How many of you would have preferred the Golf R MK 7 to the
Cupra 280?
Just a question as 2 people I know said they actually prefer my
280 to their Golf R
I test drove the Golf R and the
Cupra 280 back-to-back, for roughly an hour each on a mix of roads.
I liked both cars. I was lucky because I had come into some inheritance money so I could afford either. In the end, I went for the
Cupra 280. Here are my thoughts:
Looks - The
280 is a lot better looking. The front, side and back profiles are nicer, and I also prefer the alloy wheels.
Interior - The R is a lot nicer inside visually, thanks to plenty of aluminium dotted around for a premium touch. But the
Cupra 280 is just as comfortable and also feels like a classy car.
Speed - Identical, to be honest. I don't do traffic light dashes so my tests were rolling from 20 - 50 and 30 - 70 etc and they were both as fast as one another. I do think, looking back, that the
280 was marginally faster at higher speeds though.
Grip - The R only has an advantage off the line, after which the
280 feels a lot more planted on the twistys. The front end is sublime and it really tucks into corners.
Sound - I prefer the noise from the dual set up of the
280.
Comfort - The
280 has a superior ride quality, for example,
Cupra mode is more bearable than R mode. Comfort mode in the
Cupra is really, really nice for long journeys.
Overall - I liked the R a lot but the
280 was for me. I also tested a Golf GTI MK7 but it felt a lot slower than the 50bhp deficit would suggest.