Ahead of a second quarter 2025 Australian release, the facelifted Cupra Formentor and Cupra Leon ranges – including the Leon Sportstourer wagon, which has been confirmed for Australia for the first time – have been revealed with updated styling, new features and new drivetrains.
“The Cupra Formentor and Leon have both been a driving force in the brand’s success as it expands its footprint around the world. It’s an approach that has been incredibly successful with close to 600,000 cars delivered since the brand’s launch in 2018,” said Wayne Griffiths, CEO of Cupra.
“The new Cupra Formentor and Leon are pure design obsession. Two models built to provoke strong emotions and that strengthen the extraordinary bond with our tribe. Two models that represent what that small group of believers envisaged Cupra could be just a few years ago.”
Centre of the updates to the Cupra Formentor and Leon ranges are new front and rear styling to given the cars a fresher look and help differentiate them further from their Seat siblings. New headlight units feature on both cars – now with new three triangle daytime running lights and available matrix adaptive high beam – while the front bumper is now more aggressive. New alloy wheels feature on each model, while the three triangle light design carries over to the rear where new lighting units now feature.
The cabins of both cars have also seen changes – a new 12.9-inch touchscreen replaces the former 12-inch unit, while there are also new trims and upholsteries (including a 73 per cent recycled trim option) available as well. The software on the touchscreen has reportedly been improved for better usability, while a new 425-watt 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system replaces the current optional Beats unit.
Under the bodies of the Cupra Formentor and Leon ranges have also seen changes, starting with their drivetrains. For the first time, a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system – which currently is available locally in the Audi A3 35 TFSI – will be offered locally as the entry point to both models, though there have also been changes above. This engine replaces the older 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine in the plug-in hybrid variant, which has had its outputs boosted to 200kW and its larger 19.7kWh battery pack allows for around 100km of all-electric driving range and it can now be DC fast charged at up to 50kW.
The 140kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine gets upgraded to 150kW and continues with all-wheel drive for the Formentor and front-wheel drive for the Leon but the 180kW VZ has been canned. The top-spec Formentor VZx and Leon Sportstourer VZx now make 245kW/420Nm – up from 228kW/400Nm of the current models – and have gained the trick torque splitter rear differential from the VW Golf R and updated Audi S3, which can send full power to either rear wheel and a new drift mode. The front-wheel drive Leon VZx hatchback remains at 221kW/400Nm.
The facelifted Cupra Formentor and Leon ranges are due on sale in Australia from April 2025, with local pricing and specifications to be confirmed before then. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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