If you want a complete autoreaction to fall in love with you, just like our Seat Leon Cupra 290. Okay, just wipe the whole blue and orange out of your face now, it's enough if you damn Fast, everyday and surprisingly sparing. We moved the spanish Hot Hatch over several months in the editorial daily and were in the end quite pleased with its wide range. One should expect from a car, that short-term the Nordschleifen record for front-wheel drive (in a rather great 7:58 minutes, well-thought) indeed actually a certain compromise. That it also differently, showed the small seat with Bravour. Of course, there were also criticisms. Many, however, were not. What is the fastest Leon and what is less what you need equipment and what is not - our lengthy review tells you.
Engine, transmission, consumption
Since a micro-facelift in spring 2016, the fastest Seat Leon Cupra now has 290 instead of 280 hp (there is also a variant with 265 hp). The feeling is that it is rather 330. As the Cupra itself travels beyond the 200 km / h, is frightening. When the highway was empty, he marched according to the speedometer also times past the 270. Oops! A certain turbocharger is definitely not to be dismissed from the hand, but starting from just under 3000 tours the Cupra tears, like a madman. And it takes quite a while until his urge eases. The two-liter TSI was supported in our case by a six-speed DSG, which is so often a famos and jagged. Although we did not necessarily spare our Cupra 290, he came out on average with 8.3 liters. It was 1.8 liters above the standard consumption stated by Seat. For an almost 300 hp strong compact sportsman a more than remarkable value. The Leon was a two-edged sword. In the driving mode menu, you pressed into the sportiest setting "Cupra", rumorte, rooster, shot and ploppte it in the interior quite so that one or the other Schmunzler could not be suppressed. But, of course, about 90 percent of the acoustic drama was produced electronically. After all, the Cupra has one of the better composed synth sounds.
Driving behavior
The Seat Leon Cupra 290 should be one of the most underestimated cars in terms of driving behavior. He is not as fierce and harsh and barking as a Honda Civic Type R or a Renault Mégane R.S., but he's basically just as fast. However, he does not want to rearrange the vertebral column, and you do not need a three-meter biceps circumference to hold the steering wheel while accelerating. Logbook entry of a colleague: "Nothing, which plays nearly in this price class, brings you down the road like fast, effortlessly and trustingly." Right is the man. Only once, on a half-winter mountain tour it was a bit ... well ... interesting. Winter tires, a wet-cold passport and so much bum on the front axle are not necessarily the best friends. Nevertheless, the differential lock made its thing quite properly and turned at least parts of the torque-mud-cold-rubber mix in useful propulsion. It was really breathtaking with the optional Michelin-Pilot Sport Cup-2 tire. The biting Michelins worked much less angry than expected even in the rain. And as soon as the street was dry, all the wetness disadvantages were forgotten anyway. Grip and curve speeds are hardly to be grasped with the Semislicks. And because he is so much harder on the front axle, the stern also has a lot more desire to dance. Lupf the gas in the curve and the seat swings his butt suddenly like a Peugeot-Popbüchse from the 80's. What a capable and whimsical machine. But enough of too heavy right feet, the cupra could be different in everyday life. If one replaced the inner racing helmet against the jogging pants, he exchanged only too gladly. In this car the spreading of the driving modes for a change is really noticeable. At the touch of a button, the suspension, steering and the artificial sound relaxed to almost Ayurvedic levels of pleasure. Very impressive the whole.
Interior and connectivity
If there was any criticism at the Leon Cupra 290, it usually got the interior off. This was not due to the ergonomics / handling (simple, catchy, comfortable), nor on the optional shawl seats or the quality (VW Golf minus a few per cent, so very good), but simply because the Cupra is one of the most monotonous, darkest and Fadest interior spaces at all. In such a talented compact sportsman, you would just want a little more pep and a few race-oriented loosening. The infotainment system also looks a bit old-fashioned. This does not change his class. No matter whether it is navi, telephone connection or music streaming - everything worked quickly at all times and did not puzzles. Operation via touch or buttons - simple and effective. This may not be the last scream in terms of high-tech or screen size, but everyone can handle it - even without three years of study. As far as the space conditions are concerned, it should be mentioned that with the three-doorer we came across our borders more frequently. Some colleagues would be this variant for each day too impractical, but the five-seater and Kombi Cupra is also so, so this is not really a malus, rather a taste question.
Facilities and prices
Just to anticipate this: the color is not our fault. Seat supplied us without question with this dubious combination (Alor blue, 595 euros), which looks as if poor Nemo was plunging into a bunch of hunted smurfs. Apart from that the Configurator was very good to us: the reason for the clownfish complex is the 2,530 euro "Performance package Orange" with very attractive (and very orange) 19-inch, a monumental 370 Brembo brake and Generous shaped side sills. As mentioned above, the famous DSG (1,700 euros), the visually and ergonomically valuable scarf seat (1,350 euros), the recommended navigation system Plus (1,145 euros), a sound system as well as various assistants and helpers who set the Cupra counter-value at a frightening 42,395 Euro puffed up. The sound system did not bother anyone from the stool, for 350 euros you can enjoy the more loudspeakers and subwoofers but probably. Of the driving aids in our opinion especially the bilateral parking aid (520 euros) as well as the distance control with city emergency braking function (560 euros) sense. For those who like to integrate into their daily lives a few lap circuits or a beautiful mountain pass you do not have to say that, but the 530 Euros for the Michelin Cup 2 Pneus are in this case very well spent money.
Deficiencies
We can get a very short look at this chapter: We got a nearly new car with almost 3,000 kilometers from the seat, drove it four months and about 10,000 kilometers and gave it back - relatively expected - without any deficiencies or intermittent failures. No rattling noises or processing deficiencies were also to be discovered in the Leon Cupra 290 over the entire test distance. The Cupra looked just too good, and not special enough, for a 290-hp 42,000-euro-hot-hat, despite the orange color patches. If you are so captivating, you deserve more drama. If you get along without, the better. Something more serious and sensible, that is so talented, quick and easy to get around the corner, we can hardly imagine.
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