Motoring with Joe Ray Rayfus: The Cupra Leon is VZ to Love

There are weeks when I’m collecting a car, that I’ll suspect, before even turning the key (or pressing the button these days), that it’s going to have a bit of attitude. The Cupra Leon VZ eHybrid is one of those cars— resplendent in its matte Enceladus Grey paint, crouched low on those outrageously cool Hailstorm Copper alloy wheels, looking like it had just rolled off the set of a futuristic heist film.

My Dad even gave it a nod of approval. And this is a man who has driven the same diesel Passat since the Celtic Tiger first purred…and as he says, much to my mother’s annoyance, “It’ll see him out too”.

The Cupra Leon VZ eHybrid, in case you’re wondering, is the Spanish brand’s most potent plug-in hybrid hatchback yet. VZ stands for “Veloz”, which means “fast” in Spanish. And fast it is. It packs 272 horsepower from a combination of a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and an electric motor.

That hybrid powertrain launches it from 0-100km/h in just over seven seconds -more than enough for darting past dawdlers on the M3 or tackling that backroad with a grin.

In electric-only mode, it’s completely silent, eerily so, like driving a very stylish ghost. The 124km claimed electric range is impressive and surprisingly realistic. I managed just over 100km on battery alone, even with the occasional enthusiastic sprint off the roundabout.

What sets this Leon apart from lesser hybrids isn’t just the pace or the practicality—it’s the theatre. Step inside and you’re met with sculpted Dinamica bucket seats that hug you like a Spanish grandmother who hasn’t seen you in years. The 12.9-inch infotainment screen glows with purpose, though you might need a few days to learn where everything is hidden. There are touch sliders too, which look cool but can be fiddly unless you have surgeon’s fingers.

The heated steering wheel feels like it was lifted straight out of a touring car. Paddle shifters, satellite buttons, ambient lighting—it’s all here, and all focused on making every drive feel like an occasion. And thanks to the optional Sennheiser immersive audio system, even a mundane trip to SuperValu can feel like a rave in Ibiza.

There’s always a trade-off, and in this case, it’s boot space. That plug-in battery eats into the rear, leaving you just 270 litre -fine for the weekly shop, not so much for a family of four heading to Rosslare. But for most people buying this car, I suspect it’s more about the looks, the badge, and that all-important hybrid tax band (€140 a year, thanks to just 9g/km CO2). Charging is easy too. I used my own 7.4kW home charger and it was topped up in no time.

The VZ eHybrid is the halo model in the Cupra Leon range, and it should be. It looks a million euros, sounds like a whisper, and drives with enough sharpness to keep a Golf GTI driver honest. But with a total price tag of just over €61,000 with all the bells and whistles, it's not exactly cheap.

Still, this isn’t the hot hatch for your 20s. This is the hot hatch for someone who’s grown up a bit, maybe has a dog, maybe a mortgage, but still wants to feel a pulse of adrenaline on the morning commute -just without the guilt or the petrol bill.

The Cupra Leon VZ eHybrid is a car that manages to be sensible and spicy at the same time. It's practical(ish), stunning to look at, tax-efficient, and genuinely fun to drive—especially in that silent, stealthy EV mode. It’s the kind of car that lets you live your grown-up life while still feeling like the coolest person in the Lidl car park.

And really, isn’t that all we’re looking for?