@@rsmithuk nah, GTI uses an IS20 turbo, this uses the IS38 just like the Golf R. If Haldex (a heavily fwd bias awd system) is the only difference mechanically, it is more akin to the R
Brilliant review Rebecca and I can see from expression on your face that you rather enjoyed making this. I too like this ST Cupra 280 estate, its rather nice looking car with subtle sporty attributes that as you mention, Seat have combined sportiness with practically in one nice looking package. "Its all things to all families".
My reality is that Seat falls well short in terms of interior design and feel than that of both Skoda and VW!! I am a fan of the VAG cars in general, but when I recently went to a Seat dealer to check out their offerings, I found only one car I could personally live with and that was the Mii, although I would personally opt for the Up! or the Citigo. In general though, interior quality seemed lower than Skoda, and as far as design, Seat might be more stylish to some people's eyes, but driver ergonomics are another matter. For instance, if you have a car that has a manual transmission, and a driver's seat that goes back a good way, and you have a centre armrest that cannot be moved out of the way of the driver's gear changing arm, you have created an ergonomic nightmare, and I think a dangerous driving dynamic. Okay, I simply wouldn't buy such a car, but what if I have to use such a car even for a short time? I would be uncomfortable, frustrated, and my ability to drive such a car well would be seriously compromised every time I needed to change gear. Not a good combination. And if you say that the example I gave only affects taller drivers, etc, then why does Seat offer that much adjustment in the driver's seat? To me, this is an example of the design and testing teams not thinking what it is like to actually drive the cars if the Seat is in its farthest back position. For such shortsightedness to pass the testing team stage doesn' t bode well for Seat vs Skoda, in my opinion. I found ergonomic problems pretty much throughout the Seat range. Even the old Audi A4 Seat now offers seems to have been cheapened and ruined by Seat. It will be years before I venture back to a Seat dealership based on my recent experience! And I am surprised that Telegraph Cars, Auto Express and Carbuyer have not picked up on the problems and are rating Seat so highly, undeservedly so, in my opinion, and it is unworthy of the reviewers themselves.
There is currently a big international push by VW with Seat and Skoda, all getting almost perfect reviews; could be because VW sales have been falling in the US, and they are now trying to push their sub brands. However I am suspicious as some motoring channels here have been doing "sponsored reviews" on these cars. Fords are suddenly now less "fun to drive" than before and where is the "now for the bad points" section? lol
lffit Well, Ford tends to rely on environemtnalism and cheap gismos and nerdy traction control systems nowadays so it might be true. Stupid ecoboost engines for example.
Why would the US Sales bother the sales anywhere else in the world? VW is the best selling brand in 9 or 10 European countries, so i doubt the US affect that lol
+Firemarioflower The ecoboost engines are far from stupid. The 1.0 shifts like a naturally aspirated 1.4, the 1.6 like a 2.0 and so on. The amount of torque for how small they are is incredible. People need to look beyond how much capacity the engine has.
***** Torque is meaningless. HP is what matters. Torques are only useful when carrying a load of bagage, or having a trailer behind your car. Those engines are shit, weak, noisy, not refined and unreliable. Good luck with the maintaining. Naturally aspired is the way to go.
