SEAT Leon Cupra R
by Tim Barnes-Clay, the man behind the wheel.
Date: 05 November 2010
THE LATEST Leon is nothing less than a beast. And it should be - it's the most potent SEAT ever made.
The Leon Cupra R sits above the Cupra, and offers a fine-tuned version of its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, packing a 265 PS punch, backed up by no less than 350 Nm of torque at just 2,500 rpm.
That’s a full 50 Nm more than the already burly Leon Cupra. The result? A 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds and an unrestricted 155mph top speed.
That’s getting close to supercar levels of acceleration and performance.
But the Cupra R is more than just raw power. It's also a very refined hot hatch with five doors and comfortable seats, and one that's enormously exciting to drive. Even with front wheel drive, it manages to put all its enthusiasm down without fumbling for grip.
The front always feels fixed to the road and the steering wheel doesn't jerk from side to side as it can in other front wheel drive performance cars.
Thriftiness
As impressive, perhaps, is the new Leon’s thriftiness. Combined economy of 34.9 mpg and CO2 limited to just 190 g/km make the car among the most environmentally friendly ultra-hot hatches around.
Not quite green enough to qualify for the brand’s Ecomotive badge - but distinctly more environmentally conscientious than a number of competitors which have CO2 emissions of 220 g/km and above.
Speaking of rivals, it might not have the kick of the Ford Focus RS, but at £25,205 on the road it is £3,000 cheaper. It’s also £3,500 less than the Volkswagen Scirocco R. Only the Renault Megane Renaultsport offers a convincing alternative on cost, but the Cupra R’s engine has more finesse and the inconspicuous five-door formation broadens the interest.
The Kit Included
Even though the Leon has a relatively modest price tag, there is an awful lot of kit included. There are sporty twin central exhaust pipes within a modified rear diffuser, a subtle extended high level rear spoiler, tasteful ‘R’ badging and gloss black highlighting inside and out.
Then there are the ebony black front seatbacks with ‘R’ logo, which leave rear seat passengers in no doubt about the characteristics of this super-quick SEAT.
Colossal 19-inch ‘Potenza’ wheels, available in traditional silver alloy or contemporary white finish, also mark out the ‘R’ as something extra special.
If that’s not enough, you also get cruise control, rear parking sensors, automatic lights and dual-zone climate control - all of which come as standard.
Quite simply, the SEAT Leon Cupra R is a bargain when you consider how much car you get for the cash. It looks awesome, it’s engaging and it’s seriously rapid without being uncomfortable. The Leon would, without doubt, tick all the boxes for me if I wanted to buy a modern day performance hatch.
PROS ‘N’ CONS
PROS
- Attractive
- Performance
- Fun
- Cost
CONS
- Boy racer image
FAST FACTS
- Max speed: 155 mph
- 0-62 mph 6.2 seconds
- Combined mpg: 34.9
- Engine: 4 cylinders, 1984 cc, turbo-petrol
- Power: 265 PS
- Torque: 350 Nm at 2,500 rpm
- CO2: 190g/km
- Price: £25,205 OTR
