Great all-rounder hatched by Seat (From Hereford Times)

Great all-rounder hatched by Seat

7:00am Saturday 21st January 2012 in Road Tests

HOT hatches used to be raw and uncivilised but nowadays they are very refined cars that not only feed the driving enthusiast in you but serve as a practical everyday vehicle.

Cars like Seat’s Leon Cupra R is not only great fun to drive but is competent on lengthy motorway trips, roomy enough to ferry the children to school or take that unwanted rubbish to the refuse tip.

With a large cabin, a roomy boot, superb refinement and top-quality build, the five-door five-seat Cupra R can handle just about everything you can throw at it.

And this all-round capability does not in any way dilute the driving experience.

The petrol motor – the most powerful production engine yet offered by Seat – takes centre stage. The four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre with 265PS on tap is more powerful than the predecessor and coupled with a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox the performance can be awesome with the 0-62mph sprint time now down to an exciting 6.2 seconds.

Top speed is 155mph and despite having all this performance on board the combined average fuel return is an excellent 34.9mpg, though this may be less in the real world. The motor is also more environmentally responsible with CO2 emissions at 190 (g/km).

While there is bags of initial bite from the motor, it also pulls astonishingly well from middle revs and keeps on pumping when other cars are running out of steam. And you can drive it as aggressively or as lazily as you like without a hint of complaint.

Actually, the motor is good for 350Nm of torque at just 2,500rpm.

You can safety carry speed into and through corners, free from any steering squirms or fading grip, while at fast speeds you can feel the difference modern technology makes with the advantage of stability control, traction control and emergency brake assistance.

The Cupra’s massive ventilated disc brakes are simply superb, enabling the driver to savour precise brake control at speed and the ability to virtually stop on a sixpence when the occasion demands.

The chassis, similar to that of the VW Golf, is agile and well balanced and although the ride is decidedly firm – as you might expect with near supercar levels of performance – the Cupra has good composure over bumpy routes and, all things considered, is a relatively comfortable ride over most surfaces.

Such a car needs to look the part and the styling does give the Cupra an air of exclusivity so that it easily turns heads in the high street. There is a more aggressive looking front while the rear simply oozes sporty styling with its rather discreet high-level spoiler, centre-positioned dual exhaust pipes and suitable R badging. The large 19in alloy wheels add to the looks.

Inside, there is a careful application of gloss black embellishments while the new ebony black front seat backs give rear seat occupants a taste of the Cupra R cabin upgrade. The standard black leather upholstery and exclusive Cupra bucket sports seats in quilted leather help give the interior a more classy look.

Space in the rear is reasonable though not great for large adults while the boot is a decent size at 341 litres and with the rear seat backrest folded flat, cargo space expands to 1,166 litres.

The equipment is plentiful with useful high-tech items, including satellite-navigation, Bluetooth, MP3 connection and top-bracket safety and security kit. All-round vision is good, though the fairly hefty windscreen pillars can be a hindrance at times.

This is a refined car by Seat and an excellent and cheaper alternative to its relative, the VW Golf, and other top contenders.