Review of the new SEAT Leon Cupra R

There are certain badges with the power to send hot hatchback fans weak at the knees. Ford has RS, Volkswagen has GTI, Honda has Type-R, Renault has Renaultsport and there are others but the branding that SEAT reserves for its most explosive machinery might be slightly less familiar. SEAT's Cupra R insignia isn't used often and lacks the longstanding heritage of some but when it does appear on the rear end of a Spanish hatchback, you can bet fireworks are in store. It certainly pays to stand well back when the touch paper is lit on the latest Leon Cupra R

SEAT emphasises its sporty side as vehemently as any mainstream car manufacturer. Its status as part of the mighty Volkswagen Group leaves the Iberian brand free to concentrate on a youthful and dynamic target market given that Skoda, and Volkswagen itself, already provide for more conservative clientele. This positioning places even more importance on models like the Leon Cupra R. A truly thrilling hot hatchback is an essential if SEAT's claims are to be taken seriously.

The problem has been making a Cupra R that was thrilling enough. With 209bhp FR models selling like hot cakes and 236bhp Cupra versions already available in the Leon range, any Cupra R would have to be properly powerful. Eventually, the engine was found for the job and more than four years after the Cupra R badge last appeared on a Leon, a successor was unveiled.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine that powers the Leon Cupra R has become ubiquitous in fast hatchbacks from SEAT and other Volkswagen Group marques. It's an excellent powerplant that's ideally suited to the task of making a compact car feel muscular and exhilarating. Both the FR and Cupra versions of the Leon are amongst the models that use the smooth turbocharged unit but with the Cupra packing a hefty 237bhp, this range-topping model needed a fearsome amount of clout to justify its 'R' extension. Adjustments to the engine management system, increased turbo boost pressure and an upgraded fuel injection pump elevate the Leon Cupra R to a 261bhp maximum power output and, perhaps more impressively, 350Nm of torque from just 2,500rpm.

"With the pace and the visual impact to mix it with the performance hatch elite, this Leon must be taken seriously."

The engine has the power to put the Cupra R up alongside the top performance hatchbacks. It's broadly the same as that found in the Volkswagen Golf R and the Audi S3, giving the Leon a 0-62mph time of 6.2s and a top speed of 155mph but unlike these contemporaries, it lacks all-wheel-drive.

So how does it go? First, it sounds great. There's a satisfying roar at full throttle and when you ask it to pull in a high gear, the throaty growl from the exhaust might prompt a quick check of the back seat for tigers. The suspension features aluminium components which reduce unsprung weight and improve the ride quality. It helps make this fiery Leon a surprisingly comfortable car for everyday driving while still retaining the firmness and rigid body control that a top tier hot hatch needs.

The engine is wonderfully flexible from low revs and through the mid range, making the performance easily accessible but you'll need to be swift with the short throw six-speed gearbox to get the maximum from it as the revs rise quickly. The R probably lacks the hardcore feel of more extreme hot hatches with its compliant ride and steering that isn't the last word in sharpness or feedback but for many, that will make it a more attractive ownership proposition.

In its Leon family hatchback, SEAT has an excellent starting point from which to fashion a stunning-looking hot hatchback. The swooping lines of the basic Leon are amongst the most adventurous in the family hatch sector and show little sign of aging despite the fact that this generation Leon was launched in 2005.

The SEAT designers have shown in the past that it's relatively easy to bolt on the kind of sporty accessories that make a hot hatch stand out, upping the aggression without disrupting the overall look of the car. The Cupra R follows this formula but looks extra angry as befits its position at the top of the range.

The car could well be at its most visually distinctive around at the rear where large twin exhaust pipes protrude from the centre of a big black rear diffuser carved into the low bumper. There's also a rear spoiler and a subtle 'R' badge on the tailgate next to the larger 'Cupra' lettering to denote the car's special status. Overall appearances aren't too over the top and it's only the fine detailing points that mark the R out from a standard Leon Cupra. It's a handsome car though, with no shortage of road presence.

The cabin is surprisingly spacious given the sleek curves of the bodywork and unlike most performance hatchbacks, the Leon Cupra R comes exclusively in five-door form. By hiding the handles for the rear doors in the C-pillar, all Leons manage to combine the appearance of a three-door car with the practicality of five doors. The core design of the standard cabin is less exciting than the outside but the Cupra R successfully combats this with a range of sports accessories. The quilted leather sports seats with 'R' badging and gloss black shells are the highlights but there's a lovely sports steering wheel and gloss black trim inserts are heavily used.

There aren't many family hatchbacks which are available in three different guises that could realistically be termed hot but the SEAT Leon is one. From the 209bhp FR model, there's a tempting £1,500 step to the Cupra but a Cupra R will set buyers back a further £4,000. The pricing isn't cheap but this is the ultimate Leon and it comes suitably well-equipped. A fetching set of 19" alloy wheels comes as standard too which are more likely to be cost options elsewhere in the sector. As a combination of power and price, there aren't too many models that can touch the Leon.

This 2.0-litre turbocharged engine tends to do a good job of keeping running costs manageable wherever it crops up. For a car with the Cupra R's level of performance, combined cycle economy of around 35mpg and CO2 emissions of 190g/km are more than respectable.

Perhaps SEAT's Cupra R isn't one of the more iconic badges to have on the back of your hot hatchback but it's tough to argue with the potency of the latest Leon model to carry it. SEAT has a good record when it comes to compact sporty cars and while this Leon Cupra R is one of the most expensive offerings the Spanish brand has come up with to date, it's also the most powerful. With the pace and the visual impact to mix it with the performance hatch elite, this Leon must be taken seriously.

The market isn't short of hot hatchbacks with fearsome power outputs and jaw-dropping Nurburgring lap times and the Leon Cupra R shuffles half a pace back from that cutting edge. Its performance, nimble chassis and compliant ride make it an extremely fast but highly usable everyday car. Sharper steering and bone shaking suspension might make it a quicker car around a racetrack but for most hot hatch fans, the balance SEAT has struck will be just about right. Five-door practicality and reasonable pricing only add to the appeal.