Performance Review: Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 225 - [2003]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 225 is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2003. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2004 Westfield Sport 2000S and the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 400.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 1376 kgs (3033 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 225 in the same weight category as the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 or the give or take 50kg.

The Seat Leon shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 1781cc 20V St4 engine produces 221 bhp (164 kW) @ 5900 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 206 lb-ft (279.2 Nm) @ 2200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 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 1987 Ford Sierra RS 500 (185.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 160.6 bhp per ton and 149.7 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2003 Leon competing with the 1987 Ford Sierra RS 500 (185.5 bhp per ton) or the 1994 Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (185.5 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 149.7 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 2012 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 TDV6 (174.7 lb-ft per ton) or the 1985 BMW 5 Series M5 E28 (174.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.1 secs, this made the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 225 as fast as the 2015 Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Coupe (6.90 secs) the 2013 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 V6 Supercharged (6.90 secs) the 2012 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (6.90 secs) the or the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (6.90 secs). This Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 225 is also faster than the 2020 Alfa-Romeo Giulia 2.2 16v Turbo Diesel (7.00 secs) the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (7.00 secs) the 2013 Seat Leon SC 1.8 FR Start-Stop DSG (7.00 secs) the and the 2012 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi Cabriolet DSG (7.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Leon and the 1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale 7.5L V8

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.77 secs @ 92.6 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale 7.5L V8 (14.70 secs), the 2007 Vauxhall-Opel Vectra 2.8T V6 VXR (14.70 secs), and the 2004 Honda S2000 2.2i (14.72 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2003 version of the Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 225 has a maximum speed of 150mph.

Top Speed of the 2003 Leon equals the 2013 Porsche Panamera 3.6 V6 (161 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2003 Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 225 then how about the 2013 Porsche Panamera 3.6 V6 (161 mph), the 2013 Porsche Panamera Diesel 3.0 V6 Turbo (161 mph), or the 2011 Radical SR3 SL 2.0 Turbo (161 mph).

Related Links:

2003 Leon Rivals List.

A Brief History of Seat

Car Comparison