Saturday 9th January 2016

SEAT Leon Cupra: Market Watch

A spicy Spanish interpretation of German stodge, the Leon Cupra is an enduring favourite - here's our guide to the various versions

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SEAT's alternative to the VW Golf GTI has proved a popular choice with UK hot hatch buyers. And in the process has played a major part in elevating the brand's image. Backed up by a contemporary motorsport pedigree the Leon - in potent Cupra form - provided the VW Golf GTI with perhaps its stiffest opposition, and with lower pricing has sold in large numbers.

As a result there are plenty of well-maintained examples out there, from the very first Mk1 model, originally badged the 20VT, right through to the latest Mk3 Cupra 280. In all, SEAT has sold 14,898 Leon Cupras in the UK.

And with SEAT's latest Leon Cupra 290 announced we couldn't resist looking back at all three generations to discover which you should consider buying, which Cupras have the potential to become future classics and which versions make the best base for future tuning.

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Introduction
SEAT Leon Cupra Mk1 (1999-2005)
SEAT Leon Cupra Mk2 (2006-2012)
SEAT Leon Cupra Mk3 (2013-on)

[Many thanks to Revotechnik, Midland VW, SEATCupra.net and Glass's Guide for their help with this feature]

Photos: Tom Begley/SEAT

[kaivaksdal]

Love them. Great cars. My best friend and I both had mk1 Cupra and Cupra r now I have a 300+ bhp mk2 Cupra.
In a year or two, I'll go to a mk3 sub 8 with 350+.
So much car for so little money - easily thousands less than equivalent Golf or similar.
Kai

[andrews7889]

Surely the original Cupra was available early on but didn't sell well as it was pricey (18K+) as it had the leather interior. The Sport model sold for sub £15K and had the same 20VT engine but fabric seats. It was this car that was rebadged the Cupra at the end of 2000 and became a top seller.

I remember ordering mine in late 2000 after the Top Gear magazine awarded it best hot hatch or similar award. I picked it up in March only to find it still badged a 20VT and documented as a Sport model. When I pointed this out to the dealership they ordered me a Cupra badge!

Great car - kept it until I got a Cupra R in 2004 (the proper 225bhp one not the 210).

And then the MKII came out with the terrible styling and the Golf caught up in performance and I couldn't see the point any more.

[Jam12321]

Mk1 was a cool car when it came out and had some great fun driving my mates car about for a short time. Think it's rose tinted specs if I'm honest though.

[macky17]

Worth adding, re the mk2, that in 2009 the facelift bought in a more compliant suspension which it really needed. Steering not the best. Otherwise great fun.

[DS197]

Absolutely love the looks of the K1s. The only Seat i'd seriously consider buying

[QuantumTokoloshi]

I had MK1 20VT Cupra and still got my Mk1 Cupra R. They are still a fun car to drive and the styling has aged well IMO. The old school turbo feel, especially with a remap, is addictive. The interior is solid and wears well, if a little too much black inside, a bargain when they were new and still good value.

The Mk2 styling did not appeal to me, too MPV. The interior, especially pre-update, was low rent even in the Cupra, the chassis was excellent and coped with the power very well, even with big power examples.

I like the look of the Mk3, but have not driven one yet, the raw power output is eye watering.

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Wednesday 6th January 10:02

[IanCress]

Owned a Mk2 Cupra for a couple of years. The car handled the power almost too well, it made 240bhp feel dull. A Revo upgrade to 300bhp transformed the car in to something much more interesting.

Handling wise, the car had plenty of grip but wasn't as playful as the ST170 I owned previously.

I'd happily have a Mk3 next time I change cars.

[madmatteo]

I've also been a fan of the various Cupras but never actually taken the plunge. However, I'm currently in the process of trying to convince the wife that a 290 is the perfect baby carrying transport to replace her MX5 later this year.

Managed to get her to test drive a used 280 so she could have a go and we were both really impressed with how it drove, the interior quality and the standard spec (which is actually getting better on the 290). The only difficulty is the power is largely lost on her and she keeps going back to the idea of a Mk7 Golf GTi.

It seems I still have some work to do to encourage the Mrs that the Seat may be the way to go.

[MIDangerfield]

I've had my Mk1 20vt cupra for over 5 years now. The old girl just keeps going and still feels rather nippy. I prefered the more muscular styling to the plain Mk4 Golf. I'll probably treat myself to a Mk2 Cupra K1 this year. Love the styling of it. I always thought SEATs were more exciting to look at than the equivalent VWs. Until the Mk3 Leon came out that is. It's just so..... dull! It looks like someone roughly traced over a Mk7 Golf.