Performance Review: Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra - [2000]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2000. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the and the 2000 Ultima GTR 720.This particular Seat Leon has a 1781cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Leon shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Leon's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1322 kgs (2914 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra in the same weight category as the 2020 McLaren 765LT 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Seat Leon shares the same bhp with the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp)

In terms of power the 1781cc 20V St4 engine produces 178 bhp (132 kW) @ 5500 rpm similar to the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 173 lb-ft (234.5 Nm) @ 5000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Seat Leon you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2007 Volvo C30 2.5T 230bhp R Design (159.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 134.6 bhp per ton and 130.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2000 Leon competing with the 2007 Volvo C30 2.5T 230bhp R Design (159.6 bhp per ton) or the 2012 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (159.6 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Seat Leon generating around 130.8 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1981 Datsun 280 ZX Turbo (155.7 lb-ft per ton) or the 2000 Volkswagen-VW Beetle RSi 3.2 V6 (155.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.7 secs, this made the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra as fast as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (7.50 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.0 EcoBlue Wagon (7.50 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD Variant 2.0 TDi DSG (7.50 secs) the or the 2017 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (7.50 secs). This Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra is also faster than the 2013 BMW i3 0.6l Hybrid (7.60 secs) the 2011 Abarth 500C 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the and the 2010 Peugeot 308 1.6 GTi (7.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Leon and the 1997 Honda Civic Type R 1.6 16v - EK9

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.68 secs @ 87.3 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1997 Honda Civic Type R 1.6 16v - EK9 (15.61 secs), the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Coupe (15.62 secs), and the 1975 Lotus Esprit S1 2.0 (15.62 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2000 version of the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra has a maximum speed of 142mph.

Top Speed of the 2000 Leon equals the 2014 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (153 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2000 Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra then how about the 2014 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (153 mph), the 2004 BMW X5 4.8is V8 (153 mph), or the 2002 Dodge Neon 2.4 SRT-4 (153 mph).

Related Links:

2000 Leon Rivals List.

A Brief History of Seat

Car Comparison