The new SEAT Leon ST estate has been revealed, ahead of its official unveil at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
This will be the first time the Leon has been offered with a choice of three body styles, with the regular five-door Leon hatchback and three-door SC models already on sale.
The Leon ST has 207 litres more boot space than the regular Leon hatchback, with 587 litres when the rear seats are in place. But that trails the Skoda Octavia Estate (610 litres) and VW Golf Estate (605 litres), and the Leon ST can’t match its rivals when the back seats are folded, either, with its maximum capacity extending to 1,470 litres. SEAT has achieved the increase over the hatch by stretching the car by 27cm (although the wheelbase remains the same). Yet the ST is only 45kg heavier and uses the same suspension settings.
New multi-spoke alloy wheels and slender sliver roof rails also set it apart from the five-door but it looks more like a stretched version of the standard car than a fully standalone model. The engine range is carried over, too, including an efficient 1.6-litre TDI Ecomotive, which emits 88g/km of CO2 and returns 85.6mpg. The FR tops the range, powered by either a 178bhp 1.8 TSI engine or a 181bhp 2.0 TDI. Six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG automatic transmissions will reportedly be offered with four-wheel drive on the more powerful engine variants.
As well as its Skoda and VW cousins, the Leon ST is up against the Ford Focus Estate and Honda Civic Tourer.
Prices haven’t yet been revealed, but we expect the ST to cost around £750 more than the five-door hatch. The range should kick off at around £16,400.
The Leon ST is due to make its official debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September and SEAT has hinted that it may offer the estate as a hot 'Cupra' model as well - making it a direct rival to the Ford Focus ST estate.
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It looks very much like the exeo version. No linea dynamica this time also. Seat is playing safe design wise. It is a relief that VAG didn't buy alfa romeo after all.
At least SEAT is managing to sell cars still, something I believe Alfail is struggling to do. Add in the fact that you get bulletproof VW Group (Not been VAG for a while now), reliability, SEAT 1 - ALFA 0. Wouldn't own either though, both ugly!
Looks clean and simple anyway, unlike anything from Honda these days.
I'll love it when the wheel of fashion takes clunky great door handles back to the neatly recessed designs of the 1980s-90s.
Bulletproof reliability, are you serious, they are no better than any other manufacturer and far worse than some. VAG reliability is a myth, they are average at best.
Think every company has its problems to be fair. Wouldn't say any manufacturer is problem free at the moment. I'd have Alfa looks with VW quality.
You are wrong on many levels. Alfa is not struggling and plans to go to US distribution for some time now. Europe is struggling in general. Vag reliability is nothing to write home about neither is alfa romeo's also. As someone pointed out alfa looks, sure but japan or even korean reliability underneath. For everybody who wants that wait for the mx-5/alfa roadster they plan to produce.
Somebody got sand in their Vag, that is you! A bit of a homo also aren' you?
When will the Leon get the big boy toys, like adaptive cruise control, that the Golf gets as standard on a decent spec model such as the SE and above?