Confession time. I've not actually driven the Leon for just over a week now. Dan 'had to borrow' it and there have been a couple of other cars to drive recently. Has it been missed?
Hmm. It's too early in the relationship to really feel like I've bonded with it properly but I'm certainly looking forward to driving the Cupra again. It may look sensible (and yes, I'm still a fan of its appearance) but the way it chomps down a road is quite naughty indeed. Not unruly or wayward but just very, very brisk.
The Bedford comparison with the Megane 275 was intriguing. I won't regurgitate everything from that test but it was nice to see the SEAT hold its own. And to discover the outer limits of the ESC's 'off' setting. Personally the Megane's more focused nature appeals more but as a hot hatch package the SEAT is just so competent. That does mean the highs aren't quite as scintillating but then neither are the lows as frustrating as in the Renault. Then the argument of course becomes whether viceless means characterless. One to monitor for sure.
The only 'proper' road drive I've had so far is to and from Silverstone for the Leon Cup Racer, er, experience. It would have been very poetic to note some tangible links given there are a few similarities but even as a road car-derived racer the Cup car felt worlds apart. Distantly related perhaps, but in the same way Phil Taylor and Yohan Blake are sportsmen.
No, yellow still isn't available
The sensation from the XDS differential lock is what feels most familiar in both, although of course more immediate in the racing car. Being able to deploy so much torque (the Cupra's 258lb ft torque peak runs from 1,750-5,600rpm) so much of the time becomes addictive, even if it doesn't offer quite the incisiveness of a genuine limited-slip differential. With some holiday time back home in Suffolk later this month I'm really keen to get some more B-road miles in.
If there's one thing assured with a VW Group long-termer it's faultless tech, surely? Yeah. Though pairing an iPhone for calls has been fine there has sometimes been issues playing music through Bluetooth and 'not compatible' messages on the phone when plugged in. Curious. Now of course having said that it will be faultless in future.
Orange smileys for the Gulf effect?
All this is a bit of a shame given 'our' Leon is fitted with the 'SEAT Sound System' as one of the options. For £250 there are two additional speakers (ten in total), a 135W six-channel amp and, in true Max Power spirit, a boot-mounted sub. As someone who religiously listens to Annie Mac's Friday night show on Radio 1 (judge me as you will; I also enjoy The News Quiz or The Now Show beforehand) it has been appreciated recently. I'll get the expert opinion of a What Hi-Fi? bod soon.
And as a final point which will probably continue, there's a fresh opinion on the colour. This month? "It would probably look really cute on a Fiat 500 or something like that". Brilliant.
FACT SHEET
Car: SEAT Leon Cupra 280
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: July 2014
Mileage: 1,476
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: Cupra copes admirably with comparisons against its hot hatch nemesis and motorsport compatriot