Seat Leon Cupra R Car Audio Review

Sports version of the Leon range, the Seat Cupra R is simply a classic radio series, but may receive a multimedia handset option. Our test model was equipped with a navigation system with old CD-ROM, but now the Cupra R has a browser to hard disk, and this for a very reasonable price compared to many manufacturer options.

Nice, but it lacks features videos!

Our Cupra R test was equipped with the old car multimedia. The new model has swapped the GPS CD-ROM cons GPS HDD. Apart from this detail, the radio remains strictly identical in design and functionality. This new version has two advantages: the CD is free for music CDs and hard disk system is faster in computation. For the rest, it changes nothing in our test. This new position, called RNS315 is sold only 990 Euros, but also suggested in the pack with Radar Technology More parking and directional bi-xenon headlights. This pack is an option to 1690 Euros.

Benefits: Finally a touch screen and hard drive!

The RNS315 presents the usual form of combined SEAT or VW, is to say a little bigger than a double DIN. Chrome edging, center of the facade as black lacquer, it has much better than previous models. Another innovation, its screen is touch now, but there is still more than the combined aftermarket. The GUI has also made progress and shows a more aesthetically pleasing and a little more ergonomic. The European maps with POIs is now stored on a hard drive, unlike our photos with a CD-ROM. Navigation features remain the same. This browser has the TMC to navigate, taking into account the real-time traffic. To read sources nomads, it has an SD slot on the front, a USB port and an auxiliary input.

The Cupra R uses a new model with GPS HDD

These last two are under a small cover at the bottom of the center console. The USB port can also control an iPod but you have to buy an optional cord in Seat (somewhat paltry). The USB port and SD slot lets you play MP3 files, but unfortunately are silent on the video functions. This is certainly not necessary for the driver, but it is still significant when doing poses on a trip. Seat has not forgotten the phone and has incorporated a hands-free kit to this unit. For standard functions, it has an RDS tuner, an amplifier 4x30 Watts, a steering wheel and a voice command. More rarely, a small remote display in the counter block contains the indications of the main unit (pictograms direction, as in the song, name of caller, name of the radio, ...).

A remote display provides indication of the main unit

For audio, the Seat Leon Cupra R is equipped with a system 8 speakers. The front doors, like the rear doors feature a separate 2-way kit. Classically the woofers are placed at the bottom of the door and tweeters in the top of the door trim. Because of the design of the front door, Seat could not help but to put the tweeter in the door, but we would have preferred it more to the scoreboard, see the scoreboard.

A USB port and an auxiliary input at bottom of center console

Discover and use: a play alive and fairly well-modulated!

Kits using two channels with 20 cm woofers, this system without a subwoofer, delivers a good level of bass. This avoids cluttering the trunk, and have a very decent result: severe strong enough and well paced. The HP is doing well even in modern music, but for lower frequencies, the absence of a subwoofer is honestly felt. This can be offset by a subwoofer extraplat and amplified, that's not lacking on the market for aftermarket. The receiver of the radio has good dynamic and can have fun listening hard enough. But if you really want to push the sound, he admits its limits. Overall, the installation tone quite well.

Set 2 lanes 20 cm allows a good level of serious

Overall, the installation patch fairly well, although it lacks a little finesse and aeration. Another positioning the tweeters before would surely improved the sound image. But hey, for a relatively original system, it does not work so badly. Yet if there is a music lover or as we like to listen hard, it'll review the installation with a small power amp for example.

An efficient browser, but the multimedia features are limited!

Now to the car radio. At the start, he is running fast, a good point because some browsers are slow to load. Even if the GUI is not as intuitive qu'IGO 8, the browser is fairly easy to use for basic functions. Only some settings (which is usually done once and for all) may need to read the manual. Navigation features its relatively conventional, but it lacks the latest technologies such as Live Services, Monuments 3D ... However, this does not prevent the browser to quickly calculate routes and provide good visibility map, even if the screen is smaller than a true double din. This is not the most advanced browser, but it fulfills its role. In contrast, we have multimedia features on our left a little hungry.

Overall, the browser shows effective

Indeed, both the SD slot, USB port and floppy pancakes digital RNS315 this unit offers no video function. Moreover, it is not even upgradeable, since it does not have an audio / video. For music, it handles well MP3 playlists, but the title search is not as practical as a combined aftermarket. This is mainly due to the GUI. Too bad it also does not display album covers. When the iPod control, we could not test it because they have the Seat optional cord: a little shabby for a car that costs 29,190 Euros without options. However, we appreciate the very good reception of radio tuner.

Damage, the system does not display album covers

The Bluetooth feature has not caused any concern. Telephone communications are qualitative and calls can be made from the steering wheel. The steering wheel is well designed because the keys fall quite naturally under your thumbs and are not too low, as is often seen on some cars. In short, this unit RNS315 fulfills its role in basic functions.

In conclusion: 

As we have seen, this entertainment system is not bad, it works well and fulfills its role to core functions. But it is a bit tasteless, because it lacks the latest multimedia technologies. However, we still salute the effort tariff Seat, because competition is often much more expensive for a product like this. If the basics are good, we would have liked the video, display album covers and a bigger screen. That said, it already although touch is much more convenient to enter a destination on the browser. But if some auto manufacturers swear by the wheels type "iDrive", the touch screen is the most practical.

The system has a voice command

Finally, for the sound, our main criticism concerns a lack of finesse (less noticeable on modern music) and a lack in the lower frequencies for the bass. This can easily be offset by a small amplifier and a subwoofer extraplat. Finally, at the time of choice, even if the RNS315 is less expensive than OEM car radios Zenec type, we prefer an aftermarket car stereo. For a few hundred dollars more, Zeneca, Pioneer Macrom (to name a few) offer a receiver to form identical to the original, which fits without modification of the car, and offers multimedia capabilities far superior !