I’ve driven a few SEAT cars over the years, but let’s just say it’s been a while since I’ve sat in one. I’m telling you this because I was utterly and pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed one of my latest test drives, the SEAT Leon FR. To say I was impressed and that I thoroughly enjoyed this car would be an understatement. I’m not saying that the SEAT Leon FR is the best car that I’ve ever sat in, because it’s not. I am just happy to report that this is a very enjoyable car. 
When I write reviews I make sure to mention the positives as well as the negatives. That’s my job. It’s rare that I’m overly negative about a car because I believe that those who have designed the science behind some of the wonderful vehicles that we see know more about what they’ve created than I do. My job is to give my opinion, good or bad, about what I test drive. In saying that it is also rare that I am ever overly positive about a car. This week I’m going to seem to be very positive about this car. The reason being that I really enjoyed it. Yes there are negatives, but for what you are paying they are few.
To Drive
The SEAT Leon which I drove was their FR (FR = Formula Racing) 2.0 TDI with 150hp. This car is wonderfully responsive and gives a strong performance, the biggest shocker however is that with the powertrain the car is actually fuel efficient and only burns 106g/co2 per km.
This Leon uses the same chassis as the Audi A3, the VW Golf and the Skoda Octavia, so you know that it will deliver. I found the steering to be very responsive and depending on which mode you choose Eco, Normal or Sport, the suspension is very good. The difference between these three modes is significant and you will feel the car change while driving. I brought this car from Dublin to Cork and back again and because there is a lot of motorways and smaller roads I really got to check out each of the modes. When you put your foot down you can feel the power go through the car and you should be left very satisfied with the horses behind you.
SEAT say that this car will bring you from 0-100km in 8.4 seconds and although I didn’t have the stop watch out I’m not going to argue with them. They reckon that the top speed is 215 k/ph which translates as 134 mph.
Inside
Recently I was discussing car interiors with a colleague and I said that I was a fan of infotainment systems and cabins with a lot of buttons and functionality. The cabin of the Leon in my view looks more basic than it is, and its layout is superb. They kept it simpler than I would usually like but I was massively impressed by it. The style of the dash is quiet boxy, but despite the ultra modern touch screen it actually looks like that of an older car.
Not only has it a superb dash but I found that the front cabin was perfectly spacious and to be honest the back wasn’t lacking either. The boot is sufficient too offering 380 litres. There are two trims of seating available, standard and sporty. The Sporty option offers better body support.
Price, Fuel Economy and Tax
The particular SEAT I was driving costs €27,325 and it falls into tax band A3 which means at today’s motor tax rates you will be paying €190 per year.
SEAT reckon that this car should give you combined fuel economy of 4.1 litres per 100km. I didn’t get that from the car itself because I was pushing it, so this is not a figure I can confirm.
The CBG.ie Verdict
I’m glad to report that this car impressed us. A lot.
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