New Leon’s a king
EAT has always made stylish cars. It is viewed by many as the more dynamic and flamboyant member of the VW Group and now the Spanish company has given its new Leon even more appeal.
With competition in the family hatchback segment fierce, the Leon has always been a crowd pleaser, but now it boasts more assertive styling thanks to the introduction of a new-look bumper and grille along with some other tweaks to the lights. The changes aren’t exactly radical but they certainly give the car a fresher appearance.
The interior has been given more attention with a new-look dashboard and central console including a new five or eight-inch touchscreen infotainment screen (depending on the model) with full connectivity via MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The interior feels more upmarket than the original third generation Leon models and there is plenty of room to accommodate passengers too with ample leg, shoulder and head space in the back.
And when it comes to engines, buyers really are spoilt for choice with five petrol engines and three diesel models, plus the option of five or six-speed manual transmissions or a seven-speed DSG automatic box.
With three-door coupe models, estates and regular hatchbacks along with a raft of engine and transmission choices there are almost 70 Leon models to choose from. Prices start from £19,340 for the Sport Coupe, the five-door hatchback is priced from £17,455 and the Sports Tourer from £18,450.
We tried out the five-door hatchback Leon powered by this little three-pot engine mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission and it’s an absolute cracker.
The car could reach from 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds, maxed out at 126mph and according to official figured delivers combined fuel economy of 64.2mpg with carbon emissions of 102g/km.
Despite the tiny engine, there is never any power shortage. The acceleration through the gears is both smooth and responsive and the steering nice and precise. The Leon has always been a car that can comfortably be thrown around and this is no exception with excellent road-holding and a very confident allround performance.
Even when pushed particularly hard, the engine coped admirably although noise levels did rise a little. And then when driven a little more responsibly it all calms down very nicely and silence is restored within the cabin.
The 1.0-litre model is a true all-rounder, delivering fun driving dynamics at a price that doesn’t break the bank. It simply left us wondering why SEAT has taken so long to introduce it into the extensive Leon line-up.