SEAT Leon Cupra: A wolf in sheep's clothing?

SEAT is a popular Spanish car maker. Since it became part of the Volkswagen family in 1990, the firm has sold several popular models. One of those is the Leon, first introduced in 1998. In case you wondered, the car got named after the Spanish city that shares its name!

Today, the SEAT Leon is now in its third generation. Since 2014, the sporty Cupra model has been in existence. By now, you might be wondering why this car is what I dubbed a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Let me fill you in:


SEAT Leon ST Cupra

It's available in a range of formats

Once upon a time, affordable sports cars were only available as three-door hatchbacks. That might have been OK some years ago, but people's needs change over the years. For instance, lifestyle changes may dictate the need for a more practical vehicle.

The SEAT Leon Cupra is available in a broad range of styles. One can select from a three-door or five-door hatchback. For a more practical vehicle, there is also the estate version available to buy!

It has Volkswagen's engineering input

One of the benefits of having VW as your parent company is you get access to their award-winning engines! The SEAT Leon Cupra is one such model to enjoy Volkswagen's engineering input.

As standard, the car comes with the excellent 2.0-liter TSI engine as found in the Golf R. Depending on the trim level select, one can get 276 to 290 brake hp as standard. Of course, power isn't everything these days with more people demanding better fuel economy. Because the TSI units have turbocharging as standard, they increase fuel economy as well.

You only have to look at any turbo car to see how more efficient the engine is in comparison to others models.

SEAT Leon Cupra

It's like driving a go-kart


The thing about high-performance cars is that one expects them to have razor-sharp handling. Now, you might think that the SEAT Leon Cupra is just a better version of an "ordinary" road car. But, what might surprise you is how brilliant the car drives on the road!

I had the opportunity to test-drive one for sale at the Imperial Car Supermarket last month. I think it's safe to say this car can handle almost anything you can throw at it!

The good news for Cupra buyers is the safety features will ensure you don't kill yourself if you make a mistake. All those problems associated with too little (or too much) torque on the drive wheels are long gone.


Fresh, modern styling

One thing you will note about the latest SEAT Leon Cupra is how fresh and modern the styling of the car is. SEAT wants this vehicle to appeal to a broad spectrum of motorists, not just car enthusiasts.

There's no denying the Cupra does offer some visual improvements over the standard Leon. For instance, it enjoys larger front bumper air intakes. The 18-inch alloy wheels and tweaked suspension give it a meaner stance on the road. And the Cupra 280 variant looks meaner still, with 19-inch wheels and a bigger rear spoiler!

If I were you, I’d test-drive one today!

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