2023 Cupra Leon V orders now open, more VZe hybrid stock coming

Order books for the 2023 Cupra Leon V small hatchback have opened, ahead of first deliveries in the coming months.

Priced from $43,990 plus on-road costs, or $47,990 drive-away, the Leon V is the cheapest vehicle in Volkswagen-owned Spanish car maker Cupra's model range, twinned with the Volkswagen Golf.

Cupra says the Leon V – which combines the Cupra-specific exterior body kit and suspension tune with a less powerful engine available in its standard Seat Leon counterpart in Europe – was initially developed specifically for Australia.

However, the model variant has since spread to other Cupra markets in Europe, as well as the UK.

Powering the Leon V is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developing 140kW and 320Nm, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, front-wheel drive and a 7.2-second 0-100km/h acceleration time.

Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, an electronic differential lock, adaptive suspension, cloth sport bucket seats, a 12-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a suite of advanced safety features.

Meanwhile, Cupra Australia says it "expects to secure a further allocation" of the Leon VZe plug-in hybrid, after the initial allocation – comprised of 98 Leon VZe and Formentor VZe models in total – sold out.