Performance Review: Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG 4Drive - [2017]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG 4Drive is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2017. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport 8.0L W16 Quad Turbo and the 2018 Bugatti Divo 8.0L W16 64 Valve Turbo.This particular Seat Leon has a 1984cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Leon shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Leon's All Wheel Drive, Estate combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1545 kgs (3406 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG 4Drive in the same weight category as the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 or the give or take 50kg.

The Seat Leon shares the same bhp with the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 1984cc 16V St4 engine produces 296 bhp (220 kW) @ 5500 rpm similar to the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 280 lb-ft (379.6 Nm) @ 1800 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Seat Leon you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2001 Mercedes C Class 32 AMG (216.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 191.5 bhp per ton and 181.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2017 Leon competing with the 2001 Mercedes C Class 32 AMG (216.5 bhp per ton) or the 2004 Chrysler 300 6.1 SRT-8 (216.2 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Seat Leon generating around 181.2 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1969 Dodge Charger 7.2L Daytona (205.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 1993 Aston-Martin DB7 3.2 V6 (205.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.70 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.9 secs, this made the Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG 4Drive as fast as the 2022 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo ALL4 (4.70 secs) the 2020 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo (4.70 secs) the 2020 BMW X4 M40d 3.0 Turbo (4.70 secs) the or the 2020 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo AWD (4.70 secs). This Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG 4Drive is also faster than the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo (4.80 secs) the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (4.80 secs) the 2018 Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6.7 V12 Turbo (4.80 secs) the and the 2017 Maserati GranCabrio Sport 4.7 V8 (4.80 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Leon and the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 260

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.8 secs @ 99.2 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 260 (13.74 secs), the 2010 Vauxhall-Opel Insignia VXR OPC 2.8 V6 BiTurbo (13.74 secs), and the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo (13.77 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2017 version of the Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG 4Drive has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2017 Leon equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG 4Drive then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2017 Leon Rivals List.

A Brief History of Seat

Car Comparison