Is CUPRA making PHEVs fun?
A healthy dose of driving joy combined with effortless efficiency makes CUPRA’s e-HYBRID models seriously tempting...
For a long time, plug-in hybrid cars offered little more than an avenue for company car drivers to reduce their benefit-in-kind tax. Today though, it’s a different story. PHEVs can be exceptionally capable machines with properly useful all-electric capabilities that appeal to both private and company car buyers alike.
CUPRA is one of those brands leading the charge when it comes to pioneering plug-in hybrid tech. In fact, the CUPRA Leon e-HYBRID can deliver a headline-grabbing pure electric range of up to 81 miles*.
Useful for reducing your fuel bills then, but ‘where’s that trademark CUPRA flair?’ we hear you ask. Fear not. CUPRA’s DNA is very much present and correct in its e-HYBRID lineup. You see, while they offer pleasing levels of refinement and efficiency, CUPRA has also managed to make its e-HYBRID models rather… fun. And that’s no small feat.
Great on-the-road performance
CUPRA has a well-earned reputation for building cars that make our roadtesters smile from behind the wheel. And that dynamic prowess is immediately apparent in its e-HYBRID models.
Take the formidable Formentor. It was crowned What Car?’s Best Coupé SUV in 2026, and for good reason. It offers striking coupé styling with SUV practicality, while also delivering impressive agility and punchy performance.
Indeed, there’s a fantastic balance between body control and comfort, and the automatic gearbox changes smoothly when on the go. With a choice of two e-HYBRID options – either 204PS or 272PS – each will get you from zero to 62mph in less than eight seconds. But most importantly, there’s a pleasing level of in-gear punch that makes acceleration feel instant and effortless. It’s a great match for the car’s sporty character and aggressive styling.
The larger Terramar SUV is similarly exciting. There’s 268bhp on tap thanks to the 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, but more importantly, max torque is available across much of the rev range (850 to 4750rpm). That gives you plenty of oomph for a swift-but-safe exit from a junction, or a punchy pullaway from the lights.
The Terramar gives an animated performance on the open road, too. With its accurate steering, good grip levels and well-controlled body roll, you can enthusiastically run through a twisting trail – or just gently glide it into a tight spot in the supermarket car park. Even with the extra weight from the batteries, this compact SUV is more sprightly on its wheels than many of its key rivals.
For hatchback fans, both the Leon and Leon Estate e-HYBRID offer similar levels of performance to their other CUPRA e-HYBRID companions. In fact, certain aspects of their performance stray into the territory of hot-hatch rivals – particularly the low-end thrust from the engine and electric motor when working in unison. Prodding the accelerator gives an addictive amount of instantaneous shove when you need it.
Of course, there will be times when you want to have a quieter, more relaxed time in the cabin – which those e-HYBRID models can also provide. All four CUPRA PHEVs offer a refined ride that will help smooth out all but the roughest roads and, in all-electric mode, you can drive along with barely a sound. Even if you want to use the petrol engine for maximum performance, you’ll hear little noise intruding into the cabin.
Brilliant running benefits
But – you may ask – does this performance come with wince-inducing running costs? If anything, quite the opposite, actually. And that’s thanks to the clever flexibility of the powertrain.
Let’s say you commute a few miles a day to work across town, or maybe do the daily school pick-up. The electric motor could power your PHEV for those short urban journeys. That means fewer trips to the fuel pump and, if you charge at home, you could access a favourable EV tariff from your energy supplier.
Charging is effortless too. Unlike most plug-in hybrid cars, the e-HYBRID range is equipped with DC charging. So, with the CUPRA Terramar for example, that means you can charge from 10% to 80% capacity in as little as 26 minutes**, thanks to a maximum charging speed of up to 50kW using the car’s CCS charger.
For longer-distance trips, that’s when the petrol engine comes into its own. This gives you the range you’ll want on those long drives – and, if you have enough charge in your battery, you can use the electric motor to support the combustion engine for even better fuel economy.
If you’re a company car driver, then you’ll find a happy surprise throughout the tax year. Picking an e-HYBRID will put your new vehicle into a lower benefit-in-kind (BiK) band compared to a traditional hybrid, or rival PHEVs with a shorter electric range.
Space and variety
Another great aspect of CUPRA’s e-HYBRID range is the variety on offer: no matter what type of practicality you’re looking for in a car, CUPRA has you covered.
The CUPRA Leon, for instance, is a perfectly practical family hatchback. There’s loads of head- and legroom throughout, with space for four adults to luxuriate in the cabin on any journey – and room for five if you need it. If you need to do an airport run, the boot is big enough to take enough carry-on suitcases for everyone on board, too.
Need a bit more room? Then the Leon Estate might be for you. With 470 litres of boot space, compared to the hatchback’s 270 litres, there’s extra space to carry larger items if you need to regularly.
But if you prefer the stance of an SUV model, then you’ve still got two more to choose from. The Terrarmar is a great option for taller drivers and passengers, as six-footers will have few complaints when it comes to head- and legroom no matter which seat they select. And, even with the rakish roofline, the award-winning Formentor still has capacity to comfortably fit even the tallest friends and family members, and still turns heads through town.
The CUPRA e-HYBRID range proves there’s good reason to be excited about plug-in hybrid cars. Every model comes with a bootful of practicality and excellent economy, but there are still plenty of opportunities to find the fun in driving – once you find your way through the traffic, and onto an inviting ribbon of road.
Learn more about the CUPRA e-HYBRID range
*These figures were obtained using a combination of battery power and fuel. The CUPRA Leon is a plug-in hybrid vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and equivalent all electric range figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variation in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. Data correct at March 2026.
**Estimated charging times for the standard specification CUPRA Terramar. Test data obtained under standardised conditions for comparison purposes. Actual charging times will vary depending on various factors, including the selected trimline, the options you choose, the type of charger used, the level of charge in the battery, the age, type, condition and temperature of the charger and the battery, the power supply to and usage of the charger, ambient temperature at the point of use and other environmental factors. Charging time will be longer in cold weather. Charging times will also be affected by the charging curve (for example, once charging passes 80%, charging will slow to protect the battery's longevity) and will be longer if battery temperature activates safeguarding technology.
