SEAT LEON TDi RANGE
The
SEAT Leon Has Always Been A Sensible Purchase. The TDi Diesel Models Take Pragmatism To New Heights. By Andy Enright.
Buying a new car is fraught with all manner of pitfalls, the worst of which is the sinking realisation that you could have bought something a good deal better. This emotion is not one that SEAT Leon owners suffer too often, the Leon consistently being regarded as one of the best value buys around. Although the sporting models hog the limelight, the unsung TDi diesel variants are well worth a look.
The SEAT Leon isn't exactly the nation's best-kept car buying secret. With
Volkswagen Group build quality injected with a little Spanish verve, the Leon has proved a successful formula with younger family oriented buyers. With prices that often undercut
Skoda and styling that still looks as good as it did upon launch in 2000, the Leon has done wonders for SEATs brand in the UK, massively outselling its booted sibling, the MK2 Toledo. The TDi diesel versions are fitted with a 1.
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9-litre VW-sourced turbodiesel engine generating either 90, 100, 130 or 150bhp. The proposition is simple. All Leons are supplied with the same five-door body, so the choice boils down to Leon 1.9TDi 90 S or Leon 1.
9TDi 110 SX or Leon 1.9TDi 130 SE or Leon 1.9TDi 150 FR, priced at £12,520, £13,970, £15,270 and £16,205 respectively. These engines will probably be familiar to anybody who has owned a VW Group car with diesel power because they pop up all over the place.
"These TDI models offer the sort of real world benefits that today's motorists value."
A series of minor revisions have kept the Leon TDi fresh. Air conditioning is now fitted as standard, although the cooling takes a little longer to take effect than with petrol models. The entry-level 90bhp model will be perfectly adequate for many, the strong torque figure of 155lb/ft well capable of hauling the spacious body at reasonable speeds. How fast? Expect to see 60mph come and go in 13 seconds on the way to a top speed of 112mph.
Fuel consumption is predictably good, the 90bhp car returning an average of 54.3mpg. On a longer run the Leon TDi will return around 70mpg if you're particularly gentle with your right foot. The 110bhp version curiously posts an identical set of fuel economy figures but is a little quicker, breaching 60mph in 11.2 seconds with a top speed of 120mph. The 130bhp engine with six-speed gearbox is well worth further investigation.
Rest to sixty takes 9.8 seconds on the way to 127mph, so itll be quick enough for most. An overall fuel consumption figure of nearly 52mpg will also make you smile in satisfaction as you bypass yet another filling station. The real blockbuster in the TDi collection arrived at the party late but with 150bhp, 8.
9 seconds to 60mph and 52mpg fuel consumption, the FR model is rapidly making up for lost time. The engines aren't as refined as some of the latest common rail systems but both settle into an unobtrusive thrum at cruising speeds and have a decently wide spread of power. Handling is safe without being overly sporting, the less sporty TDi models riding a good deal more comfortably than the Cupra which shares its suspension settings and low-profile tyres with the range-topping petrol models. Sharing a floorpan with the MKIV VW Golf, the original
Audi A3 and the
Skoda Octavia should let you know what to expect.
SEAT's assertion that it represents a Spanish
Alfa Romeo falls rather flat here, but most will trade a little flair in the handling stakes for a ride that soaks up road imperfections with consummate ease, making long journeys decidedly cosseting. Compared to a
Ford Focus, there's a decent amount of space in the back, and with five doors access is always good - coupe roofline notwithstanding. 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. 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 on the 1.
9TDi 90 S. The value-packed SX trim features sports seats, climate control, electric mirrors. 15-inch alloy wheels, body coloured bumpers and traction control it looks a canny pick. At SE level you get traction control (a definite requirement with the gale of torque generated by the more powerful TDi engines) 15" alloy wheels, electric folding door mirrors and lowered sports suspension. This gives the car a slightly more aggressive stance on the road. The FR comes with the full works including aggressive body kit, 17" alloys and leather detailing inside. Then theres the CD multichanger and the climate control to consider. We've long had a soft spot for SEAT's Leon. It's an honest car that offers sound value for money with exemplary build quality and no-nonsense engineering. The TDi diesel versions only serve to reinforce this opinion. There's not a great deal about either model in any way cutting edge, but they offer the sort of real world benefits that today's motorists value. With a cost per mile figure equivalent to some Ford Ka models, the SEAT Leon TDi offers family motoring with citycar sized bills. And pub bores will never be able to point out what you should have bought..
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FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Leon TDi range
PRICES: £12,520-£16,020 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 140g/km
PERFORMANCE: [TDI 110] Max Speed 120mph / 0-60mph 11.2s
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 4184/1742/1457mm
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