Performance Review: Seat Leon Sport FR 1.8 20VT 180 - [2002]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Seat Leon Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Seat Leon Sport FR 1.8 20VT 180 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2002. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2002 Ferrari Enzo 6.0 V12 and the 2002 Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3.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 1289 kgs (2841 lbs) this makes the Seat Leon Sport FR 1.8 20VT 180 in the same weight category as the 2023 McLaren 750S 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 177 bhp (131 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) @ 4500 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 2016 BMW Z4 sDrive28i (162.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Seat Leon.

The Seat Leon has a Power to weight ratio of 137.3 bhp per ton and 134.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2002 Leon competing with the 2016 BMW Z4 sDrive28i (162.1 bhp per ton) or the 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 351 (162.1 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 134.2 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 2008 Lexus GS 350 (159.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 1967 Triumph TR5 2.5L (159.2 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 Sport FR 1.8 20VT 180 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 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (7.50 secs) the or the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD Variant 2.0 TDi DSG (7.50 secs). This Seat Leon Sport FR 1.8 20VT 180 is also faster than the 2013 BMW i3 0.6l Hybrid (7.60 secs) the 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the 2011 Abarth 500C 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 1996 Fiat Coupe 2.0 20V Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Seat Leon on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.58 secs @ 87.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1996 Fiat Coupe 2.0 20V Turbo (15.51 secs), the 1992 Renault Alpine A610 3.0 V6 Turbo (15.52 secs), and the 2011 Audi A7 3.0 TDI 310 (15.52 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2002 version of the Seat Leon Sport FR 1.8 20VT 180 has a maximum speed of 142mph.

Top Speed of the 2002 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 2002 Seat Leon Sport FR 1.8 20VT 180 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 Volkswagen-VW Golf R32 (153 mph).

Related Links:

2002 Leon Rivals List.

A Brief History of Seat

Car Comparison