The Seat Leon has now been on the brand’s front line for 25 years in various forms, and the present fourth generation automotive is probably the most technologically advanced Leon yet.
Ever for the reason that first Seat Leon arrived, the motoring media and enlightened motorists have agreed that this can be a hatchback that provides superb value and is a reputable alternative to the mainstream Golf, Astra etc.
The truth is the fourth generation Seat Leon has won five awards within the UK, including 2024’s Best Family Automobile for Value from What Automobile? Magazine. It’s an ideal proposition because the principal automotive of a small family, or once within the used automotive promote it’s ideal because the second automotive of the household.
Now, until the tip of September, Seat has a 4.9% APR personal contract plan offer on the Leon, with a £2,500 manufacturer deposit contribution. An additional enhancement is a proposal of two services for £199.
Leon is offered with petrol, diesel, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and it’s the latter – called e-Hybrid in Seat’s world – that AM recently spent per week with. Like all PHEVs, it gives buyers the satisfaction of with the ability to trek around town under zero-emissions electric power but the arrogance of knowing the 1.4-litre petrol engine is there to avoid charging stops on longer trips.
With a real-world electric range of around 30 miles, the automotive managed plenty of faculty run trips with no tailpipe emissions. While the official WLTP fuel economy of 217-235mpg won’t be neared without loads of those local journeys under battery power, an extended motorway drive still gave us mid-40s fuel economy.
The e-Hybrid is taxation-friendly too, which is a substantial draw for fleets and business owners who’ll incur benefit-in-kind. Its 26g/km CO2 emissions mean a primary yr VED rate of just £10, and it attracts currently just 2% BIK – contrast that with the non-hybrid Leons which have 30-31% BIK.
At £37,880 OTR the automotive we tested is actually not the most cost effective Leon – the range starts at just below £24,000 for the bathroom standard 1.0-litre petrol with a comparatively frill-free SE trim. But there may be much that appealed with our automotive, in FR Sport specification with its 10in multimedia screen, 18in alloys, leather steering wheel with paddles, LED headlamps, sports bumpers and ambient lighting.
- Seat Leon 1.4 e-Hybrid FR Sport
- Powertrain: 1.4-litre petrol electric hybrid, 6-speed DSG transmission
- Cost: £37,880
- Power: 204PS
- 0-62mph: 7.5secs
- CO2 emissions: 26g/km
- Fuel economy (WLTP): 217-235mpg
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
