Performance Review: Seat Leon Cupra 280 - [2014]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon Cupra 280 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2014. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2015 Koenigsegg Agera RS 5.1 V8 Twin Turbo and the 2015 Koenigsegg Regera 5.0 V8 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 Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1395 kgs (3075 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon Cupra 280 in the same weight category as the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 or the give or take 50kg.

The Seat Leon shares the same bhp with the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 1984cc 16V St4 engine produces 276 bhp (205 kW) @ 5700 rpm similar to the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 258 lb-ft (349.8 Nm) @ 1750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft) or the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 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 2019 Audi Q3 RS Sportback 2.5 Turbo (222.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 197.8 bhp per ton and 184.9 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2014 Leon competing with the 2019 Audi Q3 RS Sportback 2.5 Turbo (222.5 bhp per ton) or the 2015 Peugeot 308 GTi 1.6 Turbo 272 (222.4 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 184.9 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 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle-Malibu SS 454 Coupe 4 Speed 2nd Gen (209.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 2004 BMW 5 Series M5 V10 4d SMG E60 (209.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.70 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.9 secs, this made the Seat Leon Cupra 280 as fast as the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.70 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Wagon (5.70 secs) the 2016 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi 2.0 Turbo Clubsport (5.70 secs) the or the 2014 Renault Megane RenaultSport 275 Trophy (5.70 secs). This Seat Leon Cupra 280 is also faster than the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (5.80 secs) the and the 2017 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 280 (5.80 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Leon and the 1997 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra 4.6 V8

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.78 secs @ 99.3 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1997 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra 4.6 V8 (13.72 secs), the 2018 BMW X7 xDrive 50i 4.4 V8 Turbo (13.72 secs), and the 2012 Renault Megane RenaultSport 2.0T 265 Cup (13.73 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2014 version of the Seat Leon Cupra 280 has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2014 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 2014 Seat Leon Cupra 280 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:

2014 Leon Rivals List.

A Brief History of Seat

Car Comparison