2024 Cupra Leon VZx wagon: International first drive

Meet the Volkswagen Golf R wagon in a different suit.

The Cupra Leon VZx wagon has the same turbocharged engine, seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, all-wheel-drive grip and sub-5.0 second 0–100km/h performance.

It comes from Volkswagen's Spanish performance offshoot Cupra, and it could make its way to Australian showrooms some time next year.

While Volkswagen Australia says it will honour existing orders for the Golf R wagon, the model has been pulled from sale locally. Which leaves a gap in the Volkswagen Group's fast wagon line-up locally.

For now, Cupra Australia has the Leon VZx hatch as its performance halo.

But that model is front-wheel drive, and the Leon VZx wagon is all-wheel drive – and has brisker acceleration and added practicality.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed because the car is yet to be locked in for Australia.

But as a guide it should land somewhere close to, or just shy of, the Volkswagen Golf R wagon (which currently is listed at $71,990 plus on-road costs).

Our guess is it could be priced somewhere around the $65,000 to $70,000 mark if it gets the green light for our market.

As the flagship of the Cupra Leon range, the VZx comes with the works.

Lamborghini styling cues can be seen in the materials on the dash, steering wheel hub, and even the shape of the air vents.

The lengthy standard equipment list includes wireless smartphone charging, sensor key with push-button start, dual-zone air-conditioning controls, a digital instrument cluster, sports seats, and shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

The cabin is roomy because the Cupra Leon VZx wagon is based on the same stretched platform as the Volkswagen Golf R wagon.

And the Cupra Leon wagon's cargo hold is huge (620 litres) compared to the hatch (380L) for added practicality.

The Cupra Leon VZx wagon has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – but it also shares the same flawed infotainment system as other vehicles in the Volkswagen Group.

The wide, digital screen in the middle of the dash is high-resolution, but the functionality is all over the shop.

Trying to navigate (pun intended) your way through the various menus is difficult enough when parked, but especially frustrating when trying to drive as well.

It's clear this infotainment system was designed in a static studio, not the environment of a moving car.

Adding to the painful experience: the temperature control symbols and volume swipe bar at the base of the screen don't illuminate at night and are almost impossible to locate by touch, without taking your eyes off the road.

Frankly, it's a disaster. Volkswagen is working on a stopgap measure (illuminated controls and rearranged icons) on an updated version of this system, which is expected to start coming through on cars from late next year.

It can't come soon enough.

The hatchback version of the Cupra Leon earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2020.

The score applies to the wagon as well, given the commonality between the two variants.

Based on a range of destructive tests – as well as assessments of crash-avoidance systems – the Cupra Leon was awarded 91 per cent for adult occupant protection in the front seats, 88 per cent for child protection in the back seats, 71 per cent for "vulnerable" road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, and 80 per cent for crash-avoidance aids.

The suite of advanced safety technology is not quite as complete as it could be. Standard fare includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), radar cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, door exit warning, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera.

However, the Cupra Leon VZx wagon oddly lacks speed-sign recognition, rear AEB, and tyre pressure monitors.

In the event of a crash, airbag protection includes a driver's knee airbag, front and side airbags, and head-protecting 'curtain' airbags.

Service intervals are listed at 12 months/15,000km (whichever comes first), which is the industry average.

As this article was published, Cupra Australia had three-year/45,000km prepaid service packs available for $990 and five-year/75,000km service packs for $1990.

Routine maintenance appears to get dearer as the car ages, which is par for the course.

Although the wagon is not yet listed for sale in Australia, as a guide we were quoted $1697 for an annual insurance premium for the similar Cupra Leon VZx hatch, and based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW.

Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

The official fuel consumption average for this car in Europe is listed between 6.8L/100km and 7.2L/100km, which is a touch on the thirsty side – especially considering the engine insists on 98-octane premium unleaded petrol.

The fuel consumption during our preview drive was not indicative of real-world commuter driving.

The Cupra Leon VZx wagon has the same luxury appointments as the hatch up front, so the only real clue this is a wagon is when you're looking through the rear-view mirror.

Some might say they can feel the difference between the two body styles – hatch and wagon – and presumably the extra weight of the wagon has some impact. But generally it feels as lively as the hatch. There's good reason for that.

While the Volkswagen Golf R hatch is on a shorter wheelbase than the Volkswagen Golf R wagon, both Cupra Leon VZx models share the same footprint as the Volkswagen Golf R wagon.

So both the Cupra Leon VZx hatch and wagon have the same long wheelbase as each other.

Oddly, the brochure shows the hatch has a tighter turning circle than the wagon (10.5m versus 11.2m), which is why we initially thought there was a different wheelbase between the two. We as yet have no explanation for this anomaly.

As mentioned earlier, if the Cupra Leon VZx wagon comes to Australia, it would be exclusively all-wheel drive and the hatch would remain exclusively front-wheel drive for our market.

There's a definite performance benefit to the all-wheel-drive system. It slashes the 0–100km/h acceleration time from 5.7 seconds (hatch) to a claimed 4.9 seconds (wagon), because the wagon isn't ever scrambling for grip.

We've not always been a fan of Volkswagen's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, but it gets better with each refinement and iteration.

It's less jerky at low speeds than previous versions, and clips through the gears quickly and almost seamlessly when you're on the move. The gearbox is so good when left to its own devices, the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel are rarely used.

The engine and exhaust notes are rather muted – even when in loud mode. Despite the quad tips, the exhaust system doesn't quite have the crackle or bark revheads might expect.

Much of this is forgiven once you encounter the right stretch of road. The grip is superb, the steering is well weighted, and the brakes have plenty of bite (and good modulation).

The seating and steering wheel positions are comfortable, and the car has a quality feel the moment you step inside.

It's the type of car that you could easily commute in day-to-day, enjoy on a weekend getaway, or on a winding mountain pass.

There was a bit of tyre roar on coarse surfaces, and the suspension thumped whenever we encountered a decent bump, but otherwise there is a fair compromise between ride and handling.

But the unnecessarily fiddly infotainment system is really quite infuriating.

Hopefully Australian-delivered examples will benefit from some kind of update – if this car makes it Down Under.

If you want a fast, all-wheel-drive wagon in this price range, there really isn't much choice.

The Subaru WRX wagon's performance is stuck in the 1990s (when a 6.0-second 0–100km/h used to be considered fast), and the suspension isn't deserving of the WRX badge, nor as good as the roadholding in the WRX sedan.

So, if it comes to Australia, the Cupra Leon VZx wagon will indeed be in a class of its own – once the Volkswagen Golf R wagon makes way for it.

Cupra cars are sold at non-negotiable fixed prices in Australia, so those with good negotiating skills may be disappointed.

However, at least the website has a reasonably up-to-date stock locator.

So once – if – the Cupra Leon VZx gets here, it will be relatively easy to order.

Before you do that, however, as always we strongly recommend you take a test drive at a dealership before committing to a Cupra Leon VZx because personal preferences can differ.

If you want to stay updated with everything that's happened to this car since our review – as well as other Cupra news – you'll find all the latest here.