SEAT Leon Hatchback (2013 -) Review

This is the third generation SEAT Leon. It comes with an all-new chassis, an expanded engine line-up as well as a redesigned badge. An Audi A3 lookalike, the new SEAT Leon is smarter and features a host of new technology that the Spanish company hopes will give the likes of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf a real run for their money.

Engine line-up

As well as a smart new look, the new Leon gets a range of efficient engines offering low running costs. There is a sub-100g/km Ecomotive version with a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine. It generates 103bhp and 250Nm while returning CO2 emissions of 99g/km and has an average claimed fuel economy of 74.3mpg.

The other diesel engines include a 2.0-litre engine capable of 148bhp and 320Nm, and a claimed 68.9mpg on the combined cycle.

Another more powerful 2.0-litre diesel will arrive later, making 181bhp and 380Nm. In terms of petrol engines, early 2013 will see the inclusion of a 1.2-litre petrol engine available with 103bhp.

There will be a 1.4-litre with 138bhp and also a 1.8-litre with 177bhp. Gearbox options will be a choice of five- or six-speed manuals and seven-speed DSG twin clutch systems, depending on the engine configuration you choose.

SEAT Leon equipment and safety

SEAT will install its Easy Connect multimedia system into the Leon which features a user-friendly touch-screen. The entry-level Media System Touch gets a CD player with SD card slot, four speakers and a five-inch touchscreen while the Media System Colour includes a better screen, six speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and aux-in.

The top-spec Media System Plus adds iPod connectivity, DAB, voice recognition, eight speakers and sat nav. Then there’s the SEAT Sound System, which upgrades to ten speakers and a sub-woofer.

The Leon will also be offered with raft of new driver assistance systems including driver fatigue, full beam assistant (which flicks the main beam headlights off when a car is detected in front) and a lane-keeping assistant (which makes slight corrections to the power-assisted steering to prevent the car from straying out of its lane).

SEAT Leon practicality

The third generation Leon offers more practicality with a 39-litre increase in boot size to make a total luggage capacity of 380 litres. The wheelbase is also slightly longer to give more room for rear-seat passengers.

The SEAT Leon is cheaper than the majority of its rivals, boasts plenty of standard equipment and comes with a range of fuel efficient, low CO2-emitting engines. Read our full SEAT Leon review to see how it compares to Ford’s Focus and VW’s Golf.