| Week at the Wheel | SEAT Leon Cupra R |

Inside & Out:

SEAT's Leon has been around for five years now, so it's a familiar sight on UK roads. Known for its feline front end and tall, round rump, the SEAT is a Golf for the style conscious. It is nigh-on identical to the Volkswagen under the skin, but it's a lot more striking to behold.

There are a number of aggressive styling additions for the flagship Cupra R. Jagged 19-inch alloy wheels, a boot spoiler and a hefty rear diffuser with a pair of large tailpipes protruding from the centre certainly sharpen the Leon up. Then there's the flamboyant yellow paintwork, which is a bold tradition for barmy SEAT hatchbacks - and one that we're glad to see has continued.

Inside, it's typical Leon - a little dark and dripping with VW switchgear, but comfortable, well laid out and well built for its price. Sporty bits include leather bucket seats with white stitching, aluminium pedals and plenty of references to 'Cupra R'. The only let down is the cheap silver plastic at the bottom of the otherwise tasty steering wheel.

Engine & Transmission:

The engine is another tried and tested VW product - a 2.0-litre TSI unit. This time, it's beefed-up to 261bhp, which means 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. The power delivery is raucous and immense - the turbocharger and the engine wheeze and rasp in unison and create an astonishing amount of pace from a car that's essentially the size and shape of a compact MPV.

SEAT's XDS electronic 'differential' helps to reign in torque steer, but the Leon will still squirm around when you give it full beans. The six-speed manual gearbox has a short, direct and easy change, too.

Ride & Handling:

Make no mistake - it's a bumpy old ride. There are worse hot hatches in this area, but there are also plenty that cope with rough surfaces in a more dignified manner. The Leon's stiff, touring car-like set-up means that every undulation makes its way into the cabin, which is a good thing on the track, but less so on your average British B-road.

The very same set-up makes the Leon sharper than it has ever been. The steering is crisp and responsive, if not as full of feedback as rivals wearing the RenaultSport badge. On dry roads, the grip seems limitless and the small amount of body roll that usually comes with the Leon's people carrier proportions is absent.

The brakes are some of the most effective we've ever experienced at speed, but when you're backing the SEAT into a parking space, they're far too sharp - there seems to be no way to feather the pedal for low speed stops, as the anchors are either on or off.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

We reckon that £25,205 is quite a lot for a Leon - especially when the standard Cupra costs £21,500 and has only 24bhp less. That said, an equivalent VW Golf R with very similar performance figures will set you back a further five-and-a-bit grand, and the Leon's scintillating performance and fine practicality aren't easy to come by together at this price.

Dual-zone climate control, leather seats, cruise control, electric windows and mirrors are just a few examples of the generous standard equipment, so the SEAT is hardly short of clobber.

Overall:

White-hot hatches are nothing new, but this level of performance, along with a family friendly cabin and a 341-litre boot make the Cupra R an attractive prospect. It really does mix the bonkers with the sensible in a well-specced and stylish package.

We accept that it's not cheap for a Leon, but you can easily pay more for this kind of thing elsewhere and it looks like excellent value next to the hot Audi A3s and VW Golfs with which it shares so much. Good build quality and a sound reliability record make a compelling case for the SEAT against more engaging - but risky - rivals from the French manufacturers, too.