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DO Volvo drivers have a moral responsibility to save us mere mortals from the dangers of full beam headlights? I ask because since running the Leon I’ve been regularly flashed by owners of said Swedish cars.
Their collective concern is misplaced, however, as I’m no hooligan and the Leon’s xenon headlights are always dipped for oncoming traffic. The problem? They’re darn bright even before you give the indicator stalk a nudge and ask for full beam ahead, but clearly some think they’re too bright and flash me to save me from my automotive sins.
One person’s main beam is another person’s (mine) efficient headlight. They also help you see around corners as the lights follow your steering inputs, which is a great help on dark country roads and poorly lit urban streets.
Okay, so along with its funky blue paint the Leon’s xenon headlights are extra cost options, but when so much other kit comes as standard the car’s modest asking price gives you the headroom to spend a little bit more with a clear conscience. If I was buying that’s how I'd look at it.
And enough miles have passed under the Leon’s wheels – helpful bright xenons on or not - to be able to form a sensible opinion of its on-road performance. On paper at least, in 1.2 TSI petrol guise you’d be forgiven for thinking that it wasn’t exactly a ball of fire. And you’d be right if you just concentrated on the car’s raw figures. The real world is different, and this plucky Leon’s turbo petrol motor is surprisingly gutsy.
For a self-confessed lover of all things diesel, it’s been a refreshing change to get into a car that’s not going to rattle your bones every morning from a stone-cold start and accompany your every move with a bass-heavy thrum regardless of your speed. Even my neighbours smile at me each morning, which means they also appreciate the Leon’s quiet demeanour. It might not be the sweetest-sounding petrol engine on the planet but its crisp throttle response and near absence of turbo whistle adequately compensate.
The negative ‘small car, big engine’ perception is soon banished once you start to make progress in the Leon. The modest 1.2-litre turbo petrol motor is willing to rev and, combined with a Honda-esque slick manual gearshift, it’s surprisingly easy to build up speed.
Regarding the manual gearbox, it’s obvious that sixth is a cruising ratio as maintaining a steady pace on long inclines often requires a quick shift down to fifth. A diesel equivalent would sail up the hill in top gear thanks to its extra slug of torque, but there’s that trade off – more noise, less refinement – to consider.
And frankly it’s no hardship with such a pleasing gearshift. On the flipside, the more closely stacked intermediate ratios allow you to keep the engine on the boil when you’re having fun, and ensure that you’ve always got enough mid-range punch for overtaking and stealing through that rapidly closing gap in city traffic.
Seat bosses have never hidden the fact that the Spanish firm is part of the much larger Volkswagen family, although maintaining its own identity remains crucially important in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Apart from the Leon’s looks, this is most obvious in the way it drives. To say that the Leon is like a Golf but not a Golf might sound glib but it’s true in the nicest possible way. The Spanish hatchback shares the same number of doors as its German cousin but that’s where the similarities end. Where Volkswagen opts for a distinctly soft-riding suspension set up, Seat beefs up the Leon so that it pitches and rolls less - most obvious when you’re driving enthusiastically.
Don’t worry, unlike some cars you’re never in danger of losing your fillings or needing a chiropractor. The reality is that, although the Leon rides a little firmer than a Golf or Ford Focus, the reward is not having to repeatedly brace yourself when cornering and you benefit from accurate steering. There are much stiffer-sprung rivals out there that are very good at skipping across country roads and leaving you tired after a day behind the wheel. Thankfully the Leon isn’t one of the them.
Okay, so in 1.2-litre guise the Leon SE Copa is no sports car but if the conditions are right it’s a surprising amount of fun to drive. With nearly 8,000 miles under its wheels so far, there’s no sign of boredom setting in.
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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