominates the styling. There is a flat vertical surface which connects the two light clusters and meets a flat horizontal surface that runs beneath it and folds down into the two arrow-shaped bumper inserts. A second L-shaped insert runs down to the front splitter while a flat bar runs from edge to edge, with the rest of the grille being made up of squares that don’t appear to line up correctly. 

Usually, it’s Chinese cars that provoke comparisons to other models from Western brands but with this, I can see elements of the Ford Focus RS (Mk 3) and Mustang Mach 1 (S550), the Renaultsport Clio 200 (with its single wide inlet at the top of the grille) and amazingly, the BYD Seal for the bonnet design. It may just be me who sees these similarities but in short, although CUPRA have found their form, they may need to finesse it to have a more cohesive-looking design going forward. That said, there is no way that the new CUPRA Leon can be confused with the old one.

From the front anyway…the rest of the car looks fairly similar to the model that went before it which to my eyes makes the new nose look a bit out of place, but let’s cast that aside for now. The current generation Leon is a good-looking car - it’s well proportioned with a lovely curved lower windowline that steeply rises towards the C-pillar and a fantastic creased character line that emerges above the front wheel arch, runs along the doors before disappearing ahead of the rear wheel arch and re-emerging above it. This sharp line accentuates both pairs of flared arches brilliantly and it’s one of my favourite styling touches on any new car today. The arches are home to 18” or 19” wheels with new designs being made available as part of the facelift. 

With the front being decidedly un-SEAT, the rear follows suit. That creased character line from the rear arches extends around and across the tailgate, being underscored by a full-width light bar that sees triangular lights at the extremities, and an illuminated logo in the centre. I know that illuminated logos are rather marmite at the moment but I love this. Naturally, the in-vogue wide-spaced badging for the manufacturer’s name is featured beneath. The bumper now features a darkened diffuser insert which will make the car look like it sits lower to the ground. As before, the model is available as a hatch or an estate with the long-roofed variant having its own design for the diffuser but the same design themes at the rear. 

CUPRA Leon facelift - Engine, Powertrain & Performance

That’s enough of the style for now, what about the substance? Well, there are a few flavours of engine available for the new Leon. While not yet officially confirmed, reading between the lines on the CUPRA website tells me that there will be three engine options coming for the facelifted Leon; opening the range will be the 1.5-litre mild-hybrid hybrid four-cylinder with 147 bhp and 184 lb-ft, sending its performance to the road via a 7-speed DSG transmission.

In the middle of the range is a 268 bhp plug-in hybrid option which pairs a 1.4-litre engine to an electric motor and a large 19 kWh lithium-ion battery which is good for up to 62 miles of electric running - a significant improvement on the 37 mil