Three of the best sports compacts of the moment, the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport edition and Seat Leon Cupra R was put on a head to head drag race by the guys at Carwow to find out which hot hatchback is truly the fastest. All three are equipped with 2.0 turbocharged four - cylinder and all are front wheel drive with manual gearboxes. Is it really a fair fight or will one truly stand out? Watch who wins the race below.
Knowing The Challengers
Before knowing the outcome, let us see what are the characteristics of each car in contention. First off, what's happening with the Golf GTI and Cupra used in the race? Their front fenders were covered in mud which makes it look like it's been playing in the dirt or on a beach but when started all three engines sounds good and fair.
The fastest and most powerful car of the comparison is clearly the Honda Civic Type R . Equipped with a 2.0 VTEC Turbo 310 hp, it is capable of accelerating to 100 km / h in just 5.7 seconds. Road and circuit are certainly impressive, as we have witnessed in our test but can it truly deliver on the race?
Meanwhile, the SEAT León Cupra is made only with a 2.0 TSI 290 hp, after losing their versions of 265 hp and 280 hp with the same engine. On paper, it makes a time just 5.9 seconds in the 0 to 100 km / h. Is this enough to beat its rivals?
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport is the Golf GTI with which Volkswagen celebrates the 40th anniversary. A point made sportier, more aggressive look and propellent 2.0 TSI 310 hp and 380 Nm which is linked to a manual gearbox and limited slip differential. Its 0 to 100 km / h is also 5.9 seconds. This mechanism has to move a vehicle of 1,360 kg, a weight clearly smaller than the Honda Civic Type R, which reaches 1,457 kg. Can this much sought out car impress?
The Result
As seen in the video, the result has been close by but as it is expected, the Honda Civic Type R pulls an early lead due to its launch system and then dominated through out the race. The VW Golf GTI followed the lead of the Type R with its impressive acceleration but unfortunately, the boost of the Clubsport runs out even before it reaches the quarter mile and the Leon Cupra, finds an opportunity to catch up, overtake and finishes the race in second place.
It's just safe to say that while the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport is the most expensive car out of the three and the most sought out as well, it has the least amount of power and should not be tolerated.
Volkswagen needs to get off its horses and improve this car. It's getting a lot of attention right now because its production is limited but when people realize the power and affordability of the Leon Seat Cupra, and when the new generation of the Honda Civic Type R arrives, which is absolutely a beast, we will not be surprised that the Golf GTI may be buried by its rivals.
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