The Cupra Leon gets a bold new look to distance itself from its SEAT cousin – but there are even more changes under the skin.
Cupra has just announced the first uniquely styled version of the Leon, finally getting muscular looks to back up the performance it offers. While the SEAT Leon will continue to be sold, this is the first time we've seen the Leon hatchback and estate get Cupra-specific looks.
2024 Cupra Leon design
The biggest change to the Leon (both in hatchback and 'sportstourer' estate forms) is a completely redesigned front end, which gets a new 'shark nose' face, complete with matrix LED headlights. These headlights have Cupra's new triangular light signature, which is also mimicked in the taillights. The Leon also gets a wider, more open grille around the numberplate plinth – add all the new design elements together and there's more of a hint of Lamborghini Urus.
The Cupra Leon's back end gets the aforementioned new taillights, joined by Cupra's signature lightbar, now with a red light-up Cupra logo and the usual bronze badge and mock exhaust pipes on smaller-capacity petrol and PHEV models.
2024 Cupra Leon interior
As with the recently announced 2024 Cupra Formentor facelift, the 2024 Cupra Leon gets a massive 12.9-inch infotainment system sitting pride of place in the cabin.
It's angled towards the driver for a more cocooned feel, and having used a similar system in the new Volkswagen Passat, we're sure it'll feel like an upgrade over the slightly flakey system in the previous Leon. The temperature and volume sliders underneath the screen are now backlit.
There are plenty of other tweaks in the new Leon. There's an updated operating system for the digital dashboard, while the centre console has been redesigned. Cupra says the interior materials feel higher quality than before, and the brand's used more sustainable materials – say hello to bucket seats wrapped in 73% recycled microfibre of 'environmentally conscious' leather.
2024 Cupra Leon engines
The big news is that the Cupra Leon Sportstourer (that's the estate version) will get the new Audi S3's 333hp 2.0-litre petrol engine, complete with a four-wheel-drive system capable of drifting and sliding by way of torque-splitting tech.
The hatchback version remains front-wheel-drive, with a 300hp version of the 2.0-litre petrol engine on offer. There'll also be a more sensible 1.5-litre, 150hp option with a manual or automatic gearbox.
Plug-in hybrid fans get two options with either 204 or 272hp, each managing around 60 miles on electric power alone, which is almost double what you'd manage in the pre-facelift version.
Cupra Leon price and release date
You'll be able to order the new Cupra Leon in the coming months, and although prices haven't been announced we expect it to cost a little more than the outgoing model, so budget around £35,000
