Seat’s handsome new Leon ST means you’re even more spoiled for choice for mid-sized, hatch-based wagons right now. This isn’t a stretched hot hatch: Seat’s wagon suffix is confusingly identical to Ford’s performance models. But even the basic Leon is an engaging drive, so can the estate-bodied ST maintain Seat’s fine recent form? Doesn’t everyone want crossovers instead of boxy estates these days? Thought the Qashqai and Q3 crossovers of this world were taking over? Their ubiquity might seem so, but Skoda, VW, Honda, Ford and Renault have all revealed new or revised estates in the last few months. There’s still life in the idea of a hatchback with a garden shed strapped to the back. Diesel is a default choice in this market, so let’s play devil’s advocate. Time to settle into the solidly build but somewhat drab cabin of the new Seat Leon ST to see if a downsized petrol engine makes just as much sense. Which Seat Leon engine are we talking about here? The VW’s Group’s TSI motor: a direct-injection, turbocharged four-cylinder good for 138bhp and 184lb ft. Those are strong figures for the class, churned out by a tuneful, willing little engine that’s a real torch-bearer among the downsizing trend. Coupled with a slick six-speed gearbox that’s identical in action (and in gearknob) to that of a VW Golf or Skoda Octavia (which share this MQB platform hidden beneath the skin), it’s a strong powertrain, offering 0-62mph in around 53mpg is the official figure, with 40-45mpg our more realistic test average. Here’s a thumbs-up for forced induction: the turbo-free new Honda Civic Tourer in comparable iVTEC guises doesn’t arrive at 62mph until later. The Seat crucifies the Honda for torque too: 184lb ft plays just 128lb ft in the Civic car. Japan retaliates with crisper throttle response, but it’s too little too late. Torque: handy for carting around a bootful of gubbins! Speaking of which… Open the Leon ST’s low-lipped tailgate and you’ve a 587-litre boot. Flip the back seats down via a handy lever in the boot and that expands to 1470 litres. In isolation then, this is an extremely practical holdall. But compare the Leon ST with its closest rivals and the story’s less rosy. A Skoda Octavia makes best use of the MQB platform (610/1740 litres), with its VW Golf Estate sister car close behind at 600/1620 litres. Seems curious, doesn’t it, that the Leon should, ostensibly, be the same car as its Czech and German relatives underneath, yet it gets beaten in the wagon wars? The Leon ST stands 15mm lower than the Octavia and a good 30mm below the Golf, and it’s a smidge shorter than both – handy for the styling, not so much the space. Perhaps that’s a sign the handsome Seat is supposed to assume the youthful, sporting position within the VW Group, and leave the maturity of load-lugging to the grown-ups. The slower Honda partially hits back in the practicality stakes – though it’s more cramped for passengers, you get a 628/1668-litre boot. Meanwhile, the venerable Ford Focus Estate – recently facelifted and now almost as sharply suited as the Leon – matches the Seat, thanks to 476/1502 litres of storage. A small boot for the class then. Better be good to drive! Whether it’s the slightly higher shoulderline, or the more supportive seats, the Leon’s driving position definitely feels that bit lower than the Golf’s or Octavia’s. That’s a running theme throughout the car’s dynamics – though it should, and often does feel like an identikit MQB car, there’s a whiff of fun in the Leon missing in its straight-faced cousins. And with no weighty diesel weighing down the nose, the little turbo’d petrol is a willing participant. Grip is strong, body roll well-checked, and control weights middling-to-light. It’s a good basis for the rumoured Leon ST Cupra, which twins 276bhp grunt from the new Nürburgring lap record holder with the ST’s boxier body. Look out, Ford Focus ST Estate… Anything else? Our ‘SE’ trim test car is the fleet drivers’ favourite, but shouldn’t be overlooked if you’re not munching many motorways. Standard kit includes sensible 16in footwear, Bluetooth, privacy glass, cruise control, and air-conditioning. At the time of writing, Seat’s also throwing in a free tech pack, adding pretty LED headlights, DAB radio and sat-nav, via the entry-level greetings card-sized screen. The offer only lasts until 31st March 2014, so you’d better be quick if you want to take advantage. Verdict Ducking under the £20,000 barrier by £80, the Leon ST with this punchy little TSI undercuts its direct Honda competitor by around £250, but is outpriced by the £19,190 Skoda enemy within. If you’re happy with a merely ‘large’ rather than ‘Space Shuttle load bay’ of a boot, then the Leon’s chuckable handling makes it a worthy addition to the test drive list. Read the Seat Leon ST review on our sister site

With safety pack With standard equipment With standard equipment With safety pack Share this on: Publication: Dec 2020 Find more information in the General Comments section of the assessment Find more information in the Rating Validity tab of the assessment Adult Occupant 92% See More Child Occupant 88% See More Vulnerable Road Users 71% See More Safety Assist 80% See More Total Pts / 92% Good Adequate Marginal Weak Poor Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier Full Width Rigid Barrier Side Mobile Barrier Side Pole Far-Side Excursion Occupant Interaction Rear Seat Front Seat Total Pts / 88% Good Adequate Marginal Weak Poor Restraint for 6 year old child: Britax-Römer KidFix² S Restraint for 10 year old child: Booster cushion VRU Protection : Total Pts / 71% Good Adequate Marginal Weak Poor Head Impact Pts Pelvis Impact Pts Leg Impact Pts System Name Front Assist Type Auto-Brake with Forward Collision Warning Operational From 5 km/h PERFORMANCE | Autobrake Function Cyclist from nearside, obstructed view Cyclist crossing Cyclist along the roadside Total Pts / 80% Good Adequate Marginal Weak Poor System Name Speed Limiter Speed Control Function Manually set (accurate to 5km/h) System Name Tiredness Recognition System Type Steering Input Operational From 65 km/h System Name Lane Assist Type LKA and ELK Operational From 65 km/h Performance Emergency Lane Keeping Good Lane Keep Assist Good Human Machine Interface Good System Name Front Assist Type Autonomous emergency braking Operational From 5 km/h Sensor Used camera and radar Specifications Safety Equipment Videos Rating Validity Specifications Tested Model SEAT Leon petrol 'XCELLENCE', LHD Body Type - 5 door hatchback Year Of Publication 2020 Kerb Weight 1294kg VIN From Which Rating Applies - VSSZZZKLZMR005539 including PHEV Class Small Family Car Safety Equipment Front Airbag Driver Passenger Rear Belt Pretensioner Driver Passenger Rear Belt Loadlimiter Driver Passenger Rear Knee Airbag Driver Passenger Rear Side Head Airbag Driver Passenger Rear Side Chest Airbag Driver Passenger Rear Side Pelvis Airbag Driver Passenger Rear Centre Airbag Driver Passenger Rear Isofix/i-Size Driver Passenger Rear Integrated Child Seat Driver Passenger Rear Airbag cut-off switch Driver Passenger Rear Seatbelt Reminder Driver Passenger Rear Active Bonnet Active Bonnet AEB Vulnerable Road Users AEB Vulnerable Road Users AEB Pedestrian - Reverse AEB Pedestrian - Reverse AEB Car-to-Car AEB Car-to-Car Speed Assistance Speed Assistance Lane Assist System Lane Assist System Note: Other equipment may be available on the vehicle but was not considered in the test year. Videos Rating Validity Variants of Model Range Annual Reviews and Facelifts December 2020 Rating Published 2020 Find more information in the General Comments section of the assessment Share

► Sub-warm hatch still has plenty of power► Engine a little coarse when worked hard► Zero to 62mph in reasonable seconds Life for top-line hot hatch spotters is a lot tougher than it used to be. With M Sport, AMG Line and R-Line badges liberally plastered across the most mundane three-cylinder eco-hatches and diesel rep-cars alike, impressing the neighbours with a rapid five-door hatch is pretty challenging these days. Seat’s sporty trim – FR Technology – is a little more selectively applied, with 148bhp being the power threshold needed in the Leon. The Golf sibling is already a looker – more so after a little facelift tweakery – and FR Tech’ trim flatters its sharp lines. But is the entry-level TSI 150 model an authentic warm hatch, or is it just a sporty badge on a weakling of a car à la the 82hp Peugeot 108 GT Line? Leon TSI: 50% of the Cupra’s power, 80% of the looks Following a little facelift surgery the Leon now has a tweaked grille and lights, but retains the Leon’s modern, handsome look. Full LED headlights at the front and twin pipes at the rear set it apart from lesser Leons, though you won’t mistake the FR Technology for a Cupra. Power comes from a turbocharged petrol lump with 148bhp and the ability to shut off half of the cylinders in the name of economy. Full-bore starts should get you to 62mph in seconds, though claimed economy is surprisingly good at Whatever the figures, the small petrol engine is punchy, with plenty of muscle at low engine speeds, and we chalked up a displayed – meaning there’s no need to go for the £1830-pricier TDI 150 diesel, unless you cover mega miles. It pulls well when worked harder, too, with very little lag from the turbo. The cylinder deactivation is seamless, as well, notably boosting economy without hindering performance. FR Technology trim means comfy seats but firm ride The Leon matches its reasonable dose of power with sharp handling, albeit with the payoff of a firm ride. On better roads it’s smooth and quiet, but hit some rippled, scarred tarmac and you feel it inside – even more so than the Cupra with adaptive suspension. Steering is nicely direct, with a slick gearchange and sharp brakes rounding things off. The engine is mostly pretty muted in normal driving, though it does drone a little at motorway cruising speeds and takes on a slightly coarse note if you go hunting the redline. Thankfully comfortable seats help take the edge off the ride, with good side support when cornering. There’s plenty of room in both rows of seats as well, with just the gargantuan rear pillars making things a little gloomy and denting rear visibility. The boot’s also pretty useful, though there’s a big drop from the opening to the boot floor. Cabin feels more upmarket, though two-button sat-nav harder to use The updated Leon gains piano black trim – for an extra helping of Golf-ness – plus an electric handbrake and a new touchscreen media system. This does away with nearly all of the useful buttons surrounding the old unit, forcing you to prod the screen to do anything – which is unnecessarily distracting. Thankfully the Leon does without digi-dials, meaning that you get a much crisper analogue speedo and rev counter than any pixel-painted version. Also new is the option of a wireless phone charger with signal booster and safety kit such as Front Assist, Pedestrian Protection and Traffic Jam Assist. FR Technology models get extra standard kit including: Eight-inch media system with sat-nav Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Dual-zone climate control Rear parking sensors Cruise control 17-inch alloy wheels Lowered suspension Full LED headlights Verdict The Leon has always been a sensible buy for those who want something a bit sharper – in look and drive – than the VW Golf (not to mention a bit cheaper). That hasn’t changed, and the Leon now looks and a feels more modern than before. The TSI 150 petrol is a bit of a sweet spot in the range, offering a notable step up in power over lesser models while significantly undercutting the 148bhp diesel version. Throw in decent finance deals – expect to pay around £280 per month for this car on a three-year, 10,000-mile per year contract with a £2,000 deposit – and the TSI 150 FR Technology is pretty appealing. It may be no Cupra, but the £200-per-month saving (with the same contract terms) – or a cash saving of £9105 – is a great sweetener.* *Deals are correct at time of publication.

Part of the Leon’s advancement is attributable to the platform that underpins it. This is the first Seat to benefit from the Volkswagen Group’s ‘Modularer Querbaukasten’ or MQB platform, the pioneering mechanical component set that makes for unprecedented cost-saving commonality between this car and the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia. It isalso being used to form the basis of the VW Group’s next generation of superminis, compact 4x4s and saloons, which has seen the Ateca and Arona built on the same foundations. That’s how the MQB underpinnings have made the Leon’s business case stronger, but it has also had an influence on the new car’s kerb weight and its major dimensions. Weight ranges from 1198kg to 1345kg in the standard hatchback, depending on engine and specification, and from 1189kg to 1350kg in the SC. A more space-efficient under-bonnet layout has allowed 58mm to be added to the wheelbase at the same time as 52mm being taken out of overall length. The three-door SC shrinks by a further 32mm. In theory, those space-saving measures make for more passenger room as well as better ride and handling. Sure enough, there are competitive levels of space inside this car, but they’re not outstanding. Practicality is certainly much less likely to sell a Leon than the car’s crisp styling or appealing value for money. The Leon range was facelifted in October 2016, which saw the gain a new grille and redesigned front and rear lights - with the day-running-lights matching the Ateca's signature cluster. Originally only fives engines were offered but over its time on sale the range swelled to include eight power units across the range. Starting with the Seat Leon's 108bhp, TSI turbocharged petrol and Seat Leon TDI, via a pair of Seat Leon petrols producing 123bhp and 148bhp respectively, followed by the fleet-favouring 148bhp diesel unit. Heading the range is a 182bhp diesel engine and an 179bhp TSI, both of which are only available on higher spec models. For those looking for a hot version of the Leon can opt for the Cupra 300, available in SC, 5dr hatch and ST forms, and is fitted with a TSI petrol engine producing 296bhp. Powering the Seat Leon 5dr hatch The eco-focussed diesel is expected to account for the majority of UK sales, which is a pity because while it’s a workmanlike unit it lacks the punch and flexibility of the market’s best low-emissions diesels. As an entry-level powertrain, the petrol manual – with its extra intermediate gear ratio – makes a more rounded option. More credit is due higher up in the engine range. Seat’s 148bhp TDI makes a strong case, being refined, economical and relatively free-revving. But again, it fails to put much in the way of clear water between it and the equivalent petrol – this time, the 148bhp TSI. The latter model is cheaper, more responsive, more refined, more flexible and offers marginally better on-paper performance than the diesel, along with fuel economy that’s broadly comparable in everyday use. The range-topping petrol TSI with 178bhp is a satisfying unit which is both quick off the line and offers impressive in-gear acceleration. Beware of high-rev rumbles, however, where the engine can sound strained. That said, at cruising speeds it is both refined and quiet. The 182bhp high-output turbodiesel is also impressive. Its 280lb ft of torque feels like a generous slug at medium revs, and the engine is also reasonably happy to rev for one of its type. The TSI found in the Seat Leon Cupra models is smooth and free-revving bereft of much drama, but willing to surge forward as the revs continue to build. Despite Volkswagen’s youthful brand aiming to thrill and entertain drivers all in one, the Leon does suffer in its ride. Eager handling was always more likely to be its forte, and it is, to a point, as long as you go for the right model. Ordinary S and SE-spec cars come on a standard suspension set-up which, for the majority of models, is fine. It’s got a slightly springier than average balance of compliance and control, but nothing you’d call seriously compromised. The low-emission TDI doesn’t quite grip as hard or steer as well as the rest of the range, while Seat's FR-trim sports suspension – an item of equipment to be avoided at all costs in the last Leon – is much more effective this time around. The sports set-up has more fluent and effective damper control to match its slightly firmer springs, and seems much more coherent as a result. In general, the Leon steers quite well and even with a modicum of feel in some cases, but it could be more positive and incisive. The car benefits from its relatively modest size by feeling agile and wieldy on the road. It isn’t quite as engaging as a well specced Ford Focus or as overtly sporting as an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but it’s in the same ballpark – and even that is testament to the effort Seat has put into this new generation of Leon. Choosing the right spec for the Seat Leon On the equipment front, there are six trims to choose from. The entry-level S models come with a 15in steel wheels, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, central locking, multi collision braking system and halogen daytime running lamps on the outside as standard. inside there's a manually height adjustable driver's seat, air conditioning and Seat's touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Upgrading to SE Technology spec adds 16in alloy wheels, front foglights, cruise control, hill start assist, electric windows, front seat lumbar support and an touchscreen infotainment system including DAB radio and sat nav, while SE Dynamic Technology adds 17in alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and rear parking sensors. Mid-range FR Technology Leons are adorned with 17in alloys, a twin exhaust system, LED headlights, a sporty bodykit, sports front seats, dual-zone climate control and smartphone integration, while those choosing the sportier looking FR Titanium Technology gain 18in alloy wheels, a extended rear spoiler and side skirts. Topping the main range is the Xcellence Technologiy trim, which gives the Leon touches of chrome, ambient LED interior lighting, a leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, some additional storage compartments, and the bonus of Seat's Convenience and Winter packs. Those keen on the aggressive-looking Seat Leon Cupra 300 will notice that the Leon comes with 19in alloy wheels, a beefy bodykit, a mechnical limited slip differential, adaptive suspension and an Alcantara upholstery. Overall, we’d class the Leon as belonging in the chasing pack of family hatchbacks amid the likes of the Hyundai i30, Honda Civic and Kia Cee’d rather than as a challenger to the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus at the head of the field. Although the 2016 facelift has moved the Leon closer to the Volkswagen Golf and the Focus than its closest rivals. It’s certainly breaking free, though, and especially in the case of three-door SC models offers more driving enjoyment than in previous generations. It’s a creditable effort from Seat and a notable improvement in form, with plenty of niche appeal for those who like a dose of style and spirit about their everyday driver but who don’t want to pay a premium. Used cars for sale NewsletterGet all the best car news, reviews and opinions direct to your inbox three times a week. You can unsubscribe via any email we send See our full privacy notice for more details Subscribe Never miss an issue of the world's oldest car magazine – subscribe to Autocar magazine today. Subscribe Seat Leon 2013-2020 First drives

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