Cupra Leon VZ Cup vs Seat Leon Cupra R – two experts

In 2002, the hot variant of Leon – Cupra – appeared in the Spanish version for the first time. It was quite a bold move on the part of Volkswagen, because the Golf GTI position was very shaken at the time. The Leon Cupra R seat was a very hot recipe, and its spirit is still present in the latest version of the Spanish hooligan. Here is the Cupra Leon VZ Cup and its predecessor.

Today, the first Leon Cupra looks decent. Yes, the copy you see in the photo is very reduced compared to the series, it has large Porsche brakes and bright calipers and a window sticker, but apart from these accents it is basically a regular Leon. The only thing the car has is a lowered bumper, 18-inch rims and a large round exhaust tip. But one, not four as was the case with the latest Cupra.

The Cupra Leon VZ is one of the few remaining hatchbacks on the market. The car has 300 HP, but what is important, it is only front-wheel drive, which in turn works to its advantage. How is this possible? I will explain that in a moment. The Spanish hatchback is designed in a typical Cupra style. Matte paint, large 19-inch rims and brass accents look great. No manufacturer offers such a color combination.

Both cars have 300 HP, front wheel drive and the same basic, but what is the difference?

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Seat Leon Cupra R was born in a different era

The first Leon was based on the Audi A3 and Golf IV. It is no different in the case of its sports version. What it shares with the Golf is the floor plate, the components and, of course, the engine. Interestingly, the standard Leon Cupra R was more powerful than the representative from Wolfsburg, because here we had 225 HP at our disposal. Maciek’s copy has been increased to 282 HP and 390 Nm, so these values ​​are very close to the latest Cupra.

However, the car does not flex its muscles and does not fully show what it is capable of. Twenty years ago, a fast hatchback was supposed to reveal its capabilities only with accents. On the street, an ordinary person seeing a Seat Leon Cupra will not say that this car has almost 300 HP of power.

This art is very invested!

Maciek didn’t leave his Leon in stock condition. First, there was a KW V2 sports suspension with adjustable stiffness, as well as spacers to visually widen the car. In our opinion, this treatment was beneficial for the Leon, especially since the stock rims remained on the car.

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Behind them, Maciek loaded a large disc with a diameter of 370 mm in front and 312 mm in the back, from Porsche, as indicated by the inscription on the sharp brake caliper. These calipers almost rub the rim! It looks very attractive and elegant at the same time.

Even the level of 225 HP will be enough for fast driving, but here Maciek went further and provided the car with real power, without overloading the engine. It’s still a hatchback that can be used as a daily driver. A hybrid turbo, bigger nozzles, a better intake and a sports exhaust system allowed the 1.8 BAM unit to produce 282 HP and 390 Nm. The standard Leon Cupra R accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, in Maciek’s car this time is actually closer to 6 seconds.

Despite the many modifications, the thing you can’t see from the car is that we have almost 300 HP under the hood and this car can do a lot. It’s still a practical hatchback that shows off its sporty prowess with just the details.

The Cupra Leon VZ looks like it’s going up

The latest incarnation of Leon is a completely different story. The car no longer has “Seat” in its name, but is available as a separate brand, the Cupra. The tested version of the VZ Cup is the most powerful offered by Leon. We have a 2.0 TSI engine here, which can be found in the Golf R and other fast Coupes, with a power of 300 HP and 400 Nm. Quickly DSG gearbox it allows you to run up to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds In fact, we feel this speed even faster. The Cupra Leon VZ is a very fast car.

You can see it even when you look at this car. In addition to the beautiful combination of Petrol Blue Matt paint and 19-inch bronze rims, we have four (real) exhaust tips, a carbon diffuser and a rear spoiler made of the same combination.

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The whole package looks and runs well. The car is not very stiff, but thanks to the XDS rear differential, the car moves well. Now I will explain what is the phenomenon of the front drive on this car. The car is better than that Leon station wagon with the same engine, but with a 4 × 4 vehicle. The hatchback pulls forward strongly, dives when cornering quickly, and the driver is very happy to do it. Low-end tires tell you what shape the rock you’re riding on, but on table-level pavement it rewards you with good feel and grip on your face.

The Cupra Leon VZ is very well proportioned, and the understeer only shows on a slippery road or when we overspeed in a corner. The CUPBucket bucket seats perfectly match the character of the car – they are one of the best seats we have ever sat on. They look amazing, hold the body very well in fast corners, but at the same time do not tire them on the track. Perfect harmony.

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Cupra Leon Cupra VZ vs Seat Leon Cupra R – which one to choose?

It’s a problem like – should I go to the cinema or the theatre? It cannot be compared. Both cars have their individual characteristics and I think the Spaniards have rubbed the Germans’ noses in the mistakes again. When the first Leon Cupra appeared, it was faster and more aggressive than the current Golf IV GTI. At that time, the Golf R32 had already appeared, but it was a completely different car.

The new Cupra is also a more attractive alternative to the Golf. The GTI has 245 hp, so it is much weaker than the Cupra. Golf R has 320 HP, but four-wheel drive. So this is the only alternative if you want to have a powerful front-wheel drive hatchback that also looks great.