To be honest, this hasn't been a great month for the Leon. There's still a great deal it does very well indeed (and I will continue to make the case for it), but a few rivals have shown up areas for improvement.
Chalk and cheese as hot hatches go!
The first was a week in Dan's
NotImpreza
. Its victory on the SEAT? Powertrain. Yes, the engine is laggier and less efficient but it's also more exciting. The Leon is keen but the Subaru revvier still once it's passed 3,000rpm, the boxer noise much more pleasing than the Cupra's augmented soundtrack as well. Moreover, the gearbox is a delight, short and precise in throw with perfect weighting and nice pedals. The Leon isn't bad but the STI is tangibly better. If you like manuals, and I certainly do, the Subaru's relationship between its engine and gearbox are a joy.
Next up? Ford Focus ST. There can be no doubt the SEAT is faster, particularly through bends where that VAQ 'diff' can work its magic. It's easily better looking too. But there's something quite endearing about the Ford, at least there was on a drive back from Spain. A brawny engine that shows what enhanced noise should sound like, a decent chassis that doesn't require any setting up plus an affordable price make the Ford hard to argue with.
The hatch already had a tough job...
And now KM14 XHO faces the enemy within, the
Leon Cupra estate
. Personally the curio appeal of a fast estate, plus the acceptable price premium and negligible dynamic gap would swing the decision in favour of the wagon. Some kind of Leon/Focus rematch in whatever format back in the UK would surely be fascinating.
But things are looking up for the poor old Cupra. Having experienced the Performance Pack on the estate launch, I'm confident it will make the SC hatchback even more thrilling down a B-road. It's easy to forget just how fast this car is. Even Dan commented on the pace having swapped a Ferrari FF for it; with more grip and more stopping power it should be incredible. Unfortunately there still isn't a confirmed date for the availability of UK press cars. Soon, honest!
Though it may have not have been flavour of the month during February, the Leon Cupra remains an excellent hot hatch. I maintain that what it lacks is some visual clout. It's a sharp looking car (hot Leons always have been) but struggles to be noticed. I am to blame slightly for choosing the Dynamic Grey paint but it was a very uninteresting palette of options.
Come on, it can't be that hard!
And that's the most important issue. The first Leon Cupras were never actually that wild aesthetically but they were offered in yellow and that made them interesting. Orange and green were offered on the Mk2 Cupra and the popularity of those hues must prove there is demand. The fact SEAT UK had press cars wrapped
in orange
surely indicates they're keen too. Someone very senior at SEAT needs to get yellow back on a Leon Cupra. Soon.
Until then, this car will continue to ferry people around very quickly with little fuss. Two more nearly rivals are around this month too in the form of the Juke NISMO RS and Audi S3 saloon. Certainly one of those won't go unnoticed!
FACT SHEET
Car: SEAT Leon Cupra 280
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: July 2014
Mileage: 9,170
List price new: £26,945 before options (£29,650 as tested, comprising Leather Pack with Winter Pack £755, Driver Assist Pack including high beam and lane assist £295, Safety Pack £115, SEAT Sound System £250, Adaptive Cruise Control and front assist £500, space saver £95 and Dynamic custom paint £695).
Last month at a glance: From Subaru to ST, rivals highlight a few Leon flaws
[Source: What Car? via YouTube, lead image by Tom Begley].
