Performance Review: Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 - [2015]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2015. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2016 Bugatti Chiron 8.0 W16 Quad 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, Estate 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 1440 kgs (3174 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 in the same weight category as the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo 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) @ 5600 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 1969 AMC AMX 6.4L V8 7030 (216.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 191.6 bhp per ton and 179.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2015 Leon competing with the 1969 AMC AMX 6.4L V8 7030 (216.6 bhp per ton) or the 2001 Mercedes C Class 32 AMG (216.5 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 179.1 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 2005 Dodge Magnum 5.7 V8 RT (204.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (204.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.1 secs, this made the Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 as fast as the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.90 secs) the or the 2012 Renault Megane RenaultSport 2.0T 265 Cup (5.90 secs). This Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 is also faster than the 2019 Land-Rover Defender 110 3.0 Turbo (6.00 secs) the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT 3.6 V6 AWD (6.00 secs) the 2017 Toyota Century 5.0 V8 (6.00 secs) the and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 265 (6.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Leon and the 2007 Bentley Brooklands 2d

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.91 secs @ 98.3 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2007 Bentley Brooklands 2d (13.85 secs), the 1993 Subaru Impreza WRX - Classic JDM Wagon (13.86 secs), and the 2013 BMW 5 Series 550i GT xDrive F07 (13.87 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2015 version of the Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2015 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 2015 Seat Leon ST 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:

2015 Leon Rivals List.

A Brief History of Seat

Car Comparison