Kentish Express Ashford & District
Seat’s super Cupra
The flagship Cupra 290 still isn’t that common a sight in the UK, but it’s a hell of a car as reports
In the history of mid-life updates, this is possibly the smallest you’ll ever have seen. No cosmetic revisions here, not even new alloy wheel designs.
The only mechanical difference is a new exhaust system with lower back pressure and a 5.8kg weight saving.
Performance-wise, you’ll have noticed the name is now Cupra 290, and true to form it has 10bhp more than the old one.
There’s also Full Link phonepairing software, so whatever your phone, it should hook up to the system with a degree of internet connectivity.
Looks and image
Nothing changes with the appearance because Seat has hit on a winning formula.
The Leon is its bestselling car, and it’s the first real international sales barnstormer the company has had this decade. It ain’t broke, so there’s no point fixing it.
Space and practicality
From right now you can get the 290 in three-door and, most lovely SC, do-it-all five-door hatch and more practical ST estate shapes. The ST has a couple of hundred litres more boot space than the 380-litre tub shared by the other two. There’s adequate rear legroom for passengers but it’s not the airiest place for them to be.
Behind the wheel
Seat hasn’t taken the chance to enliven the cabin, so it stays one of the least imaginative in the hot hatch clique but... hit the road and that’s forgotten.
The free-revving 2.0-litre engine masters everyday driving with barely 20% of its ability. Use a bit more right boot and fast turbo response gives you astonishing overtaking punch. Keep the throttle pinned on your friendly local private airfield and it’ll get to the 155mph limiter with ease. It’s a monster. It also sounds better. That new exhaust gives it more of a growl both inside and outside the car, and, unless I was dreaming, it’s a bit louder, too. Both good things.
Value for money
With the Cupra 265 confined to the bin (almost no one bought one), the entry point is now the full-fat and beautiful SC.
The highest-spec Focus ST is more than £2,000 cheaper (before haggling), but it’s not as accomplished a motor.
On the other hand, a Civic Type R is more expensive and you get less equipment to show for it.
The Leon could be a bit better equipped, as evidenced by the now-huge options list, but everything you really want is on the car already.
In terms of value, it splits the pack, but it depends what each buyer is actually looking or hoping for.