SEAT’S best of both worlds
SEAT has launched a new PHEV (plug-in hybrid vehicles) version of its much-lauded Leon. The Leon e-HYBRID truly offers the ‘best of both worlds’ – with the capability to handle most drivers’ everyday needs in EV-mode only, capable of up to 64km on battery power alone, twinned with the reassurance of a potent 150PS 1.4 TSI petrol engine to offer a combined 204PS.
The Leon e-HYBRID comes with a choice of two body styles and four trim levels and is the first PHEV to be offered by the brand. The e-Hybrid employs a 13kW battery, combined with the 1.4 TSI engine to offer a 0-100km/h sprint of just 7.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 220km/h. Yet CO2 emissions remain at or below 30g/km in all versions and the WLTP fuel economy figure is just 1.3 l/100km.
Driven on electric-only power, the car will manage up to 64km with zero tailpipe emissions and working with the petrol engine, there is a range of around 800km. This is a car that around town could offer the benefits of an EV but offers the secondary reassurance of being able to do a low-emission cross country drive. The car’s battery can charge in just 3 hours and 40 minutes from a 3.6 kWh Wallbox.
There are two body styles of the e-Hybrid on sale, the traditional 5-door hatchback and the Sportstourer Estate. These are offered in four high-specification trim level – Xcellence, Xcellence Plus, FR and FR Plus. Xcellence has items such as 17” Dynamic alloy wheels, Keyless Entry & Start 3-Zone Air Conditioning, 8.25” Touch Screen Infotainment, Full Digital Cockpit and Wireless Phone Charging, with Xcellence Plus adding larger wheels (18” Machined), front and rear Park Distance Control, Park Assist Self Parking, Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, a larger 10” Infotainment System with Navigation, Voice Control, a Winter
Pack (heated seats and steering wheel), Traffic Sign Recognition as well as Side Assist and Exit Assist.
For those who prefer their Leon e-HYBRID to look and feel sportier, the FR model does just that with 18” Machined alloy wheels and FR styling as well as Driver Profile Selection, with the FR Plus model adding the larger 10” Touch Screen Infotainment, Electric Driver Seat and a Winter Pack.
The Leon e-HYBRID starts from
€35,740 on the road for the Xcellence 5-door hatch and €37,225 for the Xcellence Sportstourer, but this drops to €30,740 and €32,225 respectively for private customers who can benefit from the SEAI grant of €5,000. FR models start from €35,740 for the 5-door hatch and €37,225 for the Sportstourer and these drop to €30,740 and €32,225 respectively for private customers who can avail of the government grant.
PCP Finance is available on the Leon e-HYBRID from just €289 per month at 3.9% APR. Alternatively, customers can avail of an online scrappage voucher of €2,500 with finance available at 5.9% APR from €319. Both offers come with the option of a €9.99 per month 3-Year Service Plan.
Meanwhile, SEAT is using the latest in eye-tracking technology to enable its engineers to make driving more intuitive and safer in the future.
The manufacturer can track a driver’s gaze using eye-tracking glasses which use infrared light sensors, high resolution images and a sophisticated algorithm to pinpoint exactly where the driver is looking when behind the wheel.
With the road ahead being the primary focus for drivers, the technology helps engineers design cabins which allow drivers to safely locate and operate technology on the centre console including the infotainment system and steering wheel at a glance.