Estate of art

HAVE you noticed how many cars that you may have previously assumed would be hot hatches, are actually now available as an estate? In other words, you end up with a family holdall that will frighten the life out of many sports cars.

One of the latest to fit the bill is the SEAT Leon ST Cupra 300. It’s also one of the best.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre 296bhp petrol engine, which delivers it’s oomph via a DSG gearbox and four-wheel drive. It means you can floor the throttle and hurtle to the horizon at an astonishing rate.

It takes only 4.9 seconds to get from 0-60; top speed is 155mph, although we wouldn’t recommend using all of the performance if you’ve the family Labrador in the back. The 4x4 system means you get outstanding roadholding.

At this point, you are probably expecting to read that the SEAT Cupra 300 is a bit of a handful to drive but nothing could be further from the truth; it will happily amble along country lanes or around town.

The ride is surprisingly supple and, when you decide to have some fun, the power arrives low down the rev range, which means you don’t have to work the engine hard, so when you need to overtake, just drop a gear, ease the throttle and away you go. Brilliant.

In other words, the Cupra ST 300 is a doddle to drive steadily with the family and a full load on board, or briskly when the opportunity arises. Go easily and you’ll get close to 40mpg.

The interior is a work of art, with loads of clever LED lighting around the cabin, and the touchscreen infotainment system is really good, although it takes a while to get used to.

The sports seats are extremely comfy and, because the ST is an estate, there’s loads of room.

Bearing in mind that this is the top of the SEAT Leon range and comes loaded with absolutely everything in terms of goodies and safety kit, the price of £34,485 is actually extremely competitive.

The 19-inch alloy wheels and twin exhausts make the ST really stand out from the crowd. It’s a smart-looking car.