Skip advert
Advertisement
Car group tests

£20,000 - £25,000 - SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR

SEAT Leon ST Tow Car of the Year

SEAT Leon ST Tow Car of the Year

Contenders

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JTDM-2 Exclusive Fiat 500L Trekking 1.6 Multijet Kia Carens 1.7 CRDi 3 Sat Nav Mazda 3 2.2D Sport Nav Mitsubishi ASX 1.8 d 4 4WD Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi Acenta Premium Peugeot 308 SW 2.0 HDi Allure SEAT Leon ST 2.0 TDI 184 FR Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI GreenLine II SsangYong Rexton W SX Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.6 DDiS SZ5 ALLGRIP Toyota Verso 1.6 D-4D Trend

Advertisement - Article continues below

The SEAT Leon ST emerged as the outstanding contender in the largest category of our Towcar awards. This wasn’t a great surprise, as the regular Leon hatch had been crowned Auto Express Car of the Year in 2013, while the ST is our reigning Best Estate. 

It hauled a four-berth Bailey Pursuit 550-4 caravan effortlessly around the course, and its 181bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel was faultless, scoring highly in every aspect of the test. Pick-up from low speeds was impressive, with 30-60mph taking only 10.6 seconds. On the high-speed bowl, the SEAT demonstrated impressive composure and wasn’t affected by crosswinds. 

Being able to stop quickly in any car is essential, but when towing you need to know the brakes are up to the job. Thanks to a set-up that provided plenty of bite and a progressive pedal action, the car beat all its class rivals in our braking assessments.

The slick six-speed box was a delight as the Leon sped around the hill route. And the eager and punchy diesel made cruising up the steep inclines easy. The XDS electronic differential makes tackling tight corners a doddle and instills a level of confidence rivals can’t match.

Add beautifully sharp steering and composed handling, and it’s no wonder the judges were bowled over.

Plus, the Leon is a super-practical estate. Fold the rear seats with the easy-to-use handles, and you can increase the 587-litre load space to 1,470 litres. There’s also a movable boot floor, and you can even fold the front passenger seat to accommodate really long loads.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Seat Leon

Seat Leon

RRP £24,125Avg. savings £5,595 off RRP*Used from £10,695
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,689
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,028 off RRP*Used from £12,500
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £2,598 off RRP*Used from £7,250
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper

The modern-day Super Cinq comes with a super price. It’s our Deal of the Day for 14 May
News
14 May 2025
Want a new small car? You probably can’t afford one and car bosses blame the EU
Luca de Meo - Renault 5

Want a new small car? You probably can’t afford one and car bosses blame the EU

Renault and Stellantis bosses demand changes to the emissions rules driving up new car prices
News
15 May 2025
Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy
Best electric cars header

Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy

Thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle? Here are the EVs that should be on your shortlist, and why…
Best cars & vans
14 May 2025