Skip advert
Advertisement

SEAT Leon 2008 review

The latest Leon features a host of fuel-saving modifications.

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Find your SEAT Leon
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Customers got an average £1000 more vs part exchange quotes
Advertisement

There’s no doubt that the Leon ECOmotive is more about saving money today, rather than the environment tomorrow. But that will be enough to attract cost-conscious buyers. As a fuel-efficient car without any compromises, it comes highly recommended – providing the Spanish marque doesn’t set the price too high. There’s even talk of the technology becoming standard across the Leon’s diesel range. Let’s hope it does, and that SEAT firmly establishes eco-friendly motoring for all, not just those who can afford the premium.

Advertisement - Article continues below

How far does one tank of fuel take you in your car? Chances are it won’t be able to match SEAT’s latest green machine, which, on a single fill, can make it from London to Barcelona.

That’s more than 900 miles for the most economical model in the sporty Leon line-up. Couple the lengthy range with reduced CO2 emissions, and this could be the SEAT that finally offers driving thrills to those with an eye on their wallets and the environment.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the SEAT Leon

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"69200","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

Badged ECOmotive, it is all about the evolution of existing engines, rather than developing new technology. As a result, there’s no electric motor or hydrogen fuel cells under the bonnet. Instead, the existing 103bhp 1.9-litre oil-burning powerplant has been tweaked for economy, and gets a revised engine management system and the latest diesel particulate filter.

Throw in a set of low-resistance tyres and a five-speed gearbox with extra-long ratios, and the result is a combined fuel figure up from 56mpg to 62.8mpg. What’s more, CO2 emissions have been slashed from 135g/km to 119g/km and weight reduced from 1,405kg to 1,320kg.

SEAT bosses are yet to confirm costs, but expect to pay more for the Leon’s green credentials. The premium could be as little as £350, or as much as £850, over the standard £13,645 1.9 TDI. At worst, buyers will have to cover at least 30,000 miles a year to recoup the cost.

So is the new ECOmotive worth the extra? The reduction in weight shaves 0.4 seconds off the 0-62mph time – which is now 10.9 seconds – and despite the switch to harder tyres and smaller wheels, it retains the sporty character we’ve come to expect from the Leon range.

In fact, it’s only the revised gear ratios that detract from the overall package. Third, fourth and fifth have all been lengthened for economy – fifth by a substantial 16 per cent. On motorways, that is a bonus, but tackle a back road, and you’ll constantly be forced to change down. Even at 50mph, the SEAT struggles to pull in top gear.

However, on our test route in the Spanish hills, the ECOmotive averaged a respectable 52mpg, and a superb 64mpg on the open road.

Ultimately, with only a sticker on the boot indicating that the model is different from the rest of the Leon range, the ECOmotive really lacks the visual catchet of Toyota’s celebrity-endorsed Prius, or even Volkswagen’s Bluemotion range of models.

Despite this, SEAT’s claim about its efficiency seems genuine. What’s more, with Band B annual road tax and possible exemption from the capital’s Congestion Charge scheme – depending on where London Mayor Ken Livingstone sets the bar – the frugal Leon is a sensible bet for motorists aiming to beat soaring fuel costs and do their bit for the planet.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: classy Audi A4 Avant estate plus 8,000 miles per year for less than £300 a month
Audi A4 Avant driving on UK roads
News

Car Deal of the Day: classy Audi A4 Avant estate plus 8,000 miles per year for less than £300 a month

Our Deal of the Day for 27 March is for those who want a big trunk for all their junk
27 Mar 2024