Seat Leon ST Cupra - pricing, equipment and on-sale date
The Seat Leon ST is the third Leon bodystyle to be offered with a performance version. It arrives at dealers in March and will start at £28,505...
The Seat Leon ST Cupra has been revealed, and will be heading to its first UK customers in March.
What is it?
The fastest version of the Seat Leon is now available across all three bodystyles, with the estate, or ST, the third to be offered as a Cupra model.
This means it gets the same upgrades to equipment and the powerful engine as the three-door and five-door hatchback Cupra models.
It is due to arrive in UK dealers from March.
What engine does it come with?
While the hatchback Cupras are offered with a choice of two power outputs, the ST comes with the more powerful version – the 276bhp 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine.
It is marginally slower from 0-62mph than the hatch, managing the dash in 6.0 seconds on the DSG-equipped model, while the version with the manual gearbox takes 6.1 seconds. Both versions have a limited top speed of 155mph.
It is also likely to offer a similar level of economy to the hatchback, which averages 42.8mpg and emits 154g/km.
How much equipment does it come with?
The ST comes with the same level of equipment as the other Cupras, which means it gets a series of visual and handling-related upgrades over the standard car.
It comes with dynamic chassis control (DCC), high-performance brakes, front differential, alloy wheels, DAB digital radio, sat-nav, a black rear spoiler, red brake callipers and auto lights and wipers as standard.
A DSG automatic gearbox will also be offered, as will a Sub8 Performance Pack, which brings bigger Brembo brakes, side skirts and 19-inch alloys in black or orange.
How much will it cost?
The ST Cupra starts at £28,505 for the manual version, while the DSG model starts at £29,860. The Sub8 Performance Pack will cost £2025.
Can I get a discount?
Our Target Price team says you can get a discount of just under £2000 on the Cupra hatchback, and the top level Leon STs are available with a saving of around £1500, so it is a fair bet that there will be savings to be had on the ST Cupra's list price eventually, even if they aren't available immediately.
What are its rivals like?
Only a couple of other manufacturers offer a performance version of their family estate, and the closest to the Leon ST is the Ford Focus ST. The Focus is one of the sharpest handling cars of this size, and looks set to undercut the Leon in terms of price, because it starts at just over £27,000.
The Skoda Octavia vRS is also a warm estate, but it doesn't offer as much power or pace as the Leon.
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