Cupra Leon review – interior and tech
Poor digital UI hinders an otherwise likeable cabin design
Being a contemporary VW Group MQB derivative, the Leon’s interior is defined more by what’s missing than what’s there. A near-total reduction of physical buttons might clean up interior design, but you’re now forced to interact with the touchscreen infotainment for nearly all key tasks. The screen is bigger than the one found on a Golf 8, and has its own interface, but the basics are no better than the frustrating units found elsewhere in the VW empire.
The rest of the interior is much more encouraging, though. Material quality is no better or worse than that found in an equivalent Golf 8, but the design is more interesting with the use of textured plastics, copper-coloured stitching and metallic-effect finishes.
A highlight is the full-width LED ambient lighting feature that runs along the base of the windscreen. This simple configurable lighting element gives the whole interior a much more premium feel at night, and works brilliantly with the clear and responsive digital instrument cluster that can be configured in a myriad of different ways.
The VZ3’s contoured leather seats are also a winner, and can be ordered in a funky Petrol Blue colour that contrasts nicely against the copper highlights. Overall space and visibility is also impressive, all adding up to a near premium experience that’s one of the few distinct improvements made over the previous-generation Leon.
