SEAT Leon SC FR 1.8 TSI

The new Leon continues to impress with each version we try, and this sporty three-door petrol is the closest we’ll get to a hot hatch until next year. It looks great and, with this auto gearbox, manages to be refined and sporty in equal measure. In the UK, the TDI definitely makes more sense and is only a few hundred pounds more. The 1.8-litre TSI is a lovely engine and has plenty to recommend it, but it still might be worth waiting for the full-blooded Cupra.

Until the hot hatch Cupra version arrives next year, this is the fastest SEAT Leon that money can buy – and with 178bhp from its 1.8-litre turbo engine it should have the kind of brisk performance that fully justifies its ‘Sport Coupe’ name badge.

This engine is only available in the top-spec FR trim and we are testing the optional seven-speed DSG automatic, but even so this petrol flagship model still manages to undercut the equivalent Audi A3 by a massive £2,875. It also beats the A3 for desirability, as the more compact proportions of the three-door body further enhance the sharply defined creases of the bold new design. This FR also gets extra visual clout, thanks to standard 17-inch alloys, unique bumpers and dark privacy glass. Our test car also came fitted with the optional (£995) full LED headlights, which look fantastic and are usually the reserve of plush executive saloons.

Climb inside and there are more hints at the SEAT Leon SC’s performance potential. The contoured seats hold you perfectly in place, and the red-stitched fabric and flat-bottomed leather steering wheel both create a real sense of anticipation. The build quality is also excellent. However, opting for the most powerful engines in the line-up brings a lot more than just bragging rights. This version of the SC gets a multi-link rear suspension that is lowered by 15mm over the standard car and bigger brake discs all round – giving it a significant dynamic advantage over lesser models.

Push hard into corners and this flagship Leon shows excellent composure, despite the toughened suspension and it handles mid-corner bumps with a surefooted poise that makes it easy to exploit the smooth and free-revving engine. Leave the gearbox in auto mode and it will happily waft along and refinement is superb, but select the sport setting using the SEAT Drive Profile button on the dash and the exhaust noise deepens, the ambient interior lights suddenly switch from white to red and the throttle response is improved.

Switching up and down the ratios with the steering wheel-mounted paddles means that your hands never leave the wheel, but the DSG gearbox isn’t perfect. There is no fully manual mode and it can get flustered when you start to demand really quick changes. Still, the tall seventh gear means it is more economical than the manual – with a claimed economy of just below 50mpg and C02 emissions of just 132g/km.

Drive it with any real intent, though, and you will see that figure fall to around 30mpg, which makes the potent 182bhp 2.0-litre TDI a better choice for company car buyers. Some will prefer the extra refinement offered by the petrol drivetrain and it certainly feels more engaging than the diesel, but because it produces the same 250Nm output as the cheaper 1.4 TSI it never quite feels as fast as the official figures suggest.

Even so, the conversion to three doors does lop £300 off the price, without sacrificing any space inside (six-footers will still fit in the rear seats easily) and the boot can still carry 380 litres with the seats in place. Overall, the Leon SC is a really complete package – and this warm version it a tantalising glimpse of what the Cupra could offer.

Good: When we tried the 1.4 TSI, we were impressed by its refinement and value, but the bigger turbo engine has a more raucous and exciting character and the power to match the striking looks.

Not so Good: Despite the extra performance, the 1.8 TSI is hard to recommend over the brilliant and equally powerful 2.0 TDI. The diesel costs just £795 more, but gets much more torque and will be cheaper to run, too.