Classifieds' Car Of The Day: Seat Leon Cupra R 225

After driving Seat's rapid new Leon Cupra, we thought we'd take a look back at the first-generation version of the car that established that Cupra name in the world of hot hatches. Earlier cars made do with 177bhp from a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-pot, but it's the later 221bhp '225' Cupra R that interests us most.

With that healthy power output, the 225 can dispatch 0-60mph in just 6.9 seconds, and will top out at 142mph. Most importantly, they were superbly capable and fantastic to drive.

With its chunky 18-inch alloys and beefy bodykit, the Cupra R has a handsome, brawny look to it. That made the arrival of the comparatively flabby second-gen car all the more disappointing; be glad that Seat has sorted that with the comely third-gen Leon.

With prices starting at under £4000, Leon Cupra Rs offer a lot of performance for the money. And if 221bhp isn't quite enough for you, there's a lot of potential that can be unlocked via a cheeky remap. This one is up for £4800 and could be worth a look; it's done 66,000 miles and has a full service history.