Family Feud - CUPRA Leon Estate 333 4Drive vs Volkswagen Golf R

[Bahnstormer_vRS]

Edition #342 February 2026 of EVO Magavine came through my letterbox yesterday; yes, I know that was December 31st, 2025, and within is a short Road Test of the CUPRA Leon Estate 333 4Drive vs Volkswagen Golf R.

It's not yet available to read on Evo's website, hopefully will be so in a few days but the puchline intro is;-

How different can these mechanically nigh-identical cars feel?

. . . with a summary of;-

It's remarkable how different they feel.


EVO rating for one car is 3.5* with the other getting 4* - but which one's which? An interesting conclusion.


Guy

 

[James_R]

I've regularly driven both (along with S3s and Octavia VRSs) , and whilst I'm a fan of each of them and my roots are with Seat, the same thing always let's the Spanish brand(s) down - built quality and material quality of the interior.

Which one would I pick between the Cupra and VW? The Leon every time.

 

[adamski333]

I've owned both.

I've never had so much trouble with a car then when I had the golf r estate (7.5). When I say trouble, I mean unwanted attention, etc.

Constantly had young lads trying to get me to race, revving engines at lights. Never felt safe parking it, had a gang of lads surround it when parking once with my family in. Was also followed by police and pulled for no reason at a set of lights in Northfield once in the way back from a client meeting.

No such issues in the Cupras

Will be an interesting read as Evo gave the Vz3 4* in a review I read.

Cupra Leon estate VZ3 review – more power and personality than VW's Golf R | Evo

The Cupra Leon estate is the slept-on AWD cousin to the Golf R and S3, utilising the much-lauded torque-splitter differential

www.evo.co.uk

 

[Bahnstormer_vRS]

@James_R

Notably, EVO gives a big thumbs up to the CUPRA's Carbon shelled seats.

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk

 

[James_R]

I've owned both.

I've never had so much trouble with a car then when I had the golf r estate (7.5). When I say trouble, I mean unwanted attention, etc.

Constantly had young lads trying to get me to race, revving engines at lights. Never felt safe parking it, had a gang of lads surround it when parking once with my family in. Was also followed by police and pulled for no reason at a set of lights in Northfield once in the way back from a client meeting.

No such issues in the Cupras

Will be an interesting read as Evo gave the Vz3 4* in a review I read.

Cupra Leon estate VZ3 review – more power and personality than VW's Golf R | Evo

The Cupra Leon estate is the slept-on AWD cousin to the Golf R and S3, utilising the much-lauded torque-splitter differential

www.evo.co.uk

They are a full-on nob head magnet.

 

[James_R]

@James_R

Notably, EVO gives a big thumbs up to the CUPRA's Carbon shelled seats.

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk

Yeah, the seats are a redeeming feature, but the crappy plastic trims in the cab leave a lot to be desired. In contrast, VW parts seem much more well made and the Audi's parts are even higher quality again.

 

[Bahnstormer_vRS]

My optimum would be an Octavia vRS Estate (or Karoq) with the same drive train.

Will never happen as VAG seems intent on keeping Skoda as a poor relation in the performance stakes.

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk

 

[James_R]

Skoda have some interesting combinations every now and again, like the ability to spec all wheel drive on the octavias. I saw a 1.6TDI and a few diesel VRSs running a haldex AWD system whilst I worked for them. They've just released a 174bhp version of the fabia with the 1.5TSI and I believe they were one of the first brands at the time (2015/2016) to use the 2.0TSI EA.888 (280bhp) with a four wheel drive system in the new Superb, away from the German brands.

The 184TDI engine with AWD and DSG is a good laugh.