SEAT Leon

The Leon is capable, but let down by a drab cabin and some disappointing engines

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
On the road price: £13,490 - £19,990
For : Sporty looks, Golf underpinnings, great value
Against : Firm ride, ageing 1.9-litre TDI, cabin feels low rent

Driving
Mainstream Leons are available with a wide range of engines. The 1.6-litre petrol is most popular, and is an effective engine, albeit throbby and in need of revving. Diesels are rightly popular, and the 2.0-litre TDI is rattly but otherwise impressive. Not so the ageing 1.9-litre TDI, which is lethargic when accelerating. Around town, the sudden power delivery can also make it hard to drive. However, all Leons are blessed with agile handling. Steering is particularly good, with ample feedback making it involving to drive. It’s also responsive and agile, boasting good levels of grip and minimal body roll. Brake feel impresses too – even the five- and six-speed gearboxes are positive and snappy. But as with most SEATs, the ride is pretty firm and can become a little uncomfortable around town and on rutted surfaces. It’s better on the motorway, but there is noticeable road noise.

Marketplace
The SEAT is based on the latest VW Golf platform, but there’s no hint of the Golf’s boxy proportions in the curvaceous design. The Spanish company actually refers to the Leon as a five-door coupe, and you can see why. The hidden rear door handles, along with a low roofline, give it a sporty appearance, while the front is dominated by the large, rounded grille and that unique bonnet design. Its distinctive shape is further enhanced by the slab sides and arching swage line that runs from the headlights right down to the rear wheelarches. This means even standard Reference and Stylance models look sporty, though it does make the faster FR versions a bit harder to spot. Naturally, sister company Skoda has a similarly-priced alternative Golf-based model – the Octavia – and competition also comes from the Kia cee’d, Ford Focus, Hyundai i30, Vauxhall Astra and Citroen C4.

Owning
As you’d expect from a VW Group product, fit and finish are excellent. However, out test car did develop a rattly gearbox, something we’ve experienced in other Leons. The plastics are a little harsh too. Stull, the rest of the cabin is well laid out, while the dials are easy to read. It has a good driving position too, with ample adjustment in the chair and steering column. However, visibility is a problem – thick A-pillars make pulling out of tight junctions tricky, while rearward visibility isn’t great, either. Room in the gloomy rear is fine, but the boot has a high lip – and the rear bench doesn’t flip up, so you can’t create a flat load space. SEAT hopes very competitive pricing helps buyers overlook this; it’s great value, particularly when you consider the very generous levels of standard equipment featured in all models. Fuel economy is generally very good too, particularly with diesel models.