Cupra Leon 300 | evo Hot Lap

[@bertieschoice216]

Surely if it's 1.2 sec slower than the Civic on much worse tyres its just as fast or faster in real terms (with equivalent tyres)

[@ScottZ370]

Come on, bring it back with some PS4S's, I have a 290 and it's a different ball game. It's done well for the Hancooks

[@pokest225]

For the Hankooks it's very good. With Michelins or contisport 6's it would be a lot better.

[@JP_RS6]

PS4S'S made a huge difference for mine as well. Its a fantastic car for the money.

[@JP_RS6]

@@Taz1451 your opinion :)

[@kjph7438]

@@Taz1451 Ya I’m still undecided. But saw the formentor cupra the other day and thought it was beautiful . General consensus would have us wrong . Have you seen one on the road?

[@cloudyharry12]

@@kjph7438 I don't think the white paint does it any favours

[@cloudyharry12]

The hankooks are great road tyres, but they're not even in the UUHP tyre category, let alone a semi-slick. Would be great to see what this car could do on Cup 2s.

[@TheEryk03]

A lot faster.

[@ZaDude1970]

Exactly, should shave another 2 secs & move it up the leader board, likely right beside the Civic Type R FK8 Limited Edition (tested on Michelin Cup 2's): and that, with a 20 hp power disadvantage.

[@einzeltier]

You know what's wrong with it? 1500kg. It's just insane how much weight hot hatches have put on over the last 25 years.

[@freddi427]

its 150kg heavier than the predecessor :(

[@Ontonaut]

@Poose McPoose lol

[@minimumtrade]

Weight and standard machpherson struts.

[@pokest225]

@@freddi427 not that much.

[@freddi427]

@@pokest225 okay it was a bit to much, i've got in mind that the cupra sc 280 weighs about 1350 kg, i just looked again am found that "auto motor und sport" scaled it at 1366 kg in their "supertest"

[@robertocalvo934]

This laps with Sutcliffe are awesome content

[@Davey-tw2cr]

Need to see more of Steve Sutcliffe. Gives me Old Top Gear vibs!

[@notso100]

I don't really know the driver, but that is a proper lap, kudos to you sir

[@timmy6012]

Steve Sutcliffe and Chris Harris are; without doubt; the two best motoring journalists out there who test on track, period. You just know that they can get the very best time out of a car and give you a comprehensive review whilst doing so. Keep up the good work.👍🏼

[@miguelvinayo6972]

Henry cachtpole and powerart Guille Alfonsin are so good (in england and Spain 😆)

[@bobjones6031]

I'm so sad you went with the stability control faff trope. You can assign it as a quick function. That way you just swipe down from the top and tap once to switch off. Easy. As cars become every-more tech dependant, it's the automotive journalist's role to be up to speed with UI. Sadly in this case, that's not happened.

[@cloudyharry12]

Completely agree Bob. Volkswizard has been banging on about this for a while. There are so many shortcut options that the journalists haven't bothered to read up on.

[@jo05dk]

If you expect every car journalist out there should read through the entire manual, and search the relevant forums, to be able to present a shortcut instead of the easiest found way to turn something off or on, i disagree with you. I'd much rather Steve uses his time to get the best laptime, as this is the focus of this video series.

[@Ovenman940]

@@jo05dk For this series I agree but in general I think car journalists have a problem understanding the context of owning a car. They bemoan quirks like the indicators being in the wrong place but fail to appreciate that most people don't drive 5 cars a week and will simply adapt. They complain that manufacturers don't make cheap RWD coupes, then go out and buy a 2nd hand MX-5. Watching all the reviews for a car you own is enlightening, you immediately understand how much of it is quoted verbatim from the briefing and how much they value driving to the sticks for some nice photos over playing with the damn car.

[@HesteBremse]

It is one functionality in one car and apparently not an obvious one. UI’s tend to become more complicated as functions grows but it does not necessarily make it anymore fun to drive. Touch screens in a car which covers too many aspects is a general terrible idea and dangerous, unless the car has semi or autonomous safety driving aides and that also has nothing to do with the fun and excitement of driving. If you want fairly all around reviews then watch Carwow. If you want someone who really have a deep insight in how cars behave then watch this.

[@bobjones6031]

@@HesteBremse It's one functionality in several cars - because the same applies to any VW Golf MK8 or Skoda Octavia. The Golf variants in particular have been reviewed several times by evo in print, online and in video, plus Auto Express for that matter, and also made the same mistake. Not acceptable.

[@alexbrady8893]

Blimey, at 1.05 you seem to be through the chicane still turning in the opposite direction, it’s a epic.

[@TSDTRSDTHDTDDFG]

Could definitely see some nice modifications being done to this vehicle 👍🏽

[@powersliding]

most underrated car journalist

[@alexriera3836]

This Leon dont have performance options available (tires bridgestone potenza race + light wheels and big brakes). Good lap.

[@DasWauto]

This lap is a good argument for the use of a spec tire.

[@boy638]

What a sleeper of an exterior especially in white. Looks like a Seat rental.

[@fiestaria]

Shocked to see how close it is with the £72k megane which is "allegedly" made for the track..

[@pokest225]

Just a tyre swap for Michelin ps4s and probably it will match that laptime. Surprising.

[@TroyHR123]

Has to be said different drivers, Manual vs auto and Steve looked like he was fighting the SEAT all the way round the lap. Looking back at the Trophy-R lap it looked far more enjoyable, near no fighting; it just went where it was pointed.

[@minimumtrade]

Something looks off with the Meg time. Should be near the nose of the Fk8 LE.

[@MOSSFEEN]

I have a 2016 Leon ST ABT 400 with Pirelli P1s mighty job

[@swanblake]

Curious how the updated i30 N does on this track

[@mrlionrocks]

Me love EVO 🦁

[@mattb4353]

Nice driving as always Steve. As soon as you said sub menu to access the settings, I thought no thanks. No Manual, give me the Honda.

[@jurajhrivnak4638]

Steeve, isn't there a big ESC button in the centre console? :D I know it's easy to overlook, but I think that this is one thing that sets the CUPRA brand apart from other hot VAG models. Cheers

[@cloudyharry12]

In the euro spec cars there is, but they've removed it from all the UK models apart from the 310 estate version.

[@mewantapoo]

OK I have a question you tested this car with the clubsport a d the golf r and you contradicted yourself between the two videos. You said on the other video that you could turn off all aids with one finger, but in this one you say that's not the case that you have to go through a sub menu (individual) which is right?

[@pokest225]

You can configure a shortcut to some functions, and place them easier to access. Just he didn't this time.

[@mewantapoo]

@@pokest225 I know that but that's not my point.

[@pokest225]

@@mewantapoo was the other cupra a uk spec car? In other markets you can have a different steering wheel with push start button and cupra mode button. That leaves you with the old fashioned esp button in the center console in the place of the push start button.

[@Dannyjones1]

I genuinely think he could have got a quicker and tidy lap in. Steered too early into a couple of corners and had to correct steer which upset the balance at speed.

[@giantrobot9000]

I noticed that as well

[@miljanivanko2312]

Steve the man !

[@BarbecuedPossum]

Good lap!

[@ilketama5982]

fixed inside cam position much better than older always changing one

[@andresguerin7162]

How much cheaper than a gti clubsport is it?

[@jose-Maki]

Aprrentley if you chose the brembos you get like 2 degrees of camber

[@wojtekp3212]

Try an STi, I wonder what it can do before they bring the new one.

[@dandylion1987]

Capable, nice enough, but dull. Kind of car you'd be happy to lease then get rid of

[@ezb77]

I feel this is the recipe of many sporty cars these days...

[@sirjakethebrit]

That's the vag group moto isn't it!

[@SornGeorge]

@@ezb77 not a sports car though, so it doesn’t have to be as engaging as let’s say a Cayman or a Supra. I think it’s a good hot hatch but not the best you can get

[@ezb77]

@@SornGeorge That's why I wrote sporty ;-) And the truth is that stuff like the Cayman and Supra could be so much more engaging still.

[@josebustillo8047]

I think it´s not only about the tyres. The cupra is a comfortable sport hatch and the others in front (super expensive Trophy r, Type r LE, Clubsport S) are more radical/track oriented hot hatchbacks.

[@robinmarples5198]

Very nice time. On road... À weapon

[@Tsukuyomi8]

Is it reliable does anybody know?

[@minimumtrade]

Quite a fast time for the Cupra with the fundamentally compromised standard macpherson strut setup. Favourable conditions for the Cupra? Megane & CTR should be 2s lap faster.

[@pokest225]

Not sure about favourable conditions. Cupra as seen in the video doesn't have brembos, and has inferior tires. And is heavier than those two cars.

[@ChrisplayThrough64]

Nope has multi link

[@minimumtrade]

@@ChrisplayThrough64 referring to the front axle which is macpherson. Where all the weight is on a FWD.

[@sjr999r]

Looking rather slim there Steven 👍🏼

[@robinmarples5198]

Put it on cup2 's with the optional bigger brakes and lighter wheels... Should gain 1 or 2 seconds

[@sixpotshot]

Nearly 40k for a Seat…wait a few years and buy used if you fancy one. It will save you a lot of dosh and hopefully with all known VW gremlins sorted out by the previous sufferer…

[@stuco81]

As someone that's quite interested in buying the previous gen cupra 300, they don't depreciate that badly!

[@sixpotshot]

@@stuco81 Keep your hopes high! Having said that right now is not the mo to buy any cars in the UK at least: second hand ones prices are up and brand new come with quite a few deleted chips (read several options/features...) - crazy how a massive whole industry let this happened!

[@melluzi]

Would be great to see Cupra AWD estate.

[@scottallan6622]

The drivers steering input into corners wouldn’t have help the time .

[@Chris.Davies]

So; Cupra have finally managed to squeeze 300BHP out of a turbo 4-pot. This is something Subaru managed with the lovely little EJ20 in the WRX back in 1997. That is 24 years ago. Steve, I can guarantee that you'd get into my '97 Tommy kaira M20b (WRX-derived) and you'd never complain it wasn't powerful enough, or lively enough. You'd have no trouble turning traction control off, because there isn't any. The throttle pedal is connected to the throttle body by an actual cable (shock horror!) and so your right foot is the traction control system, and the computer literally can NOT say No! This thing would fun if it were: 1) Simpler 2) Lighter 3) More powerful, and 4) All-wheel drive Guess I'm getting an RS3 after all!

[@sladefan4615]

And needs to be Manual

[@jareknowak8712]

Alfa - still second place, after 4 years.

[@uguraysakn3129]

Power of the Quadrifogrilo Verde 💪💪💪

[@hlad11]

Nice Seat

[@lewiscannon8213]

Lowering springs & Ps4's and this Cupra will seriously rip.

[@dair919]

Rear looks alot like the rear of the Megane!

[@cayman9815]

where is that engine noise ??

[@konstantinosgkionakis9992]

Try formentor cupra and tell us the time

[@g00dfeeling]

I like Mégane even if it wasn't the quickest.

[@yanaibabad1693]

Setting aside the many variables that differentiate between the Cupra Leon 300 and the Civic Type R limited, your driving is horrible. You let the car slip too much by taking the turns at high speeds, exit the boundaries of the track (driving on grass) and you lose traction with the already bad traction tires the car originally comes with. That 1.2 second difference is purely driver skill.

[@benlea19]

It beat the GTi clubsport in the previous lap time you completed

[@kjph7438]

Wasn’t that the MK8? Nothing in the cars really to be fair except tyres play a big part here in lap times

[@benlea19]

@@kjph7438 yes I think your correct actually

[@alisonsmith3817]

Not hot hatches no more far to big and heavy This cars looks like it doesn’t know if it’s a crossover or not

[@ecad8903]

Height 1,42m, low chassis. Doesn't look like a crossover to me. This video doesn't do it justice lookwise. But yeah it's quite heavy considering there's no 4wd.

[@denvercolorado]

It is less Cupra than old model

[@Helium_Hunter]

why seat put hancooks on their press cars is the real question here lol

[@EnitinEnitin]

Why the fake 21:9?

[@samuelfitzpatrick9739]

This is a golf

[@XxSaM1994]

old model looks way nicer, why did they get rid of the amazing angular lines. Also no 3 door , won't be trading mine in any time soon....

[@AdamBuckley1964]

Looked like you were having fun but the car itself looks like a KFC night cruiser....

[@gregmayled]

Someone mod Bedford Autodrome onto Assetto Corsa please!

[@dannb0dge]

"296bhp" Yeah that's the paper figure to keep VW happy. I bet it's identical power to the R.

[@lewiscannon8213]

Vw claims Golf R is 320 but its 340. This Cupra probably is 296 same software from the 2014-17 MK7 golf R.

[@pokest225]

@@lewiscannon8213 new engine. New software. For sure over 300 hp.

[@paulmichael3844]

Considering the gti clubsport S is much better in my opinion and lighter it did well even though it looked very wobbly

[@leon-lr1eh]

cupra is on small disc front brakes

[@alexmaddox2255]

Tyres letting it down through the corners.

[@minimumtrade]

Tyres wouldnt have had to fight and protest so much through the corners were the Cupra fitted with double axis suspension like the CTR and Meg

[@pokest225]

@@minimumtrade yep, but the tires could be better. Hankooks...

[@runnerbaba]

P4s or cup2 tyres and he is much faster

[@easyerc2226]

Much prefer the leon over that awful civic, cant escape from that thing looking awful and using rubber band tyres and 20" alloys 🙄

[@billx4266]

New hothatches like this one and the newest golf, are so ugly. I will do a lot longer now with my goodlookin MK7 3 doors gti clubsport!

[@a9503128]

Ahh so a 10year old S3

[@pokest225]

Wrong