SEAT Leon (2000 - 2005) : HOT PESETA
Monday April 7
Models Covered: (5 dr hatch, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 petrol, 1.
9 diesel [S, SX, SE, Sport, Cupra, Cupra R])
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Quite why the
SEAT Leon hasnt sold by the shipload in the UK is one of the motor industrys more puzzling quirks. Impeccably screwed together, with a range of punchy engines and offering superb value for money, the Leon appears to have all the bases covered. There are certainly no drawbacks concerning styling, cost of ownership or safety. Perhaps, as much as anything, the Leon has suffered as a result of SEATs residual image as the VW Groups bargain basement.
Whilst group cousin Skoda has managed to rehabilitate itself, maybe SEAT still need a little more perception management. While the spin doctors go to work, take the time to track down a used SEAT Leon. You wont regret your decision
Let's start with the much-vaunted Mediterranean Spirit - at which point even the most ardent SEAT enthusiast has to admit that this is no Alfa Romeo. That, however, doesn't mean the Leon isn't a refreshing change from the family hatchback norm. For a start, it appears to be longer than Astra or Focus-class alternatives (from the outside at least) and is (not that this means a bigger cabin). The styling's smart and purposeful too: the kind of car you really might buy if you fancied a specialist brand but couldn't face the hassle. The Leon 20VT flagship variant will eventually be available in four-wheel drive form but for the moment, British buyers have access only to a two-wheel drive version. Never mind, you still get the same 180bhp turbocharged 1.8-litre engine the same as youll find in the futuristic Audi TT sportscar.
When the all-wheel drive option arrives, youll essentially have a TT that can seat five people. For the time being, the Leon 20VT is the least expensive 180bhp five-door car you can buy and its extremely rapid. How many other family hatchbacks can offer up such a tempting mechanical recipe? As you might guess, the 20VT flagship is there to generate showroom traffic - pretty vital of course if the Leon is to fulfil its objective of becoming SEAT's best selling model. Those familiar with the marque will instantly recognise it as a five-door version of its close cousin, the Toledo saloon (which is 220mm longer) - though to be fair, there's a bit more to it than that. The rear section is cleverly crafted, with nice touches like a boot handle incorporated into the SEAT logo. Space in the back isn't huge by Toledo standards but is more than adequate for the smaller family hatchback sector in which this car competes. Even so, you can understand why SEAT decided not to do a three-door version. Sheer space apart however, that interior should be seen as one of the SEAT's strongest suits. Like all VW-sourced products, you feel behind the wheel that you're in something much more expensive, thanks to the choice of trim materials and the way the switches and stalks snap into place with an expensive click. There are lovely touches everywhere, including red backlit instruments and a steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach. Every Leon model comes well equipped. Power steering, twin front and side airbags, ABS and EBD (electronic brake distribution), electric front windows and remote central locking are included, even on entry-level S 1.
4-litre petrol or 90bhp turbo diesel models. At SE level you get air conditioning, traction control and lowered sports suspension along with a wider choice of more powerful engines: petrol 1.8-litre or that 110bhp turbo diesel.
Although they do appear to be holding their value relatively well, prices for nearly new cars always represent a big saving on buying brand new, and the Leon is no exception. If we consider 2000 X-plate cars, youll have to budget around £2,850 for a 1.4-litre S, £3,125 for a 1.6 equivalent and around £3,525 for a 1.
8-litre SE. Opting for the racy 1.8-litre Cupra 20 VT will relieve you of at least £4,275, and youll need to find £3,900 for the excellent Leon TDi 110 diesel. Insurance groupings are on the mild side, with the 1.
4 falling into Group 4, the 1.8 20v rated as Group 9, and only the hot 180bhp Leon 1.8 20VT being expensive to cover, saddled as it is with a Group 16 premium.
If youre in the market for a Cupra model, check that it hasnt been mechanically abused or defaced by Max Power accessories, otherwise there really isnt much to say about the Leon. Using mechanically tried and tested components from the VW Group, it goes without saying that the Leon will be reliable. Factor in a rock-solid perception of build quality and hardwearing interior trims and youve got a recipe for a car that will run and run. Make sure you dont get a 210bhp Cupra-R passed off as the more powerful 225bhp car.
The red badges at the back are a giveaway but you may have to check the VIN number to be extra sure.
(approx based on a Leon 20VT Cupra ) Leon consumables arent anything to worry about for the nearly-new buyer. An air filter is around £20, spark plugs £4 each and an oil filter is £8. A fuel filter amounts to around £18.
On the road, the driving experience isn't much different to that of a Golf (or an Octavia or Audi A3 come to that). Surprise, surprise. Unless you're in the 20VT, that means a predictable, easy, forgiving but not particularly inspiring recipe. Best of the mainstream bunch has to be the 1.9 TDi 110, with its superb pulling power from almost any speed and exemplary refinement. It's as quick or quicker than all the ordinary petrol engines (0-60mph in 10.7s en route to 120mph) and of course much more frugal. The turbocharged Cupra model is the Leons ace in the hole. Reaching 60mph in a mere 7.
7seconds on the way to 142mph, the Leon offers budget power, although those who expect it to handle like a Peugeot 205GTi may be a trifle disappointed. Thats not to say that the Leon is a dynamic duffer far from it its just a lot more mature and relaxed than the eyeball-searing paint and ultra-low profile tyres would have you believe. If youre after something that will corner like a demon, your money would be better invested in a Renaultsport Clio 172. If, on the other hand, you want something that goes a lot faster than it feels, the Leon may well be more suitable.
Despite its undoubted pace, the Leon suffers from that perennial VW Group complaint, fading brakes. This only manifests itself when the brakes are used very hard, such as on a demanding hill route or during track work, and that sinking middle pedal, noticeable drop in retardation and significant increase in the smoke often spell the end of play until some cooling has taken place.
A used Leon fits a strange niche, not through any inherent oddity in the cars design, more as regards its image and place in the marketplace. More individualistic and stylish than a Ford Focus, its almost a sporty coupe for those who need five doors. With used examples now appearing on the market in reasonable numbers, a nearly new Leon makes a good case for itself as a way to get VW quality in a package that was a bargain from new. Well regarded by those who know, the Leon is one of the best used secrets around.
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