Cupra Leon vs Toyota Corolla

What's the difference?

There's a lot to like about the updated Leon line-up, but probably not by lots of people. It won't be a best-seller, Cupra doesn't need or even want it to be. What it will do is offer something different, and in the case of the Sportstourer something very rare.

The S and VZx will face stiffer competition in the hatchback markets, primarily from Volkswagen, Audi and even Skoda, and it's hard to pick an area where they really stand out from the competition, apart from the unique styling. Not that they aren't pleasant cars to drive, it's just a crowded market.

Which is why the Sportstourer, especially with its plug-in hybrid powertrain, has a chance to be something that really sets Cupra apart from its rivals. Dynamic, efficient and different, it won’t fit in - and that’s exactly what the brand is hoping for.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

The final score for this review makes it look as though the Corolla is a middling effort. The scores for each individual section of the review are well considered and fair. The Corolla does lack the practicality of some of its rivals. A lack of an ANCAP rating isn’t great and the powertrain is just okay. But it remains one of the most fun-to-drive hatchbacks on the market today, even seven years into its life, and I would wholeheartedly recommend the Corolla to anyone looking for a small car. If you can forgive some of the quirks, it is a reliable, adorable, fun and efficient small car favourite. 

Design is a key tenet of Cupra’s ethos, because while it may share Volkswagen mechanical DNA, the Spanish brand wants to really stand apart when you look at or sit inside the Leon.

While it may be the same size as a VW Golf, it certainly doesn’t look or feel like one. Yes, there’s the typical Volkswagen build quality to the fit and finishes, but overall it has a unique Spanish style to it.

On the exterior, Cupra has given the Leon a major visual overhaul with the front end featuring a new-look grille, bumper and headlights. At the rear the tail-lights have been redesigned and now incorporate the logo into a single horizontal light bar that runs the width of the rear.

Inside there’s some new materials, but the most notable change is the introduction of a 12.9-inch multimedia screen. Ambient lightning available on all three models helps to highlight the cabin design.

It’s been around for a good seven years, but the current-gen Corolla hatch is still a smart design. It has a squat stance and looks as though it has sporty intentions (it doesn’t), and the head and tail-light treatment doesn’t look like anything else in the segment.

The Corolla has adorable proportions and a pert little behind in a sea of increasingly boring small SUVs.

However, in SX trim and in the ‘Sunstone Orange’ body colour of my test car, the Corolla gives off rental car vibes. Which is hardly surprising given lower grade Corollas are a favourite of rental companies.

Inside that vibe continues. This is where the Corolla is really showing its age.

There are various shades of grey throughout the cabin, with a mix of hard and soft plastics. The cloth seat trim is drab, which is a shame because some other brands have managed to make cloth cool again. Not Toyota.

The touchscreen sticks up out the top of the dash like an old iPad and the dash design is old but functional. 

There is nothing inspiring about this interior design. In saying that, of those aforementioned rivals, only the Mazda3 and the new Kia K4 have modern cabins.

While we’re talking about two different bodystyles here - hatch and wagon - the front seats are the same. So you are treated to Cupra’s stylish but thoughtful layout, which looks nice but also has good practicality.

The seats themselves are comfortable, even after extended periods behind the wheel, while there’s cupholders, sizeable door pockets, a lidded centre console box and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

The previously mentioned 12.9-inch multimedia screen dominates the centre console, sitting proudly at the top of the fascia. Unfortunately, Cupra (like Volkswagen) has fallen to the modern trend of ‘touch controls’ rather than physical buttons.

Not to sound like an old man yelling at clouds, but these touch-sensitive sliders are simply not as user-friendly, especially in a moving vehicle, as a traditional physical button or dial. While the multimedia system is easy to use, especially with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay fully integrated, adding dials for the stereo (on/off and volume) and the climate control would have been great.

Otherwise, the 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system with subwoofer and 390W amplifier sounds great, offering a premium in-car entertainment experience to match the Cupra’s price and positioning.

As for space in the back, which is obviously where the hatch and Sportstourer vary. There isn’t a lot to split them in terms of passenger space. These are both small cars, so neither offer the kind of room you’d get from an equivalent-sized SUV. The real difference is the cargo capacity, the hatch pair offer 344L (or 888L with the rear seats down) whereas the Sportstourer has a more generous 470L/1045L.

The Corolla is a small car and that is evident inside. You might bump elbows with your front passenger, but I have no problem with the front leg or headroom.

Those cloth seats might be drab but boy they are comfy, and the fronts have loads of side bolstering. 

The steering wheel has typically clear controls and looks and feels nice. 

As a more, shall we say seasoned model in the segment, the Corolla still has buttons on the dash for things like air con, but not too many. That bulbous centre stack and the centre console, however, could be better designed for the space.

As it is, the wireless charging pad is hidden under it at the far end of the console. It’s a bit fiddly to get your phone in and out. This is also where one of the USB-C ports lives.

The other one is in the central storage bin which is quite small, but also houses a 12-volt outlet. There are no other places to store things because of the rounded shape of the console, which also features a couple of narrow cupholders.

OurCarsGuide bottle had to be squeezed into the door storage cavity - only narrow, short vessels will fit properly.

That 8.0-inch multimedia screen is very easy to navigate, with logical menus and icons. However, it’s almost too basic, which is not helped by the all-white background. It could be a more engaging set-up but it’s also very hard to fault the functionality. Our Apple CarPlay maintained its connection the whole time with the car, too.

Space is quite tight in the rear, although I have enough headroom for my 184cm frame. Legroom is just okay behind my driving position. There’s more space in the back of a Hyundai i30. It’s also dark because of smallish rear windows and thick C-pillars. 

The rear seat backrest is quite upright, but, like the front seats, well cushioned.

Amenities are just average back there - there’s a weird cupholder high on the door, only a passenger side map pocket, no rear air vents and no USB ports, although you could easily use the one housed in the front central bin. There’s a rear fold-down armrest with two cupholders.

The rear seats split and fold 60/40 and they fold flat making for a better loading space.

The good news is the SX (and the base Ascent Sport) come standard with a temporary spare wheel, which is great news for a hybrid model. The bad news is, that reduces boot space to a paltry 217 litres. 

That’s off the pace of all of its key hatchback rivals, including the Mazda3 which has its own cargo concerns at 295L, and the Hyundai i30 with 395L.

The Corolla ZR hatch has more space at 333L but you only get a tyre repair kit instead of a temporary spare. 

If you’re dead set on a Corolla but need more cargo space, consider the smart looking sedan that has 470 litres.

Toyota dropped all exclusively internal combustion engine versions of passenger car models and car-based SUVs last year so the Corolla is now hybrid-only.

The grade we tested is the SX five-door hatchback which is priced from $35,260, before on-road costs. Interestingly, the sedan version, which has a much bigger boot, is $340 cheaper.

The SX sits in the middle of the Corolla range with the Ascent Sport the most affordable (from $32,110) and the ZR the priciest before you get to the fire-breathing GR Corolla hot hatch.

Direct rivals at this approximate price point include the Hyundai i30 N Line ($36,000 BOC), Mazda3 G20 Touring ($37,110), Subaru Impreza 2.0R ($35,490) and the Kia K4 Sport ($35,190), although that is sedan only for now.

You get 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth bucket seats, a synthetic leather steering wheel, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, rear privacy glass, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, USB-C ports, a wireless device charging pad, six-speaker audio, an 8.0-inch colour multimedia display with sat-nav, digital radio, Bluetooth, voice assistant and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The standard features list could be described as adequate without being overly generous for the price. A head-up display (standard in the ZR) would be nice.

The three Leon models all feature a different powertrain, as each is targeting a distinctly different buyer.

The Leon S is powered by a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance. 

The Leon VZx gets a more potent 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that makes 221kW/400Nm, to put it right at the heart of the hot hatch market.

The Leon VZe Sportstourer manages to combine efficiency with performance, with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired to an electric motor to make an efficient 200kW and 400Nm.

The one thing all three have in common is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive.

Since Toyota dropped the petrol engine from the Corolla range, it’s a hybrid-only affair.

The powerplant is a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system that incorporates a lithium-ion battery, which is lighter yet more powerful since the 2022 update.

The Corolla drives the front wheels exclusively via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

It’s not the punchiest engine and could do with more poke, but Toyota does do hybrids well. 

Naturally, the three different powertrains provide three very different fuel economy numbers.

The mild-hybrid system in the Leon S allows it to use just 5.4L/100km, which provides a theoretical range of up to 833km thanks to its 45-litre fuel tank.

The VZx is the thirstiest member of the range, not surprisingly, using 7.6L/100km. With its 50-litres tank it has a theoretical driving range of approximately 650km.

Finally, the Sportstourer VZe manages a claimed 0.4L/100km on paper, thanks to its 20kWh battery providing up to 121km of electric-only driving range. Obviously achieving that claimed figure in the real world is incredibly difficult (as it is with any PHEV) but we still managed to use just 2.4L/100km on our mostly extra-urban test drive, which is still a good return.

According to Toyota the official fuel-use figure for the Corolla hybrid hatch is 4.0-litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions sit at 90g/km.

While the trip computer said 4.8L/100km at the end of our week, my own fuel consumption calculation came to 5.8L.

You will only need 91 RON 'standard' petrol to fill up the Corolla.

Obviously there are three very different variants in the Leon range, with three different powertrains and two different body styles, and yet there is a familiar feeling between all three when you’re behind the wheel.

This is arguably the ‘most Volkswagen-y’ element of the Cupras, with the solid, stable Volkswagen underpinnings coming through. This is, of course, not a criticism, but rather highlights the positive connections between Cupra and its parent company, which has allowed it to make an immediate impression on the Australian market.

However, it also means the Leons feel so familiar that they don’t leave you with a unique impression and driving character.

For example, the VZx is almost too good, too quick and too clinical. It lacks the excitement and engagement rival hot hatches offer, notably the Hyundai i30 N and Honda Civic Type R, but instead compensates by just being really capable.

Obviously, that may not be seen as a negative by everyone and for those who want that sort of engaging, dare I say ‘fun and edgy’, driving experience the Leon VZx may not be precisely what they are looking for. Still, the engine is potent and even the lack of all-wheel drive doesn’t dampen its performance abilities too significantly compared to the likes of a VW Golf R or Audi S3.

The Leon S offers a different proposition, a warmed up hatch, rather than something hot. On that front it delivers, providing a well-mannered drive but without the punch of the VZx.

The Sportstourer is arguably the pick of the range, with its combination of sharp driving dynamics and very efficient powertrain. At no point do you feel like Cupra compromised its sporty intent to make the Sportstourer save fuel. Instead, the PHEV powertrain offers plenty of performance when you need it but is otherwise quiet and efficient the rest of the time, helping it to sip fuel at a much lower rate than its Leon hatchback alternatives.

Most generations of Corollas have been solid, dependable and occasionally, even fun to drive. 

My first car was a Holden Nova GS hatchback, which was a rebadged version of the seventh-generation Corolla. I loved that car. It was zippy, fun and super economical.

The same principles generally apply to the current-gen Corolla. Thankfully, Toyota’s former CEO, Akio Toyoda, insisted all models from the Camry to the Kluger needed to be injected with more fun. And he succeeded with the Corolla. So much so that they've spun off a wild GR performance hot hatch version.

The Corolla sits low to the ground and it just feels much more connected to the road than a small SUV can. Even in mid-range SX guise, the Corolla can hug a corner and there is ample grip to ensure a fun drive on your favourite winding road.

Sure, the hybrid powertrain might not set your heart racing, but it is quick enough from a standing start and it lacks the lag of some of its turbocharged contemporaries. There’s also plenty of poke on tap for a small car when overtaking.

Even though it has a sporting edge to how it handles, the Corolla SX has been tuned for comfort first and foremost and this is another area it excels. The damper set-up ensures the Corolla soaks up speed bumps, nasty potholes and whatever else our shoddy roads can throw at it. At no point in my seven days with the Corolla did I complain about a harsh bump or thud.

Steering has a mechanical feel but it is still sharp, adding to the ‘chuckable’ vibe of this hatchback.

The powertrain can be noisy when pushed and combined with a CVT auto it’s the nicest sounding engine out there. Also, the transition from electric to petrol power isn’t particularly smooth. Other carmaker’s hybrid offerings - like Honda for example - are close to seamless. 

Some road noise gets into the cabin but it’s no deal breaker.

The Corolla is currently unrated by crash safety watchdog ANCAP. It did achieve a maximum five-star rating back in 2018 but that expired at the end of last year.

Safety features are largely standard across all grades and the SX comes with auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, speed sign recognition, 'Lane Trace Assist', adaptive cruise control, a blind spot monitor with safe exit assist, a rear cross-traffic alert, reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors and a rear occupant alert.

It doesn’t have a driver attention alert, and it’s all the better for it.

The lane keeping aid is well calibrated and subtle in its interventions, but the adaptive cruise let the speed creep several kilometres over the set speed on several occasions. 

All three Leons are covered by Cupra Australia’s standard warranty, which covers the first five-years/unlimited kilometres. Which is good, especially for a new and more premium brand, even if it’s obviously short of the best-in-market.

Servicing is required every 12 months/15,000km, whichever comes first, and Cupra is offering a servicing pack special until the end of 2025, of $1990 for five years. That works out to an average of $398 per year.

Cupra is expanding its dealer network in Australia too. The Leon drive event we attended began at the newly-opened Cupra Macarther in Sydney’s growing west. There’s also a new dealership at Melbourne’s Essendon Fields.

Of course, one of the key advantages that Cupra has over many other new brands to Australia is its Volkswagen/Audi connections, which allows its models to be serviced at those dealerships as well. That provides a much larger footprint for customers to find somewhere convenient to service their car, which cannot be underestimated.

The Corolla is covered by Toyota’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which, given Kia, MG, GWM, Jaecoo and more have longer terms (not to mention Nissan and Mitsubishi’s conditional 10-year terms) is now officially trailing its competitors.

However, the capped-price servicing plan of up to five years costs just $250 for each service, which is incredibly competitive. The service schedule is every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.