THE SEAT Leon Cupra 280 is a car with a split personality.

In comfort mode it is a stylish, pleasantly quick automobile that is easy both to control and live with either in town or on the motorway.

Push an innocent-looking button on the dashboard though, change the setting to sport, and it becomes a fire-breathing, competition-slaying hot hatch with jet propulsion that begs to be let loose on a race track.

It is the dictionary definition of exciting and a hoot to drive thanks to excellent speed-sensitive power steering and super sharp handling.

Normally when a ton of power is put through the front wheels, torque steer - where the car develops a mind of its own as regards direction - is a major pain.

The Cupra 280 though is fitted with some fancy electronics and a limited slip differential which eliminates the problem.

But the real secret of its success is the multi-mode drive control which alters throttle and suspension settings at the push of the chequered-flag button.

In total there is a choice of four driving set-ups - comfort, sport, an individual setting to store the driver's preferences and something called Cupra to illicit what SEAT's engineers believe are the car's best characteristics.

Choose the hair-on-fire mode and the full fury of the range-topping 280's 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is unleashed - aided by a slick six-speed semi-automatic DSG gearbox which features paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

On the face of it a price-tag nudging £29,000 appears a tad expensive - but you're buying a top-quality hot hatch that delivers the drive and performance of a car costing far more.

If you want to reduce the strain on the purse strings then the Cupra 280 is also available as a manual and there is a 265ps version.

But in truth the saving won't make up for the loss of the extra oomph that makes the 280ps so good to drive with a top speed of 155mph and 0 to 60mph time of 5.7 seconds.

SEAT also gives the Cupra 280 some decent toys including a satellite navigation system with a five-inch colour touchscreen, MP3-compatible CD player and radio, cruise control, air conditioning, front sports seats with leatherette bolsters to help keep you in place when taking corners at pace, as well as black highlights on the bodywork.

The classy cabin also features neat instruments, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and Cupra chequered flag emblems around the cockpit.

The exterior is sleek with eye-catching 19-inch alloys sporting glossy red brake calipers and a Cupra logo leading a cast that includes a double mesh grille, rear diffuser, twin oval exhausts and Cupra lettering across the tailgate.

Driven more sedately, the Cupra is actually quite economical with an official fuel figure of 42.8mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 154g/km.

I didn't get out of the 30s but then I wasn't driving for economy and the figure still represents an excellent return for a car of this ilk.

A speedster it is but this version of the Leon retains its appeal as a family motor offering plenty of boot space for the weekly supermarket shopping as well as wide door openings and plenty of rear head and leg room for adults.

Admittedly the eggs may get broken on the way home if you put the pedal to the metal, but the kids will love you for it.