Seat Cupra

Volkswagen controlled Spanish firm Seat has some very nice cars but the Ford Focus sized Leon is now even more attractive. The Leon ‘Cupra’ is now the most powerful Seat in production. .

Sitting on tasty 18 inch alloys the Cupra is surprisingly subtle looking for a hot hatch. An oval tailpipe is the only styling clue at the rear apart from the Cupra name to let people know you have a serious perfomance car.

Inside the Leon is dark and a little bleak. Sadly apart from the sporty seats and a badge or two the interior is disappointing. The Cupra should be a homage to all things racing and sadly the trim and fittings fail to excite.

Hot Hatchbacks are enjoying a bit of a revival as they continue to offer the thrills that made them the most exciting real world cars of the ’70s and ’80s.

On the road the Cupra is easy to drive slowly and the suspension is on the softer side of firm so the Cupra is really usable day to day. Both Insurance premiums and fuel bills will be high however. Even when I drove like a saint the fuel consumption was on the thirsty side.

The Cupra handles very well. Like most front-wheel drive cars the Cupra gives plenty of warning as to when it is scrabbling for grip and will always understeer a bit before things get serious.

Should you trade up from the sporty Leon ‘FR’ (200bhp), which makes do with a smaller turbo? Most definitely, as the extra poke is well worth it.

Seat Cupra is a fine effort that could do with an interior makeover to match its’ on road performance

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