Performance Review: Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 - [2017]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 is the 6 speed / Manual 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 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 1375 kgs (3031 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 in the same weight category as the 2022 Koenigsegg CC850 4.9 V12 Twin Turbo 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) @ 5500 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 2003 Jaguar XJ R 4.2 V8 Supercharged (240.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 215.2 bhp per ton and 203.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2017 Leon competing with the 2003 Jaguar XJ R 4.2 V8 Supercharged (240.2 bhp per ton) or the 2012 Audi A5 RS5 4.2 V8 Cabriolet (240.0 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 203.6 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 1988 Maserati 222 E 2.8 V6 BiTurbo (228.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 340 (228.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.7 secs, this made the Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 as fast as the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost (5.50 secs) the 2017 Honda Civic Type R 2.0i 16v Turbo - FK8 (5.50 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon Cupra 300 DSG (5.50 secs) the or the 2016 BMW Z4 sDrive28i (5.50 secs). This Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 is also faster than the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T AWD (5.60 secs) the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T (5.60 secs) the 2020 Maserati Ghibli GranSport Petrol Hybrid (5.60 secs) the and the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (5.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Leon and the 1994 Toyota Celica GT Four ST205

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.4 secs @ 102.1 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1994 Toyota Celica GT Four ST205 (13.34 secs), the 2017 BMW 2 Series M240i (13.34 secs), and the 1969 Ford Torino 1st Gen Cobra Hardtop Ram Air (13.35 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2017 version of the Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 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 SC Cupra 300 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