Seat Leon

4/5
Seat Leon  new car image
Verdict

This is a much underrated vehicle that deserves more attention. At one stage SEAT would have been the pariah of the Volkswagen Group, but the Leon was the vehicle that really showed that SEAT are better than ever. The vehicle is stylish, comfortable and more affordable than the Golf, but at the same time it is made up of much of the same stuff. The Leon is available as a three-door Coupé, a five door hatchback, a sports tourer, a four wheel drive (we cover the X-Perience separately), and for those of you who love the thrill of extra brake horse power there is the very fun and very powerful Leon CUPRA.

Performance

The two main engines on offer at the moment is the 1.2 TSI Petrol unit. This offer 85 bhp and a maximum torque of 160Nm at between 1,400 and 3,500rpm. This machine will take you from 0-100 km/h in 11.8 seconds. Every body-type is available with this engine. The diesel is a 1.6 TDI engine that offers 90 bhp, a maximum torque of 230Nm at between 1,400 and 2,750rpm, and 0-100 km/h in 12.6 seconds. This engine is not available in the three-door SC option. If you opt for the sporty FR trim in any of these body types you will find that there is 2.0 TDI engine available with two outputs – 150 bhp or 184 bhp. We’ve tested the 150 bhp engine and it is a solid performer.

The Leon CUPRA is a thrilling car with an engine that will bring you from 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. This 2.0 litre TSI engine offers 280 bhp and maximum torque of 350 Nm at between 1,700 and 5,600rpm. It has a maximum speed of 250 km/h.

Ride & Handling

The Leon and the Golf sit on the same platform and with that there is a certain amount of comfort in knowing that the handling end of things should be safe enough. The steering is well weighted, but it lacks a small bit of feedback on corners. The car doesn’t suffer from body roll. The CUPRA offers sharp handling and the ride is at its firmest.

Refinement

The Leon suffers a bit from wind noise due to the shape of the wing mirrors. The petrol engines are very refined and are not too audible. The diesels are a little louder but it’s nothing to be too concerned about. Overall, the Leon is a well-padded and refined vehicle.

Quality & Reliability

The interior of the Leon is very comfortable and nicely kitted out. The Infotainment system is easy to use and driver focused. The plastics do not at all feel cheap. The driver’s seat is easily adjusted as is the steering wheel.

Safety & Security

In 2012 the Leon received a full five stars in the Euro NCAP. It received excellent results for both adult and child safety scoring 94% and 92% respectively. It even scored well for pedestrian safety with 70%. The Leon is surrounded by airbags and it comes available with a tiredness recognition system, ISOFIX anchorage points, and traffic sign recognition.

Space & Practicality

There is a wide variety of body styles available with the SEAT Leon and all of them offer excellent space in the cabin. The ST version offers excellent boot space at 587 litres.

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Key Facts

Make

Seat

Model
Leon
Variant
LEON SC 1.2TSI 86HP S
Trim
S
Car Category
Family Hatch
First Launched
2013
Engine (L)
1.2
Gearbox Type
Manual
Gears
5 Speed
Fuel type
Petrol
Body Type
Coupe
Price New
€19,275
CarBuyersGuide Expert Rating
4.0

Running Costs

Tax
€200
Tax Band
A4
L/100km Combined
5.1
Average km/L
19.6
Fuel Tank Capacity (L)
50
Fuel Tank Range
980 km
Cost of filling a tank
€65.7
Average Cost Per 200 km
€13.4
CO2 emmissions
119 g/km
CO2 emmissions standard
EU6

Performance

Brake Horsepower
86 bhp
Max Power kW
64
Displacement - CC (Engine)
1197
Engine Cylinders
4
Engine Position
Front, transversely
Number of valves
4
Driven Wheels
Front
Aspiration
Turbo
Top speed
178 (km/h)
Acceleration(0-100 km/h)
11.8 s
L/100km Urban
6.50 L
L/100km Extra Urban
4.40 L

Space & Practicality

Body Type
Coupe
Doors
3
Seats
5
Boot capacity
587 L

Warranty

All Components
3 Year warranty
Engine, Gearbox and Drivetrain
3 Year warranty
Mileage
90000
Roadside Assistance
3 Year Roadside Assistance

Safety

Euroncap Star Rating
5

Dimensions

Boot capacity
587 L
Wheels
Front wheel drive
Tyre size front
195/65 R15 mm
Tyre size back
195/65 R15 mm
Length
4228 mm
Width
1810 mm
Height
1446 mm
Wheel Base
2601 mm
Front Track (mm)
1446
Rear Track (mm)
1525
Kerb weight
1168 KG
Max trailer Weight (Kg)
1700

Technical Information

Engine Configuration
Inline
Engine Type
Front, transversely
Fuel Delivery
Direct injection
Steering
Steering rack
Power
86 bhp
39 Variants
Sort by:
Coupe
€19,275
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 86 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 11.8 s
  • New Price €19,275
Hatchback
€19,645
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 86 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 11.9 s
  • New Price €19,645
Estate
€20,810
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 86 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 12.1 s
  • New Price €20,810
Hatchback
€22,155
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 90 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 12.6 s
  • New Price €22,155
Hatchback
€22,555
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 9.9 s
  • New Price €22,555
Coupe
€22,750
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 9.8 s
  • New Price €22,750
Estate
€23,320
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 90 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.0 s
  • New Price €23,320
Estate
€23,485
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.1 s
  • New Price €23,485
Hatchback
€23,495
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 90 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 12.6 s
  • New Price €23,495
Hatchback
€23,765
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 9.9 s
  • New Price €23,765
Coupe
€23,835
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.4 s
  • New Price €23,835
Hatchback
€24,120
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 7 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 9.9 s
  • New Price €24,120
Hatchback
€24,200
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.5 s
  • New Price €24,200
Estate
€24,505
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 90 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.0 s
  • New Price €24,505
Hatchback
€24,705
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 90 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 12.6 s
  • New Price €24,705
Estate
€25,205
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.9 s
  • New Price €25,205
Hatchback
€25,410
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.5 s
  • New Price €25,410
Hatchback
€25,675
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.4 L
  • Power 125 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 9.1 s
  • New Price €25,675
Coupe
€25,870
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.4 L
  • Power 125 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.9 s
  • New Price €25,870
Estate
€25,920
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 7 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.1 s
  • New Price €25,920
Coupe
€25,945
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 7 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.4 s
  • New Price €25,945
Hatchback
€26,310
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 7 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.5 s
  • New Price €26,310
Estate
€27,315
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 7 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.9 s
  • New Price €27,315
Hatchback
€27,520
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 7 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.5 s
  • New Price €27,520
Coupe
€28,105
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.3 s
  • New Price €28,105
Hatchback
€28,475
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.4 s
  • New Price €28,475
Coupe
€29,465
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 184 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 7.4 s
  • New Price €29,465
Estate
€29,480
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.6 s
  • New Price €29,480
Estate
€29,785
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €190
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 110 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 10.9 s
  • New Price €29,785
Hatchback
€29,835
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 184 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 7.5 s
  • New Price €29,835
Hatchback
€30,275
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.4 s
  • New Price €30,275
Estate
€30,840
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 184 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 7.8 s
  • New Price €30,840
Estate
€31,275
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.6 s
  • New Price €31,275
Estate
€33,930
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.7 s
  • New Price €33,930
Hatchback
€36,925
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €570
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 290 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 5.8 s
  • New Price €36,925
Estate
€37,675
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €280
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 184 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 7.1 s
  • New Price €37,675
Estate
€38,090
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €570
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 290 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 6.0 s
  • New Price €38,090
Hatchback
€39,015
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €390
  • Boot Capacity 380 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 290 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 5.7 s
  • New Price €39,015
Estate
€40,180
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 6 Speed
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €390
  • Boot Capacity 587 L
  • Engine Size 2.0 L
  • Power 290 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 5.9 s
  • New Price €40,180