Review: The all-new Seat Leon Cupra SC 300 (3.5 stars)

Sometimes it’s nice to be able to rely on something. In a world where electronic trickery and connectivity are right to the fore, there’s nothing like taking a hot hatch and then cramming in some more horsepower. Because you can.

The title of SC 300 refers to 300PS so in our money that’s still 296bhp plus 258lb ft of torque. In a three-door, feeding through a six-speed manual box, in a car weighing a reasonable 1395kg, that should be a recipe for fun and success.

From the outside you might not expect that much. It’s pretty understated, despite the aggressive bumpers and the twin exhaust pipes. There are no ridiculous rear wings or outsized vents to suggest there is close to 300bhp in this hatch. And then you drive it, and it remains understated.

Put the adjustable dampers in Comfort, pull away steadily and you’re rewarded with a compliant ride and an engine that pulls strongly from low revs. Jolly nice. Just the thing for the weekly shopping and taking the children to the swimming pool. Then you floor it.

It jumps forward, pulling ferociously hard. Slickly shift up and you’re away again, being pushed into the seat. With the traction control off, there’s enough grunt to wheelspin in the first two gears, and it all feels great. But it’s also a bit unruly.

Bumps taken under hard acceleration result in some banging from the suspension and the feeling that the chassis is at full stretch. It doesn’t lead to torque steer which is a blessing, but it certainly feels a bit wayward. Possibly the standard electronically controlled limited slip diff is not working that well, as it doesn’t seem to really improve control round corners.

However, the steering weights up nicely at speed thanks to the standard Progressive steering, and there is a whole load of grip. Up to a point. Go in too hard and you’ll get understeer and the traction control scolding you. And ramping up the suspension beyond Comfort wasn’t something we’d recommend as comfort most certainly disappeared.

The cabin seemed a bit austere, more German than Spanish with its blacks and greys, but it lacks the premium feel of the German competition. The new larger touchscreen is nice but generally it’s not an inspiring cabin.

That’s what the whole car feels like really. While you might well expect a rip-snorting road racer, what you get is a hot hatch that is really at its best when you back off a touch and keep away from the ragged edges. That might suit some, but since this costs about the same as a Golf R from the same stable, we’d question whether £30k would be an investment giving you the returns you’d hope for. Other investments are available.

2017 Seat Leon SC Cupra 300

On sale Now

Price £30,155

Engine 4cyl inline, 1984cc, turbocharged, petrol

Power 296bhp at 5500-6200rpm

Torque 258lb ft at 1800-5500

Kerbweight 1395kg

Gearbox 6-spd manual

0-62mph 5.9sec

Top speed 155mph

Economy 40.9mpg (combined)

CO2/tax band 158g/km, 28%

Rivals VW Golf R, Ford Focus RS