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

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 DSG is the 6 speed / Paddle Shift 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 1466 kgs (3231 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 DSG in the same weight category as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 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 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S 4.0 V8 Turbo (213.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 188.2 bhp per ton and 175.9 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2015 Leon competing with the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S 4.0 V8 Turbo (213.2 bhp per ton) or the 2000 Subaru Impreza P1 - Classic (213.1 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 175.9 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 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Wagon (200.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC (200.9 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.0 secs, this made the Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 DSG as fast as 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 or the 2017 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 280 (5.80 secs). This Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 DSG is also faster than 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 and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 (5.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Leon and the 2009 Volkswagen-VW Golf 2.0 R DSG

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.26 secs @ 95.9 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2009 Volkswagen-VW Golf 2.0 R DSG (14.20 secs), the 1998 Subaru Impreza 2.0 Turbo UK - Classic (14.20 secs), and the 2001 Volkswagen-VW Passat 4.0 W8 4Motion (14.20 secs).

Top Speed:

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