Drag race: Volkswagen Golf R vs Cupra Leon 300

When you think of a hot hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R is probably one of the first cars that springs to mind. But could you be better off with a slightly cheaper alternative?

When you think of a hot hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R is probably one of the first cars that springs to mind. But could you be better off with a slightly cheaper alternative?

The Volkswagen Golf R has a 2.0-litre 4 cylinder turbocharged engine putting out 320hp and 420nm of torque. This goes to all four wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s the heavier car of the two, coming in at 1,550kg.

Let’s meet the challenger. The Cupra Leon has the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine as the Golf, only here it’s detuned to 300hp and 400nm of torque. It also has a 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, however it’s front wheel drive only. The Cupra has a weight advantage, tipping the scales at 1,395kg.

So which of these hot hatchbacks will come out on top? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.