Seat LEON 3

SEAT LEON REVIEW

The SEAT Leon is a truly excellent car thanks to its classy looks and superb build quality. It's also backed up by low running costs and a great drive - no surprise then, that the SEAT Leon scooped the coveted Auto Express Car of The Year award in 2013.

Based on the lightweight Volkswagen MQB chassis, the SEAT Leon shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia. The advanced chassis means the third-generation Leon is shorter, wider, lower and features a longer wheelbase than its slightly ungainly looking predecessor.

The SEAT Leon is powered by a range of diesel and petrol engines. The petrol line-up kicks off with a 103bhp 1.2-litre unit, but buyers can also opt for a 138bhp 1.4-litre powerplant. Further up the range, a 178bhp is available, while the flagship Cupra has a powerful 276bhp engine under the hood.

In terms of diesels, buyers can choose their SEAT Leon with either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre TDI unit. The 1.6-litre engine can also be chosen with the SEAT Ecomotive technology, which thanks to 85.6mpg and 87g/km of CO2, puts it in Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion territory. In standard form, the 1.6-litre engine puts out 103bhp, while the 2.0-litre produces either 148 or 181bhp.

The SEAT Leon is available in four trim levels - entry level S, mid-range SE and FR, plus the flagship performance-orientated Cupra. For keen drivers seeking that bit more performance, A Cupra 280 Performance Pack version is also available.

SEAT offers the Leon in a variety of body styles. There’s a standard five-door hatch, the rakish three-door SC and an ST estate. SEAT has also just added four-wheel drive to the Leon range in the shape of the ST X-Perience.