On test - Seat Leon SC Cupra 280 (written Sept '15)

Seat introduces its ‘go faster’ Leon following the launch of the Spanish brand’s well received third generation family hatchback. The question is, can it topple its sister Golf GTI in the hot hatch pecking order?

What is it?
As a car enthusiast, I've got a soft spot for a good old fashioned 'hot hatch'. The combined appeal of a sporty engine and powerful looks allied to the base model’s practicality and affordability tends to get the thumbs up from me.
Seat has had a number of reasonably successful hot hatches over the years with various Cupra badged Ibiza’s and Leon’s rolling out of Martorell. Unfortunately for Seat, they’ve so often been overshadowed by the supreme competence of Ford’s Focus ST on one hand and the ever dominant Golf GTI on the other.
Seat seems pretty confident this time though. Their Cupra 280 briefly held the title of the fastest front wheel drive car to lap the Nurburgring and company chiefs are evidently keen for the fastest car in their history to hold real substance behind its Latin character.
Have they succeeded? I take a three door SC Cupra 280 equipped with a six speed manual gearbox out into the Kentish countryside to find out.

 

What's it like?

Powerful...The Cupra 280 features the VW Group’s 2.0 litre TSI petrol unit cranked up to 276bhp. Particularly powerful in the mid range between 2000-3000rpm, the Cupra 280 surges towards the horizon in a pleasing, linear fashion, making full use of its 258lb ft of torque.

The car will top out at the increasingly de rigueur 155mph limiter, once the preserve of the typical German performance saloon. Should you be a fan of the traffic light grand prix, 0-62mph takes place in just 5.6secs.

The handling of the Leon 280 was mostly positive during my Kentish drive. Turn-in was direct and grip levels remained strong although if really pushed, understeer showed its head, not altogether surprising given the car’s front wheel drive set-up.

The Cupra 280 comes with the VW Group’s electronic differential which seemed to help the car power out of bends when attacking some of my favourite B-roads. It’s worth noting though that at times it was evident that the front wheels were being asked to do a lot due to telltale wheelspin, particularly when launching the car from a standstill on slightly damp surfaces.

 

 



The six speed manual transmission was mostly a pleasure to use with a short throw and precise action. I say ‘mostly’ as the gear change from first to second wasn’t always smooth, sometimes feeling notchy and not altogether positive.

As expected of a car that wears 19” wheels, the ride in the Cupra 280 was firm but by no means uncomfortable. Potholes and expansion joints can sometimes thud into the cabin, especially when cornering; however, road noise is mostly kept in check.

As is typical of a VW Group product, the interior layout is logical and everything is where you’d expect to find it. Despite the power available, the Leon 280 is just as easy to drive as the models beneath it.

Perceived material quality seems good enough to my eyes although it’s clear that its VW Golf GTI cousin is a classier place to spend time in. What was rather surprising and of slight concern to me was the emergence of rattles emanating from the driver and passenger door cards during my test, something that may point to build quality limitations.

 

 

Should I buy one?

The Seat Leon Cupra 280 should definitely be on your shopping list if you’re in the market for a 200bhp-plus hot hatch. To my eyes, it’s a stylish piece of kit that draws just the right amount of attention. It features a great engine and its reasonable value for the power available coming in at £27,910.

The difficulty Seat has comes in the form of its rivals. For those after as absorbing drive as possible, Honda’s new Civic Type-R and even the polished handling of RenaultSport’s soon-to-be-replaced Megane 275 pip the Leon 280 for outright dynamics. For those who want a hot hatch that excites while at the same time delivering a less hardcore driving experience, the Golf GTI is able to trump the Leon for comfort, build quality and a list price that undercuts the Spanish contender by £400.

In the end, although the Seat Leon Cupra 280 is a good effort and deserves attention, there are rivals that better marry typical hot hatch magic with a more rounded ownership proposition.