The Cupra Leon Plug-In Hybrid (Estate): The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Cupra Leon PHEV Estate

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SEAT CUPRA, S.A.U, simply known as CUPRA, is the high-performance motorsport subsidiary of SEAT S.A., Spain’s first family car manufacturer. The automotive company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Martorell, Spain. 

In 1986, SEAT was sold to the German automotive group, Volkswagen A.G. CUPRA was previously known as SEAT Sport. The high-performance CUPRA brand was created in 2018. The manufacturer is committed to becoming a fully-electric brand by 2030. CUPRA is expected to introduce the all-electric Cupra Terramar and the all-electric Cupra UrbanRebel in due course. The company has the following portfolio of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs):

• All-electric CUPRA Born (BEV)
• All-electric CUPRA Tavascan (BEV)
• CUPRA Formentor e-HYBRID (PHEV)
• CUPRA Leon e-HYBRID (PHEV)
• CUPRA Leon Estate e-HYBRID (PHEV)

The Cupra Leon badge is the high-performance version of the Seat Leon vehicles. The Leon has been sold since 1999, and is now in its fourth generation. The vehicle is built on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. The Cupra Leon (formerly Seat Leon Cupra) plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), is a good option for those seeking high-performance and style, but in an environmentally-friendly e-vehicle.

Though automotive manufacturers like Cupra, have been busy upgrading their model portfolios, to include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), in general, the number of available estate plug-in electric cars, still remains limited. Therefore, the Cupra plug-in electric estate car is certainly worth the consideration for families and companies seeking a spacious vehicle, with an upmarket badge, lower tailpipe emissions and lower motoring costs.

The Cupra electric vehicle (EV) has a 12.8 kWh onboard EV battery, with a WLTP certified zero-emission electric range of up to 58 km. The real-world pure electric range will be impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, passenger and cargo load, speed, regenerative braking profile, onboard services used, road conditions and weather!

An 50 km EV range is more realistic. However, as most daily trips are short commutes, taking advantage of the lower cost of driving on electric mode, is a real advantage of the PHEV, compared to the conventional petrol only variant. Moreover, driving on the electric mode, delivers a smoother drive.

The EV has a 3.6 kW onboard charger, and using a dedicated home EV charging station, can be fully charged in under four hours. Of course, EV owners ‘top-up’ the battery charge on a regular basis. This way, one does not need to wait fours hours for a full charge! Moreover, topping up on a regular basis is also better for the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Cupra offers a 8 years or 160,000 km warranty.

The Cupra electric car does not offer DC charging compatibility. Not surprising, as most PHEVs do not. However, the more recent introduction of plug-in hybrids, in particular, with a larger EV battery size, have started introducing DC charging.

The more regular the use of the electric mode, the higher the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Cupra claims a fuel economy up to 1.3 l/100km for the Leon plug-in hybrid. Expect the real-world fuel economy to be less efficient, but if the electric mode is leveraged, the efficiency will certainly be higher compared to the conventional petrol Cupra Leon variant.

The Cupra estate PHEV has a striking exterior design, punctuated only by the Cupra copper styling. The interior is both comfortable and high quality. The electric vehicle (EV) is practical for families, except, in that, the boot space has been reduced in the plug-in hybrid variant due to the additional EV hardware. The PHEV estate has a 470 L boot space.

The EV also includes a number of intelligent safety features: emergency assist, rain/ light sensor, exit warning, rear traffic alert, front assist, side assist and the Cupra eCall emergency service. The electric car also includes a 10.25″ digital cockpit and a 10″ touchscreen.

The Cupra Leon plug-in hybrid pairs the 1.4 e-HYBRID petrol engine with an electric motor. In terms of performance, the PHEV delivers up to 245 PS and 250 Nm torque. The top speed is 225 km/h and the EV can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.0 seconds. Of course, the EV benefits from instant torque.

The EV has claimed tailpipe emissions up to 29g CO2/km. Again, substantially lower than the emissions of the conventional combustion engine variant. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Attractive, distinctive and stylish Cupra exterior styling	Boot space limited
A high quality interior and comfortable drive	Charging limited to 3.6 kW. DC charging not available
Available on all-wheel drive (AWD) option	An expensive estate PHEV compared to alternatives

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The Cupra Leon Estate PHEV (credit: Cupra)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body Type:	Estate
Engine:	Petrol-Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (1 Option)
Cupra Leon Estate (from ₹ N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 12.8 kWh
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.6 kW (0%-100%: 3 hrs 42 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	29g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1463
Width (mm):	1799
Length (mm):	4657
Wheelbase (mm):	2681
Turning Circle (m):	10.5
Boot Space (L):	470

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VZ2 1.4 e-HYBRID
EV Battery Capacity:	12.8 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	58 km
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	154.8
Fuel Consumption (l/100km):	1.3
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.6 kW (0%-100%: 3 hrs 42 mins)
Top Speed:	225 km/h
0-100 km/h:	7.0 seconds
Drive:	Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Max Power (PS):	245
Torque (Nm):	250
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Weight (kg):	1,642
Colours:	10
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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What Is A Heat Pump In Electric Cars?

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EV Heat Pump: The Basics
What is a heat pump in electric cars?	In conventional internal combustion engine (ICE), petrol and diesel vehicles, the energy (waste heat) generated from the engine (powertrain), is captured to re-use for heating the interior cabin of the vehicle. However, in pure electric cars, the heat generated (waste heat) from the electric drive (electric motor, inverter, on-board AC charger) and the onboard high-voltage EV battery is not as much, as the heat generated in conventional cars, and cannot be re-used on its own to provide sufficient cabin heating (electric cars are more efficient than petrol/ diesel cars). Therefore in EVs, the sources for capturing heat, also includes the outside air i.e. it is a multi-source heat pump system. This captured heat is re-used for the onboard EV battery management and also for heating the cabin interior, increasing the electric car efficiency and reducing the need to draw energy from the onboard EV battery. In general, a lithium-ion EV battery is less energy efficient during colder months (similar to the laptop or smartphone battery).
How does a heat pump increase electric range in colder winter months?	Electric cars that do not incorporate an onboard heat pump, rely on the energy of the onboard EV battery for heating the interior cabin of the electric car, further impacting the available e-range. In contrast, EVs with a heat pump, do not rely on the onboard EV battery to heat the cabin. Instead, the heat pump sources heat from multiple sources and releases energy-efficient heating into the cabin. Put another way, an electric car with a heat pump does not place any demand on the onboard EV battery for heating the interior cabin. There is ample real-world evidence to prove that electric cars with a heat pump offer longer electric range in winter months, compared to electric cars that do not incorporate a heat pump. The average improvement in range is between 10% to 20%.
How does a heat pump work in an electric car?	Step 1: naturally heated antifreeze is channelled into the heat pump evaporator, where the heat is transferred to the coolant circulating in the unit. The evaporator converts the coolant into gas (evaporation). Step 2: the gas is sucked into a compressor to increase the pressure of the gas. When air is compressed it increases its temperature. The gas temperature is increased to 80° C. Step 3: the compressed gas is transferred to a condenser, where the heat is transferred to water in the condenser. Step 4: the heat is then circulated to the interior cabin, while the gas is converted into liquid form, and is transferred back to the heat pump evaporator via an expansion valve. The cycle is then repeated.
Is a heat pump used only for heating?	No. A heat pump can also be used for cooling. As an example, the Audi Q7 EV uses the onboard heat pump for heating and cooling.
Does a heat pump come as standard in EVs?	Though some manufacturers offer the heat pump as standard, most offer it as an optional extra. We recommend purchasing the option.
Can a heat pump be installed in an electric car post delivery?	Usually it is not possible, given the complexity of installing a heat pump. So always order it at the time of purchase.
Are all heat pumps in electric cars the same?	No. There is a difference in technology, approach and efficiency achieved for different manufacturers. As an example, Hyundai and Kia claim to have one of the most efficient heat pumps, given the ability of their technology to dynamically choose the most appropriate heat source at a given moment. Hyundai claims the heat pump incorporated in the all-electric Hyundai Kona can improve the winter electric range up to 18%, significantly higher than the average improvement (10%).
Are there any other advantages offered by a heat pump in colder months?	Yes, you can pre-heat the electric vehicle (EV) via your mobile app before you commence your journey. This way you can have a toasty warm interior cabin on a cold winter day!

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