Thursday 8th January 2015

SEAT announces Leon ST Cupra

Fastest Leon now available as a wagon. Nobody mention the Golf R....

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It's a good time for small fast estates. There's the Mercedes CLA45 Shooting Brake, the VW Golf R, a revised Focus ST on the way and now this, the SEAT Leon ST Cupra.

Ikea via the 'ring?

To avoid confusion with the Ford, we'll refer to the SEAT as the Leon Cupra wagon from now on. And it is a proper load-lugger too, boasting a maximum 1,470 litres of boot space. The Merc has 1,354 by comparison.

Essentially then there's everything that's so good about the Cupra hatch in a more practical body. You might argue it's a cooler car too; who doesn't love a fast estate after all? Both 265 and 280hp models will be offered [Update - SEAT has since confirmed no 265hp version for the UK], with the manual and DSG gearbox options available on each. SEAT claims a 0-62mph time of 6.0 seconds for the DSG-equipped 280, just two tenths behind the equivalent hatchback. Like for like a Leon FR estate is 58kg heavier than the five-door hatch so we would expect a similar gain for the Cupra. Predictably efficiency suffers a little, the additional kilos knocking a few points off the CO2 and mpg. Again using the DSG 280 as an example, the official numbers are 42.8mpg and 154g/km.

Would suit some BBS, no?

The usual selection of (very subtle) Cupra identifiers are found here too with a few badges, black mirrors for the 280, small spoilers and twin exhausts. There's another set of terrible fast Leon wheels as well. How hard can it be to design some attractive rims?

Like the hatch, the DCC adaptive dampers, VAQ differential lock and progressive steering are standard on the wagon. Intriguingly, the Performance Pack and bucket seat option will be additionally available for a proper family day out at the Nordschleife. To be investigated as soon as possible...

On that note, a Geneva debut would seem most likely for the Leon Cupra wagon. The standard estate carries a £995 premium over the five-door; applying that to the Cupra would put the manual 265 at £26,685 and the 280 at £27,935. Let's hope the estate doesn't get overshadowed by the Golf R in a similar fashion to the Cupra hatch. Expect a confirmation of UK prices and availability soon.

 

[timb551]

Seen a lot worse wheels to be honest. I don't think they are that bad.

[aka_kerrly]

As estates go that does look like a hell of a package. The only thing that bugs me is the headlamps with the strange LED outline. Ditch that an the Leon becomes one of the best looking estates I can think of right now.

Can we get a group test of the Octavia VRS, this Leon and the Focus ST ?

[MustardCutter]

That looks sharp. I really like those wheels so to each his own.

[kambites]

Not keen on the styling, but you can't argue with the rets of the package at that price really.

[Agoogy]

I can't get excited by the new raft of uber hatches and estates... want to, but they seem hellbent on making them as bland and grey to look as possible, which is cool in a Q car kind of way, but in reality, these are not Q cars, they're not special enough, they're average cars specced to the nines. The figures are riducuously attractive, but nothing so far released would make me look back at it as I walked away after a drive.

I like that 'proud to own feel' and one day I'll have a car again that makes me feel that....but of late when finding a car I think I aspire to, I'll go through 3-4 pages of Autotrader or Pistonheads classifieds and get bored of looking at whatever it is.
If a Golf or Leon or whatever got onto my list of maybes, I think I'd manage 1 page before looking for something more worthwhile.

[ChasW]

Agoogy said:

I can't get excited by the new raft of uber hatches and estates... want to, but they seem hellbent on making them as bland and grey to look as possible, which is cool in a Q car kind of way, but in reality, these are not Q cars, they're not special enough, they're average cars specced to the nines. The figures are riducuously attractive, but nothing so far released would make me look back at it as I walked away after a drive.

I like that 'proud to own feel' and one day I'll have a car again that makes me feel that....but of late when finding a car I think I aspire to, I'll go through 3-4 pages of Autotrader or Pistonheads classifieds and get bored of looking at whatever it is.
If a Golf or Leon or whatever got onto my list of maybes, I think I'd manage 1 page before looking for something more worthwhile.

Fully agree. These cars are so dull even though they try and brighten them up with what looks like Xmas tree decorations (referring to the wheels and headlights).

[ManOpener]

The Article said:

Would suit some BBS, no?.

I think so.

[Liquid Tuna]

I know they're the same group, but that's the most Audi looking Seat to date. Swap the badge and a lot of people wouldn't think anything odd about it.

[Eviltad]

I was only browsing the classifieds on Monday to see if Cupra version of the estate existed and was disappointed to find that it didn't. Its like SEAT have (very quickly) responded to my browsing. In future,I'll keep my searches to "PRIVATE".

Let's see some cheap lease deals and we'll be away.

[manmaths]

ManOpener said:

I think so.

Nice!!!

[SonicHedgeHog]

Agoogy said:

I can't get excited by the new raft of uber hatches and estates... want to, but they seem hellbent on making them as bland and grey to look as possible, which is cool in a Q car kind of way, but in reality, these are not Q cars, they're not special enough, they're average cars specced to the nines. The figures are riducuously attractive, but nothing so far released would make me look back at it as I walked away after a drive.

I like that 'proud to own feel' and one day I'll have a car again that makes me feel that....but of late when finding a car I think I aspire to, I'll go through 3-4 pages of Autotrader or Pistonheads classifieds and get bored of looking at whatever it is.
If a Golf or Leon or whatever got onto my list of maybes, I think I'd manage 1 page before looking for something more worthwhile.

Spot on the money. I'm desperate for a new car, but there is nothing this side of....hell.....£50k I can get excited about. Insane situation.

[aka_kerrly]

Agoogy said:

I can't get excited by the new raft of uber hatches and estates... want to, but they seem hellbent on making them as bland and grey to look as possible, which is cool in a Q car kind of way, but in reality, these are not Q cars, they're not special enough,

Um the whole point of a Q car is that it is NOT meant to shout and draw attention to the fact that it is considerably faster than one would expect a car of it's style/type to be.

There is just no way to keep everyone happy, consider how PH raves about cars like the Volvo 850R yet that barely looks any more interesting than a 850GL how is this any different?

I do wonder some days, so many people contributing to these threads saying a nearly 300hp family estate is bland/boring and reckon they won't buy one (how many are actually in a position to do so is another question) and then these same people berate manufactures who produce ten million combinations of the stty diesel versions of the same cars.

Does PH seriously think Seat are going to release a road going version of their current touring car with 5 seats? Then whine about how expensive the service items are and expect decent ride quality

[Pixelpeep7r]

SonicHedgeHog said:

Agoogy said:

I can't get excited by the new raft of uber hatches and estates... want to, but they seem hellbent on making them as bland and grey to look as possible, which is cool in a Q car kind of way, but in reality, these are not Q cars, they're not special enough, they're average cars specced to the nines. The figures are riducuously attractive, but nothing so far released would make me look back at it as I walked away after a drive.

I like that 'proud to own feel' and one day I'll have a car again that makes me feel that....but of late when finding a car I think I aspire to, I'll go through 3-4 pages of Autotrader or Pistonheads classifieds and get bored of looking at whatever it is.
If a Golf or Leon or whatever got onto my list of maybes, I think I'd manage 1 page before looking for something more worthwhile.

Spot on the money. I'm desperate for a new car, but there is nothing this side of....hell.....£50k I can get excited about. Insane situation.

I think you're both getting caught up in 'image' rather than anything else.

The car i drive is the one that ticks all my boxes and therefore can be proud to drive, if its a Q car then i can be proud of the understated performance, if its a new car i can be proud that i have something new to drive around in. Etc Etc.

I have a golf, and love looking back at it. Im still in the honeymoon period i guess - but I've done 3000 odd miles in it now and its still everything (and more) that i want and need in a car.

If i wanted something that OTHER people are impressed with id have bought a TVR or a bright orange focus ST maybe ?

Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder as the saying goes

[kambites]

I think it's the wrong way to view these big hot hatches. They aren't really meant to be "fun" in the same way that a mk1 Golf GTi or 205 GTi was; manufacturers are focusing on that in the Fiesta ST class these days (which is of course about the same size as the mk1 Golf); these thing seem more meant to be fast, highly capable family transport. Something bought with the head not the heart.

[Amirhussain]

Bit Audi-ishh,but I like the look of it. Not a fan of those alloys though.

[Benstermin]

This car is pictured with the performance pack hence the wheels. I guess the standard Cupra wheels will be fitted otherwise.

[2smoke]

This is actually a tempting proposition as a replacement for my "Usual Suspect" diesel company car later this year and would mean I'd arrive at my destination at least a minute earlier by default!
I've read that the build quality of the hatch is a bit suspect with a recall for rattly door trims already. Hopefully this will get ironed out in production, otherwise it'll probably be a VRS or ST.

[rob.e]

So... maybe i don't need a golf R as my next car.




Agree the wheels are horrible, but well done to SEAT for offering the performance pack, diff etc.

[Pixelpeep7r]

Any idea if this will be FWD or AWD - i assume FWD ?

[rob.e]

FWD