5 ways CUPRA gets its e-HYBRID PHEVs right

2 Driving modes to suit your mood

But you won’t tootle around town all the time. There will be occasions where you’ll need to drive many motorway miles – or want to have a fun run through winding country roads.

For those moments of spirited driving – a real strength of the CUPRA range – the petrol engine and electric motor can work together to deliver a bit more low-end thrust for more instant performance when you poke the accelerator pedal.

Or for a long economy run, the electric motor can support the petrol engine, taking some of the strain off the combustion engine – meaning you aren’t using as much fuel, so you can go that little bit further on a tank.

3 Top-end refinement

Even if you’re having fun up front in the driving seat, your passengers can still have an enjoyable trip without a barrage of engine noise and an unsettled ride.

Road and wind noise are kept in check on all models, and the electrical assistance keeps the engine pleasingly hushed.  

And, of course: when you’re in all-electric mode in any of the CUPRA’s e-HYBRID models, you’ll have no noise coming from the engine bay at all. Even when the petrol engine kicks in, it’s far from obtrusive – unless of course you wish to rev it out to the redline.

If you have a model with the adaptive suspension, you have a choice of Sport, Comfort or CUPRA mode to select. If you’re looking for on-road thrills, then selecting Sport mode in any of these e-HYBRID models will give you the fix you’re looking for. CUPRA mode makes the suspension a bit stiffer, so you can press on with enthusiasm on an energised drive. 

When you need to pop it into Comfort mode, then the compliant ride will smooth out all but the very roughest roads – even on the larger optional wheels. Individual mode allows you to amend the ride setting to just how you want it to be. But, even if you have the standard suspension, you’ll find a good balance between body control and comfort on each e-HYBRID.

4 A stylish, luxury interior

Inside each e-HYBRID model, you’ll find all the eye-catching materials that deliver that sense of interior opulence that we’ve come to expect from CUPRA. All around the plush cabin you’ll find higher-quality plastics and more soft-touch materials than you may expect even in more prestige models, accentuated by ambient lights and bronze highlights. It’s an ambience that pairs nicely with the refined and effortless nature of the e-HYBRID powertrain. 

The driver – whether in the Formentor, Terramar, Leon or Leon Estate – will enjoy a sporty seating position, with the dash and centre console wrapping itself around. There’s a 12.9-inch infotainment screen from which you can navigate through the intuitive system to adjust and amend what you wish, too.

5 A hybrid model for every need

CUPRA has four cars in its e-HYBRID lineup, meaning there should be a model to suit all tastes and needs. 

The Formentor is a terrific choice if you want a sporty-looking SUV. The rakish coupé roofline offers a desirable outline for onlookers – but there’s still more than enough room in the back for all but the very tallest passengers. The ski-hatch in the rear seats will let you transport longer items, too, along with you and three other people.

The Terramar offers passengers all the room they could desire, as well as copious cupholders and cubbies. Along with the 40/20/40 split folding seatbacks, the rear bench can also be slid forwards and backwards to boost the 400-litre boot by 90 litres.

For those who love a sporty hatchback, then the Leon may be the one for you. Even though it’s the smallest of the four, it’s spacious enough to cope with the hectic demands of family life. There’s plenty of room for four adults to sit in for long journeys without getting uncomfortable, while the 270-litre boot will easily cope with anything from the daily school run to the occasional airport pick-up.

If you regularly have a bootful of bags, the Leon Estate will be a better fit. With 470 litres of space available, you can easily add a pushchair and a couple of school bags in the rear with room for your weekly food shopping, too. As with the hatchback, the 60/40 split-folding rear seats can be lowered for loading your latest furniture purchases.