SEAT have always been keen to make the most of the sporting credentials of their Leon hatchback and in March they came up with nothing less than the brand’s most powerful production car yet - the new 2.0 litre T FSI Cupra which can reach 60 mph from standing in less than six and a half seconds and could top 150 miles hour were it to be permitted.  

The low riding 240 horsepower dream car, is packed to the gills with sporty cues and traditional black surrounds but the big surprise was the price tag: £19,595 on the road. Cupra came in the wake of the success of the also vivid 2.0 litre 183 hp FSI and the FR(Formula Racing) variants to the line-up which became available last summer. Such sporty variants accounted for more than two fifths of all sales of the original Leon.

For ordinary mortals there are more than a dozen mainstream second generation Leons with prices starting at £11,722 on the road.

Leon was originally introduced in 1999 and quickly became the best selling Seat in the UK. Like the Altea midi MPV and the revised Toledo, the current Leon derives its design inspiration from the Salsa concept designed by Walter de’Silva.

A five-door hatch with a coupe appearance, Leon has a steeply raked windscreen and roofline which curves steeply downwards at the rear and the de’Silva trademark – the “Dynamic” line which drops from the bonnet along the side of the car to the rear wheel arch. Rear door handles that are hidden in the door frames, a la Alfa Romeo, add to the coupe impression.

Power options are the 1.6 101 hp and 2.0 FSI 149 hp petrol engines along with a 1.9 turbo diesel giving 104 hp and a 2.0 TDI with 139. The 1.6 and 1.9 units are each linked to five-speed gearboxes while the 2.0 litre engines are driven through a six-speed manual box or an optional Tiptronic automatic system for the petrol and a DSG for the diesel.

The entry level Essence 1.6 features six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, ISOFIX child seat anchorage, tinted windows, one-touch electric front windows, an FM/AM radio and CD player linked to six speakers, remote central locking with a three-button folding key and a height-adjustable driving seat.

Leon’s next-up Reference trim adds air conditioning along with the choiceof the 1.9 TDI engine.

Reference Sport offers the latter with some sporty features including front fog lights, sports suspension, 16 inch alloy wheels, sports seats and a leather covered steering wheel and gear knob.

Stylance boasts “coming home” headlamps, electrically adjustable door mirrors with a park function, dual zone climate control, an eight speaker radio and CD system with steering wheel controls, illuminated sun visors, cruise control, ESP and EBA, locking wheel bolts, a trip computer, and a driving seat with height and lumbar adjustment. Power options here are 1.6, 2.0 FSI or 1.9 TDI. The Tiptronic gearbox option is available with FSI while DSG is mated to the 2.0 TDI.

Access to the car is via remote controlled central locking and inside there is a dashboard that wouldn’t disgrace any upmarket executive model.

Behind the split folding rear seats is a cavernous and illuminated stowage area with a removeable security shelf  and a 12 volt power socket. Ordinarily, 340 litres’ worth of luggage can be accommodated but adjustments to the seating can treble that.