Cupra Leon

Bad times for compact ultra-sports cars. At the start of the last decade, a check for 35 euros gave you access to a Renault Megane RS or a 290 hp Seat Leon Cupra. If the first named still serves as a benchmark for driving pleasure, it is now priced from 43 euros... to which must be added 200 euros of ecological penalty (9550g/km of CO190). The Honda Civic Type R, at least as efficient as the French one on the circuit, even costs 2 euros + 44 euros of ecological penalty to pay! Enough to torpedo the future of these gifted sports drivers, more than ever threatened in Europe because of the evolution of CO920 standards. Renault, for example, should not give a replacement to its Megane RS. There Peugeot 308 GTI n’existe plus. Même la Hyundai i30 N a fui le marché français et son malus écologique rédhibitoire.

Spanish resistance fighter

In this delicate context, Cupra is not giving up. Seat's sports brand is launching an all-new 300 hp Leon, the VZ, which shares its powertrain with the recent Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport. Like the previous Leon Cupra marketed in its time under the Seat badge, the Spaniard displays the lowest price in the category with an entry price of 40 euros. Victim like its competitors of the ecological penalty, it is “content” with a tax of 600 euros. Ultimately, it therefore costs at least 3331 euros less than its two main rivals in France (and 8800 euros less than the Golf GTI Clubsport 9300 priced at 45 euros).

At this price, the Leon Cupra VZ loses absolutely nothing of the remarkable versatility of the previous model. Faced with a rather conciliatory Megane RS and a Civic Type R with a radical philosophy, it remains largely the easiest to live with of the lot. Quite discreet despite its two double exhaust outlets and its large rims, it benefits from an interior with a wealth of technological equipment and a flattering finish. With its smooth cushioning in Comfort mode, its sporty but cozy seats and its generous roominess, the Leon brilliantly plays the nice family role. In this regard, the double-clutch gearbox – as standard – offers an undeniable surplus of pleasure in everyday life.

Effective, but less playful

And what happens when you press the big “Cupra” knob on the steering wheel? As one might expect, the EA888 turbo unit – well known on the Volkswagen group's compact sports cars – still hits just as hard in a straight line. Despite 20 horsepower less, it will clearly not suffer from the comparison with the Honda engine thanks to a generous torque range and a good length. Artificially increased, the sound remains stimulating while the automatic gearbox, fast and responsive, does not really make you regret the absence of a manual transmission. On the roads of the Spanish hinterland, the Cupra immediately establishes itself as an extraordinary tool to humiliate everything that rolls. Driving aids disconnected, we are surprised by the good traction of this pure traction despite the 400 Nm and the absence of semi-Slick tires (even as an option). Sharp and firmly locked to the bitumen, the front axle invites you to pull on it and re-accelerate very early. The effect of the electronic differential lock is then felt in the steering, the car tightening its trajectory when exiting a bend at full load.

More rigorous and less messy than the old Seat Leon Cupra, the Leon VZ reveals a personality quite different from the latter when pushed to its limits. The rear axle still moves when you lift the foot and the steering feel doesn't change much. But the car is less playful in absolute terms, tending towards total behavioral neutrality. On the track, this neutrality never really frustrates, because unlike certain old compact sports cars from Volkswagen or Audi, it does not wallow in understeer in extreme driving and remains effective in all circumstances. According to Cupra driver and driver Jordi Gene, this is a deliberate choice to favor stability (notably thanks to discreet actions of the car's electronic control unit on the brakes), rather than mobility. Too bad for fans of thrilling sports cars, who will continue to prefer the Megane RS and its rival from Honda. Others will undoubtedly be satisfied with the Cupra's copious performance, its high level of comfort and its advantageous pricing.

Verdict

Very efficient in dynamic driving, unbeatable in everyday life and more affordable than its rivals thanks to a less severe penalty, the Cupra Leon VZ looks like the perfect compact sports car. Except for purists looking for thrilling driving.