Cupra Leon 2.0 TSI 300 DSG VZ2

Not many cars can claim to tick every box, but it seems that our Leon got closer to that than most

- Mark Pearson

THAT AGE-OLD QUESTION of what might be the best car in the world really depends on which world you inhabit. For some, it'll be a luxury car with a whisper-quiet engine and a pillow-soft ride. For others, it's a ripsnorting road burner so fast that its top speed is counted in light-years, and with an interior so uncomfortable that only the very young can get in or out with any dignity.

Somewhere in the middle lies the hot hatch. I've always loved them, which is why until just recently a Cupra Leon, one of the most impressive and versatile of the latest crop, graced my driveway. For me, its mixture of performance, family-friendly practicality, and an upmarket appearance ticked every box, so it must be, therefore, the best car in my world.

Such a claim needs justification. Performance? Well, mine had a 296bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine under the bonnet, driving the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and it produced enough oomph for 0-62mph in just 5.7sec and, theoretically, a top speed of 155mph.

To drive, it was eager, sweet, and faithful, with quick steering and plenty of grip, yet its ride was impressively comfortable for something so satisfying on a twisty road.