Potent new SUV confirmed for Oz: 2025 Cupra Formentor SUV and Leon hatchback on the way to battle Volkswagen T-Roc R and VW Golf

Cupra has revealed its flashy new hatchback and small SUV ahead of their arrival in Australia next year.

The Spanish brand has debuted the updated Cupra Formentor and Leon in Europe with more grunt, extra tech and an improved cabin.

The refreshed models go on sale in Europe this year but Australians will have to wait until April 2025 to get their hands on the fresh metal.

Read More About Cupra

Cheaper European model has arrived: 2024 Cupra Leon Tribe Edition is the brand's most affordable answer to the Volkswagen Golf and Hyundai i30 Cupra going big: Spanish brand's line-up set to expand with more electric cars for Australia, coinciding with confirmation of brand's launch in USA Power up! 2025 Cupra Born VZ revealed as faster electric car, but is it hot enough to rival the Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2?

Both models build on their eye-catching looks with a redesigned front end and dynamic headlights.

The tail lights span the breath of the rear end, and there are a range of smartly styled alloy wheels.

Leading the charge is the updated Formentor VZx with a heart borrowed from the Volkswagen Golf R.

The Leon hatchback is due in Australia from April next year.

Its turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine now makes 245kW and 420Nm, and it scores the torque splitting hardware that enables a drift mode that can send extra torque to the outside wheels.

The Leon VZx maintains the current version’s 221kW petrol engine matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto driving the front wheels.

A wagon version of the Leon will arrive in Australia next year too, after the updated hatch that effectively fills the hole left by the now-departed Golf R Wagon. The Leon VZx wagon uses the same set-up as the hardcore Formentor.

A new plug-in hybrid version of the Leon and Formentor SUV is on the way that boosts electric driving range to 100km on a single charge.

Cupra has refreshed the cabin with improved tech and more premium materials.

It is backed by a bigger circa-19kWh battery, which can now accept DC charging up to 50kW. AC charging has been boosted from 3.6kW in the current version to 11kW.

Cupra is likely to trim the range, with the VZ and the V models potentially on the chopping block.

The new range is likely to consist of a new entry-level mild-hybrid variant that uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a little electric motor to make 110kW and 250Nm, matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic driving the front wheels.

The Leon VZx maintains the current version’s 221kW petrol engine.

Then comes the potent and efficient plug-in hybrid version that makes 200kW and the speedy VZx.

A raft of improvements inside include a larger 12.9-inch multimedia screen with an illuminated slider control.

Both models score a new 12-speaker Sennheiser stereo and more premium materials used throughout the cabin.