Cupra Leon vs Skoda Scala

What's the difference?

VS
Cupra Leon
Cupra Leon

$31,880 - $57,880

2023 price

Skoda Scala
Skoda Scala

$32,490 - $43,890

2025 price

Summary

2023 Cupra Leon
2025 Skoda Scala
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.4L

Turbo 3, 1.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
1.8L/100km (combined)

5.4L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Infuriating multimedia system
  • Expensive
  • PHEV-related limited boot space

  • Sporadic wireless phone mirroring
  • Not as fun as its rivals with outputs
  • Older looking exterior
2023 Cupra Leon Summary

Behold the beautiful Cupra Leon VZe.

Like its name and multimedia screen, this enigmatic hatchback needs some decoding to make sense to Australians.

Essentially, the Leon VZe is a variation of today's eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf. Except it's built in Spain by VW Group subsidiary SEAT (remember them?), offering sleeker styling, and – in VZe guise – a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain.

In other words, this is similar to the intriguing Golf GTE grade not offered in Australia, but with more than a splash of Balenciaga about the way it looks, feels and drives – and with pricing to match (from $59,990, before on-road costs).

So, does the Leon VZe combine the sportiness of a hot hatch and torquey zing of an EV with the parsimony of a hybrid? Could this be the most complete small car on sale in Australia today?

Let's spill the tea to find out.

View full pricing & specs
2025 Skoda Scala Summary

The new Skoda Scala brings a trim line-up of just two models and the features list for both have been reshuffled with a little pruning here and a few welcome additions there.

The Select 85TSI on test for this review replaces the former Ambition base variant and offers very competitive pricing considering its European roots.

You would be forgiven, though, if the Skoda Scala was not the first make and model that came to mind in your new hatchback hunt. But with its minor facelift and a boot capacity that rivals medium SUVs, maybe it should be on the list.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2023 Cupra Leon 2025 Skoda Scala

Change vehicle