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BMW 1 Series vs Cupra Leon

What's the difference?

VS
BMW 1 Series
BMW 1 Series

$44,999 - $88,888

2023 price

Cupra Leon
Cupra Leon

$36,880 - $67,888

2023 price

Summary

2023 BMW 1 Series
2023 Cupra Leon
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 3, 1.5L

Turbo 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
-

Premium Unleaded/Electric
Fuel Efficiency
5.9L/100km (combined)

1.8L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Lacks some features expected at this price
  • Real-world fuel economy
  • Busy ride

  • Infuriating multimedia system
  • Expensive
  • PHEV-related limited boot space
2023 BMW 1 Series Summary

There was a big kerfuffle a few years back when BMW made the decision to switch its entry-level 1 Series hatchback from a rear-drive platform to a newer, more efficient front-wheel drive architecture, shared with its Mini sister brand.

Despite the concerns of a few enthusiasts and motoring writers, the impact of the change in driven wheels hasn’t harmed the 1 Series’ reputation or sales.

As with the equivalent entry-level small car models from BMW’s premium rivals, the entry grade 118i is an expensive car for what you get.

But does the 118i hatch have enough charm to transcend the price and spec concerns?

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Interested in a BMW 1 Series?
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.

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Interested in a Cupra Leon?

Deep dive comparison

2023 BMW 1 Series 2023 Cupra Leon

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