Seat Leon Cupra 2014 review - Auto Express
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ต.ค. 2024
- We drive the powerful new SEAT Leon Cupra 280 hot hatch. Read the full review: bit.ly/1mrQMGY
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This new SEAT Leon Cupra should be very good indeed: it's based on our 2013 Car of the Year and it shares similar mechanicals to the Volkswagen Golf GTI, one of our top hot hatchbacks.
So what do we know about the SEAT Leon Cupra? Well the first thing is that you can get a whole range of different models.
The entry-level version is a 3-door with a manual gearbox and 261bhp, or you can get a 3 and a 5 door with a manual or 6-speed DSG with 276bhp.
All versions are front wheel drive but do come with a limited slip differential and adaptive dampers as standard - both those things are optional on the Golf GTI.
The styling is actually quite restrained for something this fast. There's a deeper front bumper, full LED headlights, 19-inch wheels on the 280 models and around the back, 2 oval exhausts. When the standard car looks so good the great design is hardly surprising.
It's certainly classy inside, too - you get all the same high-quality switchgear that you would in the standard Leon but with a few little extras to make it feel a bit more special. The first is a flat-bottomed steering wheel, plus there's figure-hugging sports seats and a few Cupra badges sprinkled around.
What you really want to know is what's this thing like to drive - well, it's a lot of fun. The steering is quite light but really sharp. You can feel the limited slip differential shuffling the power to the outside wheel on tight turns and slingshotting you out the other side.
The engine? Well it's really smooth and sounds great. It doesn't quite have the grunt of the four-wheel-drive VW Golf R but it's very quick nonetheless.
SEAT is dropping hints that this car could even be the fastest front-wheel drive hatch ever to drive around the Nurburgring. We're going to find out for definite at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Leon Cupra has always been a bit of a bit player in the hot hatch game, but believe me that's about to change.
Not only does this car look great, it drives brilliantly too and represents excellent value. You get the front differential and the adaptive dampers as standard and you get a lot more power than a Golf GTI but despite that it only costs around £500 more than the GTI, model for model.
Whichever way you look at it, that makes it a bit of a performance bargain.
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More powerful and better looking that the Golf. WIN!
"better looking"....? That Leon looks just like any other Leon, which is simply boring..... how can this be better looking than a GTI?
Abzug0386 Because ANY Leon is better looking than the GTI... The VW is way too conservative looking IMO. But looks is a subjective thing. Can't deny the better performance though.
Abzug0386 because the normal leon looks already much better than the GTI. you don't want to tell me the GTI doesn't look boring as well, do you?!
you are american?????
audio editing skills = 0
I can't wait for the proper reviews. A 3 minute review doesn't do justice for any car let alone what could be the fastest fwd car and a potentially epic hot hatch.
I like this guy he knows his motors !!!
next time, maybe turn your phones off, so the noise isn't that annoying.
You should not be filming with a mobile phone close to the camera...
Fastest front wheel drive around the Nurburgring until that is, the new Honda Civic Type-R arrives in 2015
***** someones an RS fanboy.....
Thanks for subtitles
Did he just say "it makes it much more sharper"? Way to go you professional journalist, you!
What's wrong with that? It's not ungrammatical.
Either it "makes it much sharper" or "it makes it much more sharp." Saying "shaper" already implies more.
If only I had a spare 28k, I would buy this in an instant.
Good review
This should be a GT, I think Cupra deserves something more as per upper class, maybe 300hp and 4x4
Ohh snap, LSD and adaptive dampers as standard in Seat. Da fak just VW did to the beloved golf, LOL.
Looks great!
Great car!
But I will await for the new VW Polo R and Audi A1. I know, that they are smaller, but they should be more nimble and alive.
believe me....i test drove the new leon and it already was the fucking best driving hatch i ever drove!
kraenk12 I believe you! It has the suspension and the limited differential from the Golf more power! I can wait to see it against the Ford Focus ST, Opel Astra VRX and Renault Megane RS.
But what I say is VW Polo R and Audi S1 will be more nimble and alive! And why? Almost the same power, 4WD, dual clutch and less weight, you know what I mean...
Alexandre Fernandes I think it will fare better than the ST that I heard is twitchy, same liveliness but with more composure. And it looks better, especially in red with a black roof and those LED lights.
When I hopefully go on the market for a hot hatch it'll come between this and the Astra OPC. Astra is much prettier but possibly a little worse to drive and is much more expensive.
Yeah was wondering about that phone noise ... Can hear the golf fan boys saying but it's not a golf is it!
0:45 sounds like he's forgotten to switch off the indicator....
It they make a version with AWD, I will make it my next car. Make it happen SEAT!
Looks great. Check out our video of the new 2014 1.4 FR!
i wants to see it on the nordschleife. the renault megane rs is the fastest fwd yet
i know sliced about 10 seconds off. adios megane rs. but lets see the civic type r in action
***** but it was modified..
Well made go's like a rocket but as exciting as a sprout!
Previous Leon styling looked pin toed! These look more boy racer to me...
just me or do the megane 265 and opc's look like 'proper' hot hatches. They say something visually, they have bigger kahunas! The GTI and Cupra just look soooo tame and conservative... Hey I'm no youngster either, and never resided in the East End of London yet these offerings are missing what should be in the hot hatch visual DNA.
The cure for the common GTI; sadly, not offered in the U.S.
Awesome. Prefer a 3 door in the ibiza more sporting
Fastest FWD around the Nurburgring? Hmm good luck trying to beat the RS265
I think they've beaten it. Why else would you hint at it?
ACS607
He did say at 2:10 could be the fastest FWD car. But its not confirmed until the Geneva Motorshow
nazhif1 Just confirmed today by Top Gear, Seat Leon Cupra is the fastest fwd car around the Nurburgring with a time of 7m58.4s. That's 10 seconds faster than what the Megane could achieve.
Yeah I saw their post, quite bummed out that Seat isn't available where I live
I thought it was my mobile LOL!
We don't have SEAT in Australia...booooo!
So you can't get much information about how it drives here...
"similar mechanics than golf GTI" let me laugh. The 280 cupra destroys a GTI using the half of the throtle pedal.
sound still isn't as bad as MCN
OK so it's got loads of power but it looks TOTALLY BORING!!! Nothing at all like a hot hatch. The previous model Leon Cupra with the btcc body kit now that's what a hot hatch should look like!
Gianniz27
Ok... then it not a Cupra! Should be a GT for example.
Alexandre Fernandes yes i'll go for that. So between us we'll just call it a GT. lol.
You obviously prefer the boyracer image but I like this restrained one. Too bad :p
to each their own. ;-)
It looks small compared to the 2013
I like the way it looks. I don't want to be running around in a hideous boy racer looking piece of crap. Less is more.
looks like they took too many design ques from audi
Don't think so. A3 is the only car on the market that has no exterior design at all. Is the first car in the world that was inspired by...nothing.
Its shit how they have done away with dynamic grey and alor blue for the cupra 300 👎🏻
awful sound, another bad review.
lol
Shitty audio too, I shouldn't be expecting much from Autocar, their audio seems to be fucked in some way or another.
Hhj
That has to be the most boring hot hatch i've ever seen. I would never buy it I'm afraid.
I like this guy he knows his motors !!!
We don't have SEAT in Australia...booooo!