Volkswagen Golf R vs SEAT Leon Cupra on track

The powerful new Volkwagen Golf R takes on the SEAT Leon Cupra 280 on track.

With snazzy looks, four-wheel drive and just shy of 300bhp, the new Volkswagen Golf R is the pinnacle of the massive Golf range. But is it the best hot hatch in the VW Group stable?

To find out, we brought along the new SEAT Leon Cupra 280, which has just taken the fastest ever lap time around the Nurburgring for a front-wheel drive car, for an Auto Express track battle.

The most powerful production Golf ever made, the new Golf R costs £31,970 if you choose the DSG gearbox and five-door body. It gets 296bhp and 380Nm of torque from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, and has four-wheel drive to put all the power on the road.

Lighter and cheaper than the Golf, the SEAT Leon Cupra is only front-wheel drive, but it has similar underpinnings and the same engine. It develops 276bhp and 350Nm of torque. Like the Golf, this car is fitted with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox.

Stable and powerful, the Golf R performed well around our circuit, recording a lap time of 1.14.8 seconds. However, the sharper and more agile SEAT recorded a lap time of 1.13.9 seconds.

So which car comes out on top in our hot hatch head-to-head? Well, it's a bit expensive, but we really like the Golf R. It's a great road car - it's fast, upmarket and composed. But on the track the SEAT Leon Cupra may only be front-wheel drive, but it has almost as much traction, it's much more agile and it's faster against the stopwatch.

Crucially it's nearly £4,000 cheaper, so in this head-to-head track battle it's the SEAT Leon Cupra that takes victory.

[GreekDude]

I love watching VW fanboys arguing why the Golf R is better!

[HesteBremse]

I must say that I like that new Seat a lot - They have reached a really nice mid class design, sporty, contemporary and far more interesting for looks than the current Golf - Have seen a few various versions on the road lately, even a Estate and my eyes find these SEAT´s every time. Was it just me or did it sound pretty good too the SEAT ?. I can understand why many people will still by the Golf, but I would opt for the SEAT as an impulsive buyer, it´s simply a lot fresher.

[v_alexiadis]

Nice! The Leon will most likely be my next car. With a manual gearbox though.

[ruskeee]

The Golf R with an ECU remap and some aftermarket suspension tuning will be an seriously awesome car.

[Digi]

what i find more interesting: the leon is just 0.3 seconds slower than the bmw m235i - so a proper balanced and lighter fwd car can really hold its own. nice stuff :)

[peterbennpan]

That bang inside the cabin of the golf r when up changing gears is one of the best sounds ever 😎

[MikhailKozlov]

I'm not claiming to be expert driver, but somehow it is hard to believe that same car with less grip and grunt is better/faster. Could be track configuration, could be lack of enthusiasm.  

[rogersummers]

I specced both a S3 and an R to my preference and the R was a few quid more is kind of weird. Bravo to SEAT, though. At last we've got a VW Group car that is actually superior to the Golf

I've never understood why the bourgeoisie sheepishly flock to VW showrooms when its dealership network (at least in the UK), salespeople, after sales service and products are so can get to BMW price levels when loaded with stupidly expensive options and, frankly, I'd take the Blue-propeller every

[Alaatin]

Check my channel for more volkswagen and seat. I filmed the Golf R in Red Black and Blue. The Cupra in Red and Black

[stavros]

If the Golf R had been three door the weight difference would have been a better match, what i sum up from this is just buy Honda Civic Type R next year.

[Ironslice]

I call bullshit. Slower than the GTI?? Give me a break, this guy can't drive.

[paolozanotti]

Stop buy the golf only for the name its name when you can buy a more faster Leon and cheaper! I think that Leon is more sportly but it's a personally opinion

[aloqab]

i'd take the seat over the golf based on looks alone
golf looks horrible

[TheRoggan]

The noise they make is great, sounds angry! Love the gurgle during shifts too! :)

[Gio]

74 kilos more but two more doors and all wheel drive... Not a lot

[MrJakeyyy]

Not exactly a fair review.
You done one time with each car, and obviously you're gonna drive slightly better in the second run which is a bit unfair on the Golf R.

Use more than one driver, do more than one test with both cars. That way you get a fair review.

In my opinion, Golf R wins every time

[madant]

My 'old' Leon is a blast to drive at any speed, so this new one must be bonkers :)

[tonyb]

I see brand loyalty kicking in again, makes reading quite funny really.
Some of the excuses... bit of rain when the R went round, its got the haldex system which if anything is advantageous in the damp (and that means the disadvantage would be for the SEAT and not the Golf).

The big fact that most people are missing due to bickering is that they are both good cars, the SEAT is more suited to the track, the R looks to be that comfy cruiser with go when you need it, hence the GTI comments (which will probably still be VW's better seller over the R).

Anyone who buys one or the other will have a great car that suits THEIR needs.

[Abzug]

Btw:
Sachsenring, Golf R: 1'41'73
Cupra 280: 1'42'30

[PandorusFightStick]

Never regret choosing a cupra 290 over the golf r!!