Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport vs Cupra Leon 300

How do you outline a sizzling hatchback? Ought to it’s a sensible, smart household automobile that may roll up its sleeves and ship a shock punch? Or ought to it’s a race automobile for the street that simply occurs to have 5 doorways and a giant boot? Or is there an area in between?

The Volkswagen Group has at all times veered in direction of the previous concept, however that doesn’t imply it could actually’t change ways. Right here we’re testing two of its newest challengers, the Cupra Leon and the VW Golf GTI Clubsport.

Though Cupra is a well-known title, its goal has just lately modified. Previously the badge reserved for the most well liked vehicles inside the SEAT line-up, right now it’s a efficiency sub-brand in its personal proper. Some fashions are associated to the Spanish counterparts, however others, just like the Formentor SUV and electrical Tavascan, might be distinctive to Cupra. We have been left impressed by the Formentor on earlier encounters, so will Cupra’s magic apply to the Leon too?

Even when it does, it’ll have its work reduce out on this take a look at, as a result of it’s up in opposition to essentially the most well-known sizzling hatchback of all. That is no bizarre GTI, although, as a result of the Clubsport takes the traits of the regular GTI and provides extra energy and focus to an already-involving package deal. 

Which of those opponents will come out on prime? We took each on street and observe to search out out.

Cupra Leon

The Cupra Leon is offered as a plug-in hybrid or an everyday petrol mannequin. Right here we’re testing essentially the most excessive model of the hatchback, badged 300. The automobile we’re driving is a Spanish-specification model, but it surely’s the closest match to the UK-based VZ3 trim, priced at £37,390.

Design & engineering

Whereas it hasn’t been round for lengthy as a standalone model, Cupra has shortly carved out a novel aesthetic. Copper highlights utilized to an in any other case understated physique imply that the Leon manages to set itself other than the remainder of the hot-hatch crowd with out being too lairy. Even beside the Golf GTI, you would virtually name it subdued. 

However beneath the differing our bodies, the Cupra Leon and Golf GTI Clubsport are essentially very related. Each vehicles journey on the most recent model of the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, with a MacPherson-strut suspension association on the entrance and a four-link structure on the again, plus adaptive dampers whose firmness will be managed on a 15-point sliding scale. The vehicles additionally share the identical EA888 evo4 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which makes 296bhp and 400Nm of torque, and energy is shipped to the entrance wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automated gearbox and an electronically locking limited-slip differential. The latter helps the automobile rotate into turns, and in addition permits the entrance wheels to deploy as a lot energy as doable on nook exit.

Nonetheless, there are a few key variations between the Leon and the Golf. The Cupra’s wheelbase is 64mm longer and the corporate has utilized its personal distinctive tune to the suspension. The brakes are totally different, too, with Cupra turning to Brembo to produce some very beefy-looking 370mm drilled discs gripped by four-piston calipers.

Inside, Cupra spruces up the usual Leon cabin with extra copper highlights, a sports activities steering wheel and closely bolstered entrance seats, though the general look is probably a bit plain.

Driving

The encouraging discovery is that these Cupra-specific tweaks have created an engagingly playful – but very fast – sizzling hatchback. It begins with the variable- ratio steering which, though lighter than in some rivals, treads a advantageous line between making the automobile really feel agile with out being too darty. It additionally doesn’t take a lot combating to deploy the complete 296bhp and 400Nm of torque by way of the entrance wheels. Torque steer is sort of non-existent right here.

All of this may be stated of the Golf too, however the place the Cupra actually shines is with that suspension tune. Here’s a automobile that has just a bit extra of a wild aspect than the VW. Throw it right into a nook and you will get the Leon transferring round; again off the throttle to trim your line and the rear finish feels extra keen to push the automobile tighter into the nook than within the Golf. Get onerous on the ability, and the differential feels clinically efficient with the best way it hauls the automobile right into a tighter line and on to the following straight.

All of it provides as much as a automobile the place your inputs with the throttle, brakes and steering really feel like they’ve a larger affect over the automobile’s angle than within the VW. Briefly, the Leon is the extra rewarding automobile to drive. Because of a fruitier exhaust notice, it sounds extra thrilling when pushing on, too.

It’s even barely extra comfy. That might be partially all the way down to the longer wheelbase, however roll the dampers in direction of their softer settings, and the Cupra feels barely any firmer than an ordinary SEAT Leon. Consolation mode sits a couple of spots away from the softest of the 15 damper settings, Cupra a couple of spots away from the highest, and Sport is true within the center. There’s a definite distinction between the softest and the firmest settings, however even its harshest place remains to be acceptable on the street.

Practicality

As with the driving dynamics, there’s little or no to separate the 2 vehicles by way of on a regular basis usability. However the one tiny distinction – rear legroom – goes within the Cupra’s favour. Headroom is close to equivalent, as is the very beneficiant inside storage. There are two massive cup-holders up entrance, deep door bins and a smartphone slot on the base of the sprint, which incorporates wi-fi charging in VZ3 fashions. 

At 380 litres, the Leon’s boot is just six litres bigger than the Golf’s, whereas the rear bench features a ski hatch, so lengthy objects will be loaded by way of without having to fold the again seats.

Possession

Cupra is a brand new standalone model, so our newest Driver Power satisfaction survey couldn’t cowl the possession expertise of its vehicles particularly. Nonetheless, with such shut relations to SEAT, it’s honest to recommend that it’ll doubtless rating equally; a end of 14th out of 30 within the producers’ listing beat VW’s Nineteenth-place rating. Nonetheless, sellers fared poorly, ending twenty fourth out of 25, and 10 locations decrease than VW’s community.

Working prices

Since they share the identical engine and gearbox, and weigh inside a couple of kilos of one another, gas prices for the Leon and the Golf are more likely to be very related. Formally, the Cupra manages 37.2mpg – 1mpg much less the GTI – and our expertise on the street suggests that you just’ll have the ability to get fairly near these numbers in the true world. Match these economic system figures and the Leon’s gas price will whole £3,141 after 20,000 miles. The Golf might be very barely cheaper at £3,058. 

Falling into the 37 per cent Benefit-in-Kind bracket, neither of those vehicles might be low cost to run for firm automobile customers. Nonetheless, a decrease P11D worth pulls issues barely within the favour of the Cupra. The next-rate earner might be deducted £5,299 a yr, which is £220 lower than within the GTI.

Testers’ notes

“If all this combustion-engined discuss sounds a bit old style, then Cupra has you lined. The Born, revealed final week, is a copper-garnished electrical hatchback with a 335-mile zero-emissions vary. ”

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport

The Mk8 Golf is the most recent GTI to obtain the Clubsport remedy, including extra energy, improved aerodynamic effectivity, and delicate beauty upgrades over the common mannequin. Costs earlier than choices begin from £37,230, though this take a look at automobile has £5,495 of extras, together with “Estoril” 19-inch wheels (£825), the Uncover Navigation Professional system (£1,600) and a rear-view digicam (£300).

Design & engineering

Initially, VW solely deliberate to construct 5,000 examples of the primary Golf GTI. However 45 years later and now in its eighth iteration, greater than 2.3 million have been produced.

The Clubsport takes the usual GTI method and knocks it up a few notches. The two.0-litre turbocharged engine underneath the bonnet good points 54bhp, with whole output now reaching 296bhp. There’s a brand new aerodynamic package deal on the surface, which not solely provides an additional dose of menace, but additionally generates extra downforce and delivers extra cooling air into the engine.

As lined within the Leon part, these two sizzling hatches share a near-identical platform, suspension structure and drivetrain association. Nonetheless, there’s a vital distinction within the tools. As normal, the Cupra Leon will get adaptive dampers, whereas these are an elective additional for the GTI Clubsport. Earlier expertise with numerous sizzling Golfs has taught us that, from a efficiency viewpoint, stepping up from the usual passive objects is an important improve to get the most effective out of the automobile by way of each journey and dealing with. Finest be sure to funds one other £785 past that listing worth, then.

Inside, the Golf’s drive mode change is grouped in a cluster of buttons within the centre of the dashboard, whereas the starter button is simply forward of the gear selector. Neither are as simply situated as they’re within the Leon, which has them on particular spherical steering wheel buttons.

In any other case, the GTI’s cabin is nice. Purple highlights and ambient lighting make it really feel a contact extra particular than the Cupra’s, whereas the seat and steering wheel each supply an enormous vary of adjustment. However the Mk8 Golf feels prefer it’s taken a slight step again from its predecessor by way of general high quality.

Driving

On paper, the GTI Clubsport takes a slim lead in opposition to the clock; formally, it’ll dash from 0-62mph 0.1 seconds quicker than the Cupra, taking 5.6 seconds. The engine pulls strongly all through the rev vary, and is related to a dual-clutch automated gearbox that snaps by way of the ratios shortly and cleanly.

VW’s chassis engineers say that, from a efficiency viewpoint, there’s little motive to scroll additional than the Sport setting on the 15-way adaptive dampers. Past this, they are saying, the stiffer responses solely serve to make the automobile extra playful, somewhat than faster point-to-point. However even in these firmest settings, the Golf doesn’t ever ship the identical degree of adjustability because the Leon. Briefly, it’s merely not as a lot enjoyable – on street or on observe. It might be forgiven if this made it simpler round a circuit, however the Cupra’s keener nostril additionally helps it to lap quicker – the Leon managing a forty five.7-second time round Llandow Circuit, to the Golf’s 46 seconds flat. The brakes play an element right here, too. The GTI’s are robust, however the Brembo set-up fitted to the Cupra presents extra stopping energy
and a extra reassuring really feel.

Just like the Leon, our Golf was fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels, though whereas they’re normal on the Cupra, they’re an possibility on the GTI. There are two types out there, costing as much as £825. Whereas we’ve but to pattern the usual 18-inch wheels, the elective rims meant the Golf didn’t fairly journey as easily because the Leon. By way of general refinement, although, each the GTI and the Cupra are among the many most grown-up of any of the hot-hatch competitors.

Practicality

Though the Clubsport is a extra excessive model of the Golf GTI, it nonetheless maintains all of that automobile’s practicality; there are not any excessive weight-saving measures right here. There’s nonetheless a superbly comfy rear bench, which splits 60:40, with area for 3 individuals. As
within the Cupra, there are even air vents for these within the again, plus a few USB-C charging ports.

Up entrance the Golf and the Leon have the identical fundamental design of sports activities seat, every that includes distinctive upholstery and solely delicate variations across the headrest. They do an amazing job of holding driver and entrance passenger in place throughout onerous cornering, but stay supportive on lengthy journeys. 

An adjustable boot flooring implies that, in its highest place, the Volkswagen’s rear seats can drop down for a very flat load space. Neither the Leon nor the Golf has the ability to tow a trailer.

Possession

The Volkswagen Golf vary was examined by Euro NCAP in 2019, and scored a wonderful five-star ranking – a 95 per cent grownup occupant safety rating was among the many highlights. GTI fashions get a semi-autonomous help system, which might steer the automobile inside its lane on a motorway. The Leon was assessed by NCAP the next yr and in addition achieved a five-star ranking, albeit to barely stricter requirements.

Working prices

As fascinating sizzling hatchbacks, each of those vehicles handle to cling on to their residual values fairly strongly. The Golf retains a powerful 50.5 per cent of its on-the-road worth after three years and 36,000 miles, however that’s topped by the Cupra Leon, which manages to keep up 51.7 per cent. In different phrases, regardless that the Golf is barely cheaper to purchase outright, after three years the Leon might be value £522 extra.

Testers’ notes

“Dive into the Clubsport’s drive settings and also you’ll discover a Nürburgring mode. This switches the automobile’s numerous parameters to these used to hit a 7m 54sec lap time across the Nordschliefe.”

Verdict

First place: Cupra Leon

The primary sizzling hatch from Cupra as a standalone model is a winner. The Leon manages to match the Golf GTI Clubsport at its conventional robust factors – refinement, usability and practicality – however beats it in a single very important space: driving enjoyable. Cupra’s providing is sharper to drive, and places an even bigger smile in your face. That it’s additionally barely higher worth for cash seals the victory. 

Second place: Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport

A sizzling hatch ought to have the ability to ship pleasure and practicality in equal measure. On each counts, the Leon simply edges the Golf. There’s nonetheless a lot to love concerning the GTI Clubsport, with robust efficiency, a quick gearbox and sensible cross-country tempo, however
when you issue within the added price of key elective extras, it could actually’t match its Volkswagen Group rival right here.

Additionally take into account…

Hyundai i30 N

• Mannequin: Hyundai i30 N Efficiency
• Worth: £35,695 
• Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, 276bhp

The Hyundai i30 N doesn’t fairly possess the firepower of our two contenders right here, but it surely stays an exhilarating sizzling hatch. The current addition of an elective twin-clutch gearbox broadens its enchantment, whereas its sharp drive and aggressive pricing make this Korean sizzling
hatch as tempting as ever.

Honda Civic Type R

• Mannequin: Honda Civic Kind R
• Worth: £34,415 
• Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, 316bhp

Nice although the Cupra is, the Civic Type R remains to be our hot- hatch king. A 316bhp output delivers enormous straight-line pace, whereas grip, steering response and braking suggestions are all chic. Whereas an auto gearbox isn’t supplied, it compensates with one of many most interesting handbook shifters of any new automobile.

Figures