Seat Leon Cupra R ABT 350 BHP First Drive Review! *Ultra Rare & Under Rated!*

A VERY Under rated car! Here is the Seat Leon Cupra R ST ABT 350. Yes that is a very long name for seats most powerful production car. The leon cupra r abt has you guessed it been tuned by ABT Sportline. The guys from ABT have managed to get 350bhp out of this seat leon cupra r and the best thing is, you get to keep your new car warranty. Abt have taken the seat leon cupra r and turned the power up, lowered the car and added negative camber to improve the handling. I really like this car and in this review you will see the first drive, the acceleration and sounds from the cars launch control and how it handles. The cupra R is also 4wd which means acceleration comes in at 4.5 seconds to 60mph which is very quick. I hope you enjoy the review on the Seat Leon Cupra R ABT 350.
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#SeatCupraR #CupraRABT #SeatCupraR350

[@StefABtv]

*hope you enjoyed the video! Subscribe and help me get to 30k subs!*

[@karlkraus622]

See my comment. Thanks for the video. I can’t wait to get it now.

[@JC-wr2tp]

I need some advice regarding the negative camber. I like this car but my job does entail motorway use. Concern is my tyres will get eaten. Between this, BMW 330 Xdrive and Audi S4. The Seat is £300 less on Tax, so mpg goes up using the saving for fuel. So, it’s just tyres. Thoughts? .... Thanks

[@birdysri]

This is my most favourite car out at the moment I love the look of the thing

[@bartspeggys]

I drive my leon cupra for 2 years now and i love it 🖤

[@JoeAchilles1]

Great video mate, looking forward to driving it soon... 👌

[@lastnamefirstname520]

The dsg is not tuned by ABT, neither are the exhausts, or the dampers/springs. ABT package on this is just the ECU. (All other differences in the fahrwerk from normal Cupra are standart on the R) There is a suspension pack available, from ABT, but those are only springs.... I have one of these since may - magnetic grey pearl metallic - ( not in the uk though :P) and love it to bits! I have changed the intake to HG motorsports (Germany) HF series carbon cold air intake with direct filters, have a larger turbo inlet, a larger outlet, a bov (currently the car is pushing 370HP and 500 NM) and will go for the KW coilovers (DCC ones) soon!

[@gLOWbalx]

Hast du den Cupra noch?

[@gaycha6589]

I drive a Golf R, but love this Seat ABT. factory warranty further makes it a good proposition, although I have no idea what Seat dealer experience is like

[@jonnyvt6602]

The last of the Seat Leon Cupras, I have had a few n loved em all

[@peterbennpan7288]

Seat Leon Cupras from 280 versions upwards have adaptive dampers as standard!

[@Paynos]

I'm trying everything I can to resist one of these and this is not helping 👀

[@peterbennpan7288]

Paynos please go buy one!😎

[@MotechPerformance]

Great car !!

[@MOSSFEEN]

BRILLIANT CARS

[@phillipchandler8862]

Great review. You and Joe A the best👍👍

[@StefABtv]

Thank you mate ❤️

[@mikuelable]

Seat hit the spot with a brass bits

[@SovereignOtto]

I enjoyed the video but thought I’d point out it’s not A B T it’s said Abt as it’s spelt. It’s the family name of the tuning company who’ve been tuning Audis for ages and run one of Audi’s DTM teams.

[@peterputtock6649]

I bought one of these last August.... It is an amazing car. The speed and handling are first class and it can be driven like a loonie and it wont kill you! I have had a number of Porsche 911's and this is far quicker. On the other hand, if you want to drive sensibly, (quick by any other standards!), you can get 38 mpg out of it! So, a brilliant car for all sorts of driving. I drove across France in December..... easy trip and very rapid. I do tend to drive in comfort mode.... but I always know I can go into nutter mode whenever I want! The best car I have ever had... and I have had over 100 cars.

[@StefABtv]

It’s a brilliant car. Very underrated imo

[@stevie007]

Top notch review once again mate. 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌 Reg`s Steve.

[@StefABtv]

Thank you mate!

[@kermitthefrog3685]

IMHO, The New SEAT's are better than VW. Everything just works. Even the infotainment is the best i've used

[@walterbacic6292]

So, which should I get. The 2020 Giulia or this one?🤔

[@rickigloo1561]

Hope we get this in Australia

[@scottfromengland2303]

Great video Stef 👍🏻 just wondering if you would have 1 of these over an M140i 🤔 2 Similar cars in performance ..

[@GBFeb72]

Yep it’s now looking like my M140i will be getting a px for this, this or the new M135i? I’m going for this..

[@richcos3778]

Did you go for the Seat over the M135i?

[@GBFeb72]

Rich Cos trying, just need the right deal

[@peterbennpan7288]

You see so many Golf 7r’s about and afew 7.5r’s but this youll be lucky to see 1

[@peterbennpan7288]

Would you say this Cupra ABT is as quick as the A45 you had?

[@andrewgibbs5096]

Love this car!

[@StefABtv]

It’s very cool mate!

[@sebastianfritz5110]

ABT is a German surname, as in English Smith is a surname and not a spelling of letters that one spells.

[@jimfastlane28]

I think the fact they put the name ABT in capitals maybe confuses people. If they used it as Abt it might help.

[@jimfastlane28]

This car isn't tuned by Abt other than the plug in power box. The car is just an R ST with the power upgrade that is warrantied by the factory, that is all. Quite simple really.

[@oj9847]

I think this car , it’s better looking than the golf r, it’s more sharper from the front

[@JC-wr2tp]

I am really looking to change my car. I do cover some motorway miles but want something fun, practical, yet comfortable and reasonable mog on a run. Obviously I am realistic and am also taking account of tax being less as under 40k. Just wanted an opinion?

[@TommieLjungberg]

any way of getting the abt 350hp package installed on a 2019 cupra 300 st 4drive, and keep my warranty? like 100% sure to keep it just as good as it is as it is right now when stock :D

[@AceEyedAce]

Ask at a local Seat dealership. If you don't ask, you don't get

[@ChipZilla69]

I sold my M240i and bought a cheaper Seat Cupra R 180 to get some cash back. At first I wasn't sure if I made the right choice but as time's gone on and I've gotten to know the car I'm very impressed with it. Fundamentals are excellent, brakes, suspension, steering, gears all very good indeed. The engine is strong but it was never going to compete with the BMW B58 lump so not a good comparison. I think Seats looks good to, really good cars for the money. There's just one problem and it's a big one, the infotainment and sat nav are absolute trash. The sounds is good but the menu system is awful. I just use my phone for nav now.

[@chriscringle9263]

I saw one of these today spooky on M11 had a 66 plate Merc a250 AMG on its tail.... Surely not possible.... Doing well over legal limit

[@lastnamefirstname520]

it is very surreal indeed, how did the 250 manage to keep up? sure they weren't going that quick then

[@chriscringle9263]

@@lastnamefirstname520 I know mate honestly I kid u not. I ain't got a super car by any means and I was doing let's say 85mph GIVE or take 10mph.i pulled in and they were past me the meek was being dangerous literally on him ars. I did look into it though the meek has about 245bhp so I'm assuming similar to golf GTI. I guess as well a 10 year old ford focus 1.8 diesel could be up behind it as well if the speed is constant and the cupra wasn't accelerating. Just frustrating and I don't even own one! What do u need to buy to literally pull away from a tailgater at any given speed.

[@lastnamefirstname520]

chris cringle Over here we play over 200kmh on the motorways. I chased a GLE AMG from 170 to 230-240 the other day. Went past in the end. Muhahaha. 250 a class is a cockroach only, just floor the Cupra and watch them disappear in the mirror. Have to add that mine is built and stronger then this base car in the test.

[@Anders357]

i had a FWD Passat with ABE big port 1.8t GT2860 R, LSD, rods, tune and 3" exhaust, it sounded like a chainsaw on nitro compared to this. 24 psi 322hp 440 Nm - needed standalone, Throttle body and intake mods to make more, rods could take 450. Max rpm was 6700 on the 1.8 without mods, would love to try springs and valves to get 8500 rpm and aim for 400+, i just loved the sleeper look and wheelspin in 3rd gear. It had KW coilovers and AP front brakes, very hard and very low. 2.0 tfsi has had its fair share of issues with piston rings and problems 2008-2011, and i am tempted to say both the 1.8 and of course the old 2.2 is better, even tho the 1.8 t has a small sump and demanded synthetic and regular intervals. I would really check the oil consumption if i were to buy a 2.0 tfsi, especially on a bigger heavier chassis like Superb, Q5, Passat, A6

[@rosolinotv3690]

That's the very first time I've ever heard of "SEAT" in a negative way....I've always felt that SEAT and Skoda were superior VWs lol

[@willpark7483]

no skoda and seat are worse than vw for sure , well quality wise at least

[@ChrisplayThrough64]

will park yet you drive Hyundai yes!!

[@willpark7483]

Chris Soddin I dont actually, its a profile picture of a hyundai i30N and iam now unable to change it. but i dont get what your point is if i did drive the i30n from my profile picture? i stated that seat and skoda or worse than VW and audi for quality. like you saying a “BMW M3 is faster than a 320i “ then me saying “you have green socks on” completely irrelevant.

[@ChrisplayThrough64]

@@willpark7483 did you not just say this "no skoda and seat are worse than vw for sure , well quality wise at least" so what would you drive then ?

[@willpark7483]

Chris Soddin Iam 16 and live in uk so nothing..... But my dad has a brand new Leon cupra 290 and I am not ashamed to say the quality is worse than a VW. He used to have an Alfa Romeo Giulia and the quality is on par with that. What do you drive Chris?

[@kokekan75]

Would you get one over a Type R?

[@michaelmaxwell1989]

Do bears shit in the woods

[@alexharkettsimracing]

Just wanted to say. I bought this particular car last year. It’s quicker now 😊

[@kermitthefrog3685]

Does he not realize the cupra mode noise is mostly from speakers?

[@BeardedHam]

I can't wait for a the next ten years,when all the silly powerful hot hatches are dirt cheap. How much power will they keep stuffing into them? Not a lot more IMO. There is going to be a lot of cheap track cars ready and waiting.

[@samculpan891]

Bearded Ham I’ve ordered a standard Cupra 290 in Magnetic Grey for £250 pm for 2 years on lease with 3 payments up front. You don’t need to wait 10 years to get a bargain 👀

[@jamie3499]

Sam Culpan No shit it’s cheap on lease, you’re paying for somebody else’s car!

[@jryalls]

@@jamie3499Well said

[@jonnyvt6602]

The tune is a piggy back box, no an ECU remap.

[@karlkraus622]

Just put a deposit down on a white one with the ABT pack and I have got an absolute stonkingly cheap deal on one through Motorfinity. Cheaper for a brand new one than a used one I’ll say that much at £25,728 cash price!

[@markcave2065]

Karl Kraus motorfinity

[@JuanPerez-yy5hr]

Is it the same engine gearbox as a golf r

[@paulskingle9058]

Yes

[@MaslAlek]

It's literally the same car

[@sxmori]

It gives me Batman vibes for some reason

[@kokekan75]

Love the exterior and the seats but the media unit looks so drab! Does it let the car down? Are the internal materials cheap?

[@BeardyBlokey]

I've got a 2018 Cupra 300, the media unit looks pretty much the same; I've no complaints though I use it mostly as an android auto head.

[@kokekan75]

Just find the screen so small compared with modern equivalents which unfortunately dates the cabin

[@StephenButlerOne]

@@kokekan75 I've an 18 plate, and the screen size is on par with the majority of cars. As someone said above, it's just an android auto portal. (or apple cp portal if your that way inclined). Never had issue with it.

[@jryalls]

@@kokekan75All screens date cars, it’s got nothing to do with the size of the screen. Wait 3-4 years and this years cars will look dated. I don’t understand why people care about infotainment anymore, as long as it has Apple CarPlay / Android Auto who cares.

[@thezanzibarbarian5729]

Looks to be a bit of a Q car. Which isn't bad. However, if I ever brought one, I couldn't live with the "copper" flashes on the wheels and on the external bodywork. Doesn't do it for me one little bit. About 18 years or so ago, I almost leased a Seat Leon Cupra R with the 2.3 engine. I think it must have been one of the original Cupra R's. The engine was to die for. Unfortunately for me, when I took it out for a long test one night (I'd literally drive for an hour or two in a direction and then use the sat nav to get back.) I'd driven out somewhere for about 1.5hrs. Way to the East of where I lived. I was somewhere in Northamptonshire. Anyway, that was the last sign I can recall. So pulled over. Started the satnav. All going great for about 10mins, when the sat nav started doing some really weird stuff. I was at a junction and the car appeared to be moving on the satnav. Eventually, where I was and where the car said I was on the satnav, bared no correlation whatsoever. Needless to say, I did get back home. But it was about 3am!! So that somewhat put me off the Cupra R. And I then found out that the Government were changing the tax paid on some lease cars, so I'd have to fork out about half as much again for the car. So that killed it off completely. But the Copper on the one tested still needs to go ;-))...

[@user-xr7qk3zu2q]

Hi how is this car compared to the cupra 290 2019 version ?

[@lastnamefirstname520]

its a totally different animal, no comparison really. this is a LOT quicker and better handling. the 290 is FWD this is AWD but still has the front VAQ of the 290, there is more than 1 sec between them 0-100, and the handling in corners isvastly different due to the haldex system and the characteristics this presents, its quite similar in handling to what my wrx used to be, I imagine an fwd car is dramatically different to that.

[@user-xr7qk3zu2q]

Lastname Firstname thanks for the reply, got a really good lease deal for £225 p/m over 2 years so couldn’t say no. No deals on the estate unfortunately

[@lastnamefirstname520]

50k I dunno bout leasing but if its a good deal the 290 is also worth it. It really depends on how fast you want to throw it around. ( I am insane so I had to have awd) Still outperforms most estates on the road. When I say most I mean like 90% haha. I had a polestar v60 for a while, these cupras murder them : P

[@user-xr7qk3zu2q]

Lastname Firstname my only concern about the fwd hatch is the wheel spin off the line! Just want to know if it is really as bad as some people say?

[@user-xr7qk3zu2q]

I’m talking about the DSG

[@WillG42]

Surely the sound effects are exaggerated?!

[@daggers88]

After owning a Seat Leon Cupra 280 for 3 years words of advice... 1) Buy DSG don’t get a manual. The manual gearbox is crap it lacks feel and is made of chocolate so will not last if you plan to keep it. 2) Buy it new on lease if that’s your thing or buy it new on PCP do not buy one second hand like I did as the owner before you might not look after it as much as you will. 3) The engine is great in terms of performance, but this engine was the most unreliable engine I have ever had in a car. The water pump is plastic and cracks after a couple of years and seat don’t want to know about it if it goes wrong. 4) If you do buy it and its about to run out of warranty get extended warranty on it for as long as you can!

[@robertlangham2356]

Great review, love the car BUT I am so confused. I thought Cupra was a "new" brand yet you keep referring to it as a Seat. Also, although it has the Cupra styling and copper accents it has Seat badging, not the Cupra badge. They really need to rethink the whole thing, it's bloomin' marketing chaos.....I'd still have one 😁

[@gavtommo2964]

It is a SEAT !! a Seat Cupra. It has a Seat badge because it is a SEAT !! 😂👍

[@robertlangham2356]

@@gavtommo2964 I too can see that by using my eyes 🤣 however, does this mean Seat are going to continue to produce Cupra models while Cupra, you know the entirely different company which is not, definitely is not, a Seat, will produce sporty cars which look very very similar to a Seat (clearly a remarkable coincidence)? I wonder which highly paid, bonus driven dickhead from VW Group came up with this clever idea to bamboozle the public with this cunning plan?

[@gavtommo2964]

As far as i am aware, ( Cupra ) is/was the sport division of SEAT. until quite recently when it branched off to become it's own sister company of SEAT. There has been many different SEAT models over the years that have had Cupra versions ie. The ibiza Cupras and leon Cupras and now an Ateca Cupra. I do think that you are right about their cunning bamboozle the public plan.

[@robertlangham2356]

@@gavtommo2964 Apologies, I obviously wasn't clear what I meant. I know that Cupra is (was) to Seat what AMG are to Mercedes however, there was a recent decision by VW Group to make Cupra a brand in its own right, with a new logo and bronze accents. My point is the car reviewed is called a Seat with a Seat badge yet, it has the Cupra name and copper accents. Have VW confused themselves or invented a time machine and gone back about a year? My point is, if the good people at Seat/Cupra are confused then what chance have the rest of us got?

[@walterbacic6292]

@@robertlangham2356 I think that this one here is the last SEAT Leon Cupra. From now on it will BE CUPRA Leon.

[@alexturcios8841]

Looks like a Volkswagen engine

[@colingoldthorpe5918]

Seat is owned by VW

[@StefABtv]

They are the same group so would envisage it to be but it’s tuned and you keep your warranty

[@adrianchiu8415]

Yes its the same EA888 engine as you get in the Golf R and the Audi S3, except this has more power due to the ABT tune.

[@jimfastlane28]

@@adrianchiu8415 It's just a plug in tuning box that sits on top of the battery.

[@adrianchiu8415]

@@jimfastlane28 i know 👍

[@Jackklopfer]

I Went for a testdrive in that version, I realy don't know how they managed to make 350HP feel so boring

[@fatwalletboy2]

I dont get why anyone now should be so gushingly amazed or blown away by descriptions of how quick these group cars are. All VAG group 4 wheel drives sports hatches and estates and even SUVs have at least 300ps and crack sub 5 second times to 60. The next benchmark you want to rave about is sub 4 secs. In a world of fast daily's this is in a pot of averages. Also whilst an owner might love this cars handling space and performance I bet everytime they sit behind the wheel part of them is wishing they had a plusher golf like interior and dash. That dash and wheel look like something out of a skoda taxi. I also think those copper accents inside and out will age this car quickly. Anthracite might have been better.

[@LiveLifeLasting]

@@altern8tive After 2 years nothing rattles at all in mine yet.

[@swansmeister]

It's also ultra expensive for what it is, at that price range you have so many other options.

[@ricks4490]

So for £32- 35k (going prices depending on pano roof) what other BRAND NEW car with similar spec,performance and tech are you going to get. Trust me I tried to find something but couldn’t, this thing is just unbelievable 👍🏼

[@swansmeister]

@@ricks4490 how much is that in euros?

[@ricks4490]

I paid £35k (which is €40k) for mine with ABT tune and Pano roof in June this year. After having the car 5 months I can say it’s worth every penny.

[@vinckokeccee1352]

exact opposite of your statement is true. You obviously have 0 idea about cars.

[@swansmeister]

@@vinckokeccee1352 sure buddy, whatever makes you sleep at night. God cuprafanboys are hilariously butthurt.

[@scottl5067]

And still has that taxi looking dash board.

[@jimfastlane28]

As in a Seat Leon taxi? 😂

[@scottl5067]

jimfastlane28 as in those flat dash boards you’d see in circa 2004 cars used as taxis.

[@zibbiu]

I was got my one st abt...Dont know why.. uk one got 350...?!?!. I Buy in Poland 370... after one month work in Poznan and spend another 10k pouds from rs parts. we get 537HP. After show one video, moj leoś go from Gdansk to Dubai for 80k.

[@nezirakat5827]

Kväll ss

[@robertl2856]

Do not see the point.....cannot imagine this on a track day ? 😂

[@StefABtv]

It’s not all about track days though. Even if you did get this on a track genuinely I think it would handle well. Granted not like a race car would of course not I don’t think it would get left behind and when you are done you can load your wheels with cup 2’s in the boot 👀

[@Paynos]

@@StefABtv The estate was a smidge faster than the hatchback Cupra when it did a record a while back 👀

[@Paynos]

*nurburgring record

[@lastnamefirstname520]

Its good on the track, its very good infact. Why do you think its not good, because its an estate? Have you ever heard about the volvo 850r touring cars? Or the subaru levorg tcr team?!

[@cancerfour69er]

Cack

[@peterputtock6649]

Try one, try a number of Porsche 911's....... and then comment. Just to put things into perspective, I have a Suzuki GSX-R 1000. 0-60 2.4 seconds, 0-150mph 10 seconds. So I do have a good appreciation of speed! Any car is slow by comparison to these figures. As Stef says, this is a fast car. Faster than 4.5 seconds... see the other tests. This is still the best car I have ever had! Name something better for this price.... (Include the load space, mpg, performance, running costs, insurance, comfort and practicality.)

[@monty6545]

it looks pants !!

[@sanjsharma9903]

Too expensive needs to be priced no more than 30 grand

[@jimfastlane28]

What equivalent car is £30k? But you can pick one for £30k anyway as it happens.

[@sanjsharma9903]

@@jimfastlane28 You can get a cupra r nearly new with a few miles on it for 30k and add the abt tuning pack from a cupra dealer for £500 that would be the wiser option for me anyway

[@jimfastlane28]

@@sanjsharma9903 But no Brembos, no carbon, no bucket seats, no quad exhaust etc And you also get this for £30-32k. It's a no brainer.

[@sanjsharma9903]

@@jimfastlane28 Look on autotrader you can get the same spec car minus Abt pack for just above 30 grand. You dont now what your talking about.

[@paulskingle9058]

@@sanjsharma9903 Hi, Hatchback Cupra r is only manual, ST is only DSG gearbox and for an estate car it looks so so good. You can only get the ABT tune for 500 when you buy the car new. So if you bought a used car the ABT tune is closer to 1500 pounds.

[@waynestephens846]

Looks terrible

[@neilbrandon]

All last century ICE age stuff. The world needs to move to renewable energy...hopefully not many folks will be driving these environmentally disastrous beasts. At least Seat have the ElBorn coming out...

[@StefABtv]

Lol

[@scottfromengland2303]

Huh 😂🤣

[@lastnamefirstname520]

Well you can bet on that as this is an extremely limited run hahhaha

[@StephenButlerOne]

Bore off

[@jamesrobinson5931]

If you are worried about the baby seals I'm sure a Nissan leaf would be right up your street. But I'll be driving something that makes me happy. And turbos make me happy!!!!