CUPRA LEON ESTATE

Time's up with this understated hot wagon. Will we miss it? You bet

- FELIX PAGE

WHY WE RAN IT With sports car pace and dog-friendly space, could this rapid wagon be the ultimate do-it-all daily driver?

Too often purpose-built 'driver's cars' make too many sacrifices in pursuit of engagement and vivacity. They will forgo a useful boot in favour of a shoebox-sized frunk, their high-output powerplants will be too noisy and thirsty to facilitate regular deployment, their uncompromising chassis will be all but unbearable on average UK roads and their low-volume enthusiast billing will usually be tied to a high-five-figure price tag - or beyond.

But the Cupra Leon (specifically this exact form of Leon: 328bhp, estate, four-wheel drive) blends scintillating dynamics with genuine sports car pace while remaining a comfortable cruiser with a big back seat and a bigger boot. And it costs less than a base-spec BMW X3.

Perhaps the finest testament to the Leon’s all-round utility credentials is that I didn't once shy away from using it for mind-numbing suburban commutes, Saturday-morning B&Q runs or long-distance trips to the in-laws.

Despite its angry styling, burbling exhaust, figure-hugging seats and dazzling 0-62mph time (it’s quicker than a Ferrari F355, if you can excuse the tenuous comparison), this top-drawer hot wagon never felt too frenzied or uncomfortable in everyday environments.