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DESPITE being a lover of all things tech, I do worry about the growing level of automation and general nannying in cars. You know you’re in a Japanese car or something that’s pitched heavily towards the American market when your ears are routinely bombarded by warning buzzers from the moment you open the door.
Thankfully the Leon’s cabin is a much calmer environment. It will at least let you drive a few yards up the road before (gently) reminding you that you really should put your seat belt on. The chime does eventually get louder but by then you’re probably past being reminded if you’re that stubborn.
Automation can be a force for good, however. Leave the Leon’s headlight switch in the auto position and you can almost forget about it. Unlike with some cars, the Leon has a tendency to err on the side of caution - i.e. the headlights are on more often than not.
Even before the days got shorter and there was still plenty of light in the evenings, it wasn’t uncommon for the Leon’s headlights to spring into life. Faced with agitating Volvo drivers into flashing me or ensuring that I as visible to other road users I could handle the Leon’s premature behaviour. The alternative is to intervene manually and curse the technology that should be making my life easier. Believe me, I’ve been there many times in considerably more expensive machinery.
The car’s rain-sensing wipers are almost as good. I say almost because the appearance of light drizzle usually prompts me to give the wiper stalk a quick nudge to get the blades working. Proper rain doesn’t cause such problems and the little sensitivity switch on top of the stalk makes it easy to fine tune the wipers’ response. That last thing you want are the wipers racing across the screen at the first sign of, er, drizzle.
Thankfully, though, that’s about the limit of the Leon’s ability to rule over me. Everything else in the cabin is pretty straightforward. Once you’ve hooked up your phone via the car’s Bluetooth connection you don’t need to fiddle with it again, and once you’ve got your hands on Seat’s special audio cable it’s a doddle to listen to your favourite tunes and podcasts.
And another month has passed by with the Leon serving me well by pounding the nation’s motorways and loyally waiting for me in airport car parks. Nothing’s dropped off, broken or failed to work. In fact, ‘my’ bright blue Leon has become the automotive equivalent of a pair for comfortable shoes. After a day in something way more expensive, it’s nice to be able to slip into something familiar and take your time on journey home.
Jetting off to car launches might sound like I’m living the dream but the harsh reality is much less exciting. Every so often something does genuinely surprise and delight but that’s the exception and not the rule. The Leon, however, never fails to impress. Its slick gearshift and weighty steering are a surprisingly rare combination these days. And I’ve been spoilt by the quiet nature of the 1.2-litre petrol engine.
Sure, a diesel motor will return more miles to the gallon, but the trade off has been less noise and a welcome absence of the low pitch drone that accompanies you on long motorway journeys. Still, when I’m a good boy I can achieve the mid 40s mpg on the motorway, which isn’t bad for someone who’s almost always in a hurry.
With nearly 9,000 miles on the Leon’s clock my time with the kit-laden Seat is almost at an end. For the money it’s a tough car to beat, while day to day use has highlighted its easy going character, making the ownership proposition an appealing one.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: Seat Leon SE Copa 1.2 TSI, from £17,225 on the road. Cost options fitted: directional xenon headlights, custom paint.Engine: 1.2-litre petrol unit developing 105bhp.Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels.Performance: Maximum speed 115mph, 0-62mph 11.0 seconds.Economy: 52.3mpg.CO2 Rating: 124g/km.
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