Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

SEAT Leon review - MPG, CO2 & running costs

Running costs for the Leon are low thanks to efficient engines and a plug-in hybrid model

MPG, CO2 and running costs rating

4.5

How we review cars
RRP
£24,805 £39,770
Avg. savings
£4,896 off RRP*
Pros
  • Improved passenger space
  • Impressive digital tech
  • Good to drive
Cons
  • Not exciting to look at
  • Not inspiring to drive
  • Average boot space
Find your SEAT Leon
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The 113bhp 2.0-litre TDI is the most economical of the regular petrol and diesel engines. It should return 65.4mpg, so it’s ideal for motorway driving.

Not that the petrol engines are in any way inefficient. The 128bhp 1.5 TSI Evo offers 51mpg, dropping to 48.6mpg for the 148bhp model. The seven-speed DSG auto transmission is slightly more efficient than the six-speed manual gearbox.

The 1.0 TSI Evo should return 51.2mpg in both manual and automatic guises in entry-level SE form although in FR guise it drops by 0.3 should you opt for the automatic ‘box. Both the 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre engines are available with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, but only in conjunction with the DSG.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Leon e-Hybrid combines a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a 12.8kWh battery pack to make it the greenest SEAT Leon you can buy. Fully charged, the e-Hybrid will deliver up to 40 miles of pure electric range. Thanks to CO2 emissions of just 27g/km to 30g/km, depending on the trim, the plug-in hybrid Leon is also cheap to tax, with Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates of as little as eight per cent. 

Insurance groups 

The SEAT Leon slots into insurance groups 15 to 23, with the 1.0-litre versions the cheapest to insure. The e-Hybrid sits in either group 26 or 27, depending on which trim level is chosen, but the extra cost of cover will be offset by the lower running costs.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation 

The Leon hatchback performs reasonably well in terms of residual values, holding onto an average of 54 per cent of its original list price after a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, which is even better than the Volkswagen Golf. Both estate models and those fitted with a plug-in hybrid powertrain tend to retain their values best, although it’s fairly even across the range.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Seat Leon

Seat Leon

RRP £24,805Avg. savings £4,896 off RRP*Used from £9,865
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £37,870Avg. savings £2,955 off RRP*
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,405Avg. savings £2,749 off RRP*Used from £12,220
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,135Avg. savings £5,771 off RRP*Used from £13,571
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

MG4 EV review
MG4 - main image

MG4 EV review

In-depth reviews
14 Feb 2025
Citroen C4 review
Citroen C4 - main image

Citroen C4 review

In-depth reviews
24 Jan 2025

Most Popular

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025
New Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 2025 review: makes 7-seater SUVs feel cramped
Volkswagen Transporter e-Shuttle - front

New Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 2025 review: makes 7-seater SUVs feel cramped

The Ford-based Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle is refined, good to drive and has plenty of space in all three rows
Road tests
14 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: retro Renault 5 for £232 per month, plus four years to enjoy it
Renault 5 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: retro Renault 5 for £232 per month, plus four years to enjoy it

The reborn Renault 5 is one of the most feverishly anticipated cars in a long time, and at such a low price, our Deal of the Day for 8 February is a p…
News
8 Feb 2025