SEAT Leon Cupra R test drive since 2009 hatchback

For two faces

Winter is a special test in the life of the car. The winner in the nomination for whom for 200 was identified by Vadim Nikishev. Photo: George Sadkov.
For 200, of course, it exceeded the number in the passport column power. The snow-white Ford Focus stkes 225 hp, in the yellow Seat-Leon Cupra and even more: 240! The first, according to the manufacturer, accelerates to hundreds in 6.8 s and gains 241 km/h, the second for 6.4 s, its maximum speed is 247 km/h. Even in the summer, not everyone will cope with such herds and front -wheel drive, but in winter we will try?
Provocateur
Sometimes the SAAT is called the unfinished Volkswagen. We write off this shock from the price tag: even taking into account the New Year discounts, Leon Cupra costs a million rubles without hundreds. For comparison: Golf GTI, on the platform of which a Spanish hatchback is built, can be bought 75,000 rubles cheaper! But Seat has its own trump cards. Firstly, its motor develops 240 hp. Against 200 hp The German, and secondly, even standard Leon is more like a sports car than golf.
The style of what you need to push off when evaluating. The whimsical bends of the sidewalls, an aggressive front end, the wheels with an 18-inch-mounted handle of the rear doors are hidden in the racks like alpha-romeo? Naturally: Walter de Silva, the author of one hundred and fifty sixth, at the end of the nineties came to Seat. As a result, it turned out conveniently (the handles are always clean), and elegant: in the profile, a five -door hatchback looks like a three -door. During the test of cars with such a cunning, there is always an uninitiated, which asks to reset the front seat for access back - this time he was.
Planting is complicated by a wide threshold, but the driver’s workplace is close to the ideal. The bucket of the seat down is up to the stop, the clutch pedal to the floor what a big move is! An annoying: to stretch your legs, as you wanted, it will not work. But the steering wheel can be pulled closer, and from it to the lever the box literally a stone's throw.
In the city of Kupre, closely. An unimportant visibility in stylish mirrors, the bifurcated front struts of the body make you get used to the car for a long time. When parking, you are careful due to a small road clearance and developed aerodynamic elements. It seems that I realized why for all-terrain vehicles there are typical imposing steering settings: they don’t care under the wheels. The closer the bottom of the car to the Russian asphalt, the sharper the steering wheel should be to go around the constellations of pits and pits. It is not always possible, and sometimes passengers shudder from a tangible push, and the driver from fear for low -profile tires. But this shaking will not confuse the fan of sports (and it is difficult to imagine differently at the wheel of Kupla). You feel elasticity that calms: there is still a stock.
The cabin is noisy. A basement of spikes, a rumble of a developed tread is clearly heard. Winter tires by definition are loud, but not to the same extent! However, with dynamic driving, this is a plus, since what is happening is easy to control by ear. Thanks to the sensitive brake pedal, you can slow down on the verge
wheels lock without awakening ABS.
The capabilities of the motor are enough for the eyes, even in the third transmission, the stabilization system pulls the wheel slipping on the cold asphalt. But a wide range of torque and civil clutch allow you to calmly push in the strands and slowly roll in the right row. True, with a spectacular yellow machine, they periodically try to compete, regardless of the emphasized calm driving style. It is better to go to the training ground, where Ford-Focus ST is already waiting.
An ordinary miracle
A powerful version of ST (from 843,700 thousand rubles) give out a branded body kit and a low landing, and so ordinary focus, which on the roads of Moscow is almost more than a Lada. The power unit is familiar with the previous generation and some Volvo models: a five -cylinder engine with a volume of 2.5 L borrowed from the Swedes. But there is a purely Ford chip built in the exhaust tract a resonator with a movable membrane. He, of course, does not add power, but creates a delightful sound accompaniment. On acceleration, it seems that there are not five cylinders under the hood, but all eight!
The motor is launched with the Ford Power logo, the keyponder key can be left in your pocket. It's a shame that the option of automatic opening of the doors is not provided: the keychain will still have to be taken out to penetrate the salon. And there are already luxurious, there are no sheathed burgundy skin, not the seat of the chair. Armchairs from the recourse for sibarites, with the adjustment of the angle of inclination of the pillow and heated. There is clearly more comfort in them than sports; No matter how adjust the landing is still high. The obvious plus of such a feature is excellent.

Among the attributes inherent in version ST, a block of additional devices above the console, the steering wheel and pedal overlays. The clutch is tougher than that of the klake, but still I want to squeeze it out, squeeze and squeeze it out more often to switch to a reduced gear and enjoy the bass muffled roar of the muffler.
Control of traction works softly, recalling its existence only by winking an icon. The steering wheel with a lazy position, in a zero position, does not return as willingly as on the Seat, and the reactions to its deviations are tightened. And with sharp acceleration, Ford literally throws to the side. Apparently, with such a dense layout of the motor compartment, there are still five cylinders and six gears! It is not easy to get rid of the difference in the corners of the inclination and length of the drives, which causes power strokeing.
If Leon Cupra is UPRIA, then the focus ST is more likely to be a knit: as if the suspension fluctuations are extinguishing a layer of dense rubber. Comfortable settings make Ford more crucial than Seat. But on the slippery coverage of the special roads, this is not a hindrance: here the angular rigidity of the suspension is not so important. And the focus with pleasure glides within small corners even when the stabilization system is turned on. She patiently waits, allowing you to pull the car with a traction, but it is worth overdoing with gas or twisting the steering wheel, gently but persistently pulls.
Seat in such a situation is less pleasant: electronics in the framework of reasonable speeds does not allow the car, but if it reaches the extreme, hastily chopped off the supply of fuel and drags the brakes. With disconnected stabilization systems, the picture is similar. Ford forgives more errors in particular, allowed to get out of a skid by more than 90 degrees. Leon does not have such experiments, and either you are ready to cope with him, or buy a more flexible car.
Formally, cars belong to one class. But in essence, they are so different that both of them have to have in the garage: Ford-Focus ST for everyday life, and Ceat-Leon Cupra for the weekend.
Involuntarily, you think about what is more important? If you choose a car for every day, then Ford-Focus ST is preferable. It is more comfortable, loyal to the driver, it is offered in both three- and in a five-door version. In fact, this is a civilian car with a powerful engine.
Seat-Leon Cubra is a different matter. You can also regularly ride it, but you will have to come to terms with shaking, unimportant sound insulation. A car for egoists, which is disguised as a practical hatchback. Are you ready to make a choice? Me not. Give two!
 
   
 
 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"