The idea that a driven front axle would lose its mind when presented with 300hp has been disproved in recent years with the likes of the Renault Megan R.S. 300, FL5 Honda Civic Type R and, just a few weeks ago, the newly updated Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport. So too has the Cupra Leon, often at a discounted rate against the GTI it shares its underpinnings and engine with, albeit with some divisive copper trim and a badge that looks like it’s come straight from the Halfords' accessory bin. Like the Golf, the Cupra Leon has also been refreshed for 2024 - and it might just give you second thoughts on buying the new Clubsport.
The major change here is a new face. The old car closely followed the look of the standard Leon, only with slightly sportier bumpers, bigger wheels and, of course, lots of copper; the sort of treatment we’d come to expect when Cupra simply meant a very quick Seat. And while that’s still the case, the performance division has been a standalone brand right for six years now and is always looking to put some distance between itself and Seat styling-wise. Gone is the old model’s mousey grille, which has been replaced with the ‘shark-nose’ look that features on its Born and Tavascan EVs, alongside the obligatory tweak to the front and rear lights. Not the prettiest thing, is it? But the refresh does bring a pushy level of intent that was absent from the old model.
You need Alan Turing’s proficiency in code-breaking to make full sense of the Cupra range, which has largely been left untouched save for a couple of new additions. There’s a 1.5-litre plug-in with either 204hp or 272hp outputs and up to 70 miles of electric-only running, while the range-topper gets the same 333hp 2.0-litre motor as the Golf R and Audi S3, as well as all-wheel drive and a torque-splitting diff. True to previous form, you can only have this output with the wagon. Go for the hatchback, which works out to be around £4,000 cheaper than the equivalent estate, and you get front-wheel drive, and the 300hp 2.0-litre turbo four carried over from the old model.
Even with advancements in diff and tyre technology, 300hp and 295lb ft of torque is still a lot for the front axle to manage. On the Hatch VZ (aka the faster one), Cupra has fitted an electronic limited-slip diff to put all that grunt down without ripping your arms off. And provided you leave the driving modes in one of their preset settings (comfort, sport, Cupra and individual), the Leon gets a move on with a good degree of composure. Pin the throttle in the middle of a corner and the front end immediately pulls you forward without the steering wheel writhing. Mind you, days of heavy rain made the test route mighty slippery, with the stability control working overtime to keep the fronts under control.
Push the ESC button in the centre console and the stability control goes into sport mode, which, in the conditions, sends the Leon into a bit of a frenzy. Come at a wet, uneven road with a decent amount of commitment and Hankook-clad, 19-inch wheels will spin all the way up into the third. Holding the button down for several seconds turns the ESC off completely and the Leon becomes a right handful. But you know what? It’s a riot in an old school sort of way, forcing you to think about how to position the car, what gear you need to be in and how delicately you should squeeze the throttle.
There’s more adjustability through the drive modes, with Sport hanging onto gears a little longer while ‘Cupra’ sharpens the throttle further and pumps in an augmented exhaust note that sounds more like a five-pot than the four-banger rumbling away up front. The steering becomes noticeably heavier, too, though it’s not especially communicative. In typical VW Group fashion, the initial input gets a slightly exaggerated response, and though it builds resistance convincingly the more lock you wind on, it can feel a touch vague when flicking from one tight corner to the next. The mostly linear power delivery allows you to build up a nice rhythm, mind, as do the progressive and punchy brakes (Akebonos on petrol cars or Brembos on hybrids).
Like the Golf, there are 15(!) settings for the adaptive dampers, and while the ride is noticeably more planted in its sternest mode, dialling it back one, two or even five clicks makes little noticeable difference. Even in its softest settings, it leans more towards the firm side, though never enough to feel uncomfortable or unsettled. So there’s no real need to muck about with the DCC, then, which is a good thing because it’s tucked away in a sub-menu on the infotainment screen. That would have been a right chore on the old car because its screen was slower than a melting glacier to achieve anything, but at least the system on this new Leon feels far better optimised and a lot more responsive.
Moreover, you get physical buttons on the steering wheel and now all models come with dedicated drive mode toggle. The climate control sliders remain and are as useless as ever, but they’re exceptions rather than the rule. A slightly restyled centre console and dash give the cabin a slightly fresher feel, and the sports seats that come as standard on VZ3 models are divine (though the faux carbon at the back is a bit much). Nevertheless, it’s the use of materials where the Leon really shines, with ‘environmentally conscious’ leather covering up the cheaper plastics. It does, in many ways, seem plusher than the equivalent Golf GTI.
In fact, it's here where Cupra has been one-upping VW in recent years. The Leon 300 is, perhaps, 95 per cent of the car the new GTI Clubsport is, but the Cupra’s cabin is markedly superior, and while the copper accents won’t be to everyone’s tastes, it does at least feel more stylish than the Golf. Added to which, in 300 VZ1 guise, the Leon is £41,465 - 1,300 quid cheaper than the GTI Clubsport - a significant enough saving to make you wonder why you’d go for the Volkswagen, badge snobbery aside. And that’s before you take into account the Leon’s more generous kit list. Granted, an extra £4k gets you into the more powerful and practical Leon Estate, which is tempting, too. But whichever you go for, it’s harder than ever to frame either Cupra as the lesser sibling. Quite the opposite, actually.
SPECIFICATION | CUPRA LEON HATCH VZ
Engine: 1984 four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 300@5,300rpm-6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 295@2,000rpm-5,200rpm
0-62mph: 5.7 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,496kg
MPG: 35.8-37.2
CO2: 173g/km
Price: £41,465 (price as standard; as tested £49,285 comprising VZ3 trim plus Century Bronze Matte paint for £2,035).
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