The Goodwood Test: Seat Leon Cupra 300

Heritage

Hot hatches have never been hotter and with cars like the Focus RS and Honda Civic Type R fashions seem to have taken a determined swing back to the unapologetic with bright colours, gaping scoops and big wings back on trend. It's like a time machine to the mid-'90s, just that the cars are now much, much faster. But a few of us have grown up a bit since then, even if our love of hot hatches remains. Seat, previously the outgoing member of the VW family, has seemingly gone the other way, making its hot Leon fast enough to keep pace with the likes of the Focus and Civic but low-key enough to slip under the radar too. Is a recent update enough to keep up? 

Design

It wasn't that long ago we were celebrating the original hot Leon as a bit of a hot hatch classic. For this third-generation car, Seat has adopted a much more understated look, with a clear Audi influence. Sharing a platform and engine with the Golf GTI and, indeed, the S3 the Leon Cupra gets some new wheels and some subtle exterior changes though Seat hasn't taken the opportunity to revive some of the wilder colour choices of old. As such even with the firepower under the bonnet this is still an understated car, albeit one available in a choice of three-door, five-door and estate versions. 

Performance

This is where VW lets Seat off the leash a little to display some of that pace and passion of the original Leon Cupra. First offered with 276bhp and then with 286bhp (290ps), the updated car gets the full 296bhp (300ps) of the Golf R but weighs significantly less. It also gets the Golf GTI's clever chassis tech as standard. Get the manual for more involvement or choose the DSG auto for out and out pace. The electronically-controlled clutch pack distributes torque across the front axle like a traditional limited-slip differential, overcoming the traditional weakness of powerful front-driven cars. For all the subtlety of the looks, the brutality of the power delivery and performance comes a shock. 

Passion

Seat portrays itself as a passionate brand but under VW ownership is in fact the defiantly sensible choice. The deal with the Leon Cupra was always that you got the most power and best bits from the VW parts bin for a bargain price. And much of the standard kit on the Leon Cupra would indeed cost you extra on the equivalent Golf GTI and there's a rawness to the driving manners that set it apart from its sober German cousin. The addition of a '4Drive' four-wheel drive DSG auto version of the ST estate, meanwhile, offers a genuine alternative to the posher Golf with real practicality and all-round pace. The on-paper RRP is perhaps not as cheap as it was – deals in the showroom may yet restore that price advantage.

Price tag of our car

From £29,840 (manual SC three-door) to £34,170 (DSG 4Drive estate)