SEAT LEON RANGE
SEAT's Five-Door Family Hatch Makes A Lot Of Sense, Particularly In Its Faster Forms. Jonathan Crouch Reports...
SEAT, we're told, is the VW Group's sporting brand. The
Alfa Romeo, if you like, for the conservative buyer. Evidence, according to the marketeers, comes in the form of the Leon, a five-door hatchback aimed at the small family buyer looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
Not that there's much out of the ordinary at first glance. The Leon shares the same floorpan as other VW Group offerings in this sector, past and present, like VW's mkIV Golf,
Audi's origional A3 and
Skoda's Octavia. Most of the engines are shared too - which leaves us with SEAT's fabled 'Mediterranean spirit' - and value for money. Both of which, as it happens, are the Leon's strongest points. Let's start on the 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 interest continues under the bonnet - though not, as has already been suggested, in the mainstream versions. These make do with the same 1.4, 1.
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6 and 1.8-litre petrol and 90, 110 or 130bhp turbo diesel engines you'll find in other VW Group products. Prices start from £10,220 for the 1.4 but if you can afford a little more, then the pick of the range is the 20VT FR, offered with aggressive look, both inside and out. Should you want even more performance than the Cupra can deliver, the barnstorming 225bhp Cupra R version will doubtless tempt, but at £18,020, its pricey and many will prefer the value proposition of the standard car.
For performance and parsimony the 150bhp TDI PD FR is a tempting option. Not that youll ever feel hard done by with a 180bhp turbocharged 1.8-litre engine the same as youll find in the
Audi TT. Even bearing in mind the
MG ZS180 and the
Skoda Octavia vRS, the Leon Cupra is the least expensive 180bhp five-door car you can buy and its extremely rapid (rest to sixty in 7.
7s on the way to 139mph). How many other family hatchbacks can offer up such a tempting mechanical recipe? And do so at such an affordable price? Answers on a postcard
"A refreshing change from the family hatchback norm..."
As you might guess, the 20VT models generate showroom traffic - pretty vital of course if the Leon is to fulfill 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. On the road, the driving experience isn't much different to that of a MKIV Golf (or an Octavia or an original Audi A3 come to that). Surprise, surprise. Unless you're in a Cupra or FR, that means a predictable, easy, forgiving but not particularly inspiring recipe. Best of the mainstream bunch could well 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 (an astonishing 70mpg on the extra urban cycle). For under £14,000, it makes a lot of sense. Every Leon model comes well equipped.
Air conditioning, power steering, twin front and side airbags, ABS and EBD (electronic brake distribution), electric front windows, front fog lights and remote central locking are included, even on the entry-level S 1.4-litre petrol or 90bhp turbo diesel models. At SE level (from £14,020), you get 5-spoke alloy wheels, electric folding door mirrors, traction control and lowered sports suspension along with a wider choice of more powerful engines: petrol 1.6 and 1.8-litre units (developing 100 and 125bhp) and the brawny 130bhp TDi diesel. The value-packed SX trim level is offered with the 1.
9TDi 110 diesel or the 105bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine at £13,970 and £12,205 respectively. Featuring sports seats, climate control, electric mirrors, body coloured bumpers and traction control, it looks a canny pick. There's plenty to like in the Leon then - though whether that's enough to successfully fend off tough competition in Europe's most competitive market sector is open to question. Certainly the SEAT is well equipped for the task - and built to last the course. Try one: you'll probably be pleasantly surprised.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Leon range
PRICES: £10,220-£18,020 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 140-209g/km
PERFORMANCE: [TDI 110] Max Speed 120mph / 0-60mph 10.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDI 110] [urban] 42.8mpg / [extra urban] 70.0mpg/ [combined] 56.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver, passenger and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4184/1742/1457
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