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ABornBEVvsBLeonPHEV
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsBorn · Leon

Cupra Born VZ vs Cupra Leon VZe: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

compact · 2022 vs 2023 · Methodology
CupraBEVFaster

Born VZ

308 hp · 310 Nm · 1,748 kg · 2022

VS
CupraPHEV

Leon VZe

241 hp · 350 Nm · 1,630 kg · 2023

Result · 0–100 km/h

ACupra Born VZ

5.73 s

Gap1.72 sin favour of Born VZ
BCupra Leon VZe

7.45 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureBorn VZLeon VZeGap
0–100 km/h5.73 s7.45 s1.72 s · Born VZ
400 m standing start13.96 s15.42 s1.46 s · Born VZ
1,000 m standing start27.45 s27.49 s0.04 s · Born VZ
Top speed (electronically limited)160 km/h225 km/h65 km/h · Leon VZe
Power-to-weight ratio5.68 kg/hp6.76 kg/hpbetter ratio · Born VZ

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

CupraBEVBorn VZ
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
CupraPHEVLeon VZe
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
StageBorn VZLeon VZe
0–30 km/h1.67 s2.08 s
0–50 km/h2.79 s3.48 s
0–80 km/h4.50 s5.63 s
0–100 km/h5.73 s7.45 s
0–120 km/h7.31 s9.63 s
0–160 km/h12.29 s16.26 s
0–200 km/h-29.27 s
400 m standing start13.96 s15.42 s
1,000 m standing start27.45 s · tight gap27.49 s
Top speed160 km/h225 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

Cupra

Born VZ

5,68kg/hpratio better by 1,09 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power308 hpPermanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
Torque310 Nm
Weight1 748 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
GearboxSingle-speed fixed gear
Cupra

Leon VZe

6,76kg/hpcompensated by −118 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power241 hpPending
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 630 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
Gearbox6-speed DSG

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the Born VZ hits 100 km/h in 5.73 s versus 7.45 s for the Leon VZe. At this point, the Born VZ leads by 1.72 s and sits roughly 16 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the Born VZ is doing 138 km/h against 126 km/h for the Leon VZe. The gap is 1.08 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the Born VZ crosses the line in 13.96 s versus 15.41 s. The 1.46 s gap represents roughly 62 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The Born VZ maxes out at 160 km/h while the Leon VZe keeps accelerating towards 225 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 1.30 s from 1.46 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the Born VZ finishes in 27.45 s versus 27.49 s, with just 0.04 s to spare. The Leon VZe fails to fully close the launch gap.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Born VZ is capped at 160 km/h, the Leon VZe at 225 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two plug-in hybrid powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.68 kg/hp vs 6.76 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 10.94 seconds. The 1.72 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, Born VZ wins (5,73 s vs 7,45 s).

Born VZ goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,73 seconds (calibrated simulation).

Born VZ: 308 hp, ratio 5,68 kg/hp. Leon VZe: 241 hp, ratio 6,76 kg/hp.

Born VZ: 160 km/h. Leon VZe: 225 km/h.