Seat Leon review

The Leon uses the same MQB architecture as the Mk8 Golf… which is largely the same as the Mk7 Golf… which the previous Leon also used. 

Long story short, you’ll find no significant changes to the basic hardware. Instead, most things in the suspension and powertrains (again, shared with its Volkswagen counterpart) are gently improved and finessed to bring them up to new emissions standards and to add a bit of extra comfort and refinement.

What are my engine options?

Come 2025 you’ve the choice of two petrols (no more 1.0-litre 3cyl, both are 1.5-litre four cylinders with either 113bhp or 148bhp), two diesels (both 2.0-litre with either 113bhp or 148bhp), and mild- or plug-in hybrid versions. The former pairs either petrol with a 48V system, while the latter now mates a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 19.7kWh battery for 201bhp and a highly impressive 83 miles of electric range – up on the 13kWh battery and 40 miles electric range of old.

We’ll start with the 1.5-litre petrol in 148bhp guise. It’s a smooth, quiet and reasonably economical engine (Seat claims up to 49.6mpg, we saw 43.8mpg) but suffers from lag low down, which means you have to play around the six-speed manual ‘box to be in the right powerband. No bad thing, as it’s a lovely direct gearbox to use, unless you find yourself regularly sat in stop-start traffic.

The 1.5-litre mild hybrid (self-charging, no plugging in required) paired with the seven-speed DSG, meanwhile, utilises a 48V starter-generator and small lithium-ion battery for a dose of low-end torque, as well as enabling coasting with the engine switched off. We found it pretty good, too, with the electrical input helping to minimise any turbo lag and kicking in fairly frequently when coasting.

You’ll also likely see a slight improvement in efficiency in the mild hybrids, with Seat claiming up to 55.4mpg/53.3mpg in the 113bhp/148bhp versions respectively. In the plug-in hybrids the carmaker claims a wildly unrealistic 235.4mpg WLTP – as ever it entirely comes down to your use case but if most of your journeys are within 83 miles and you can home charge it’s well worth considering.

Is it at all… fun?

On the road the Leon feels light on its feet, with crisp turn in and decent enough ride from the twist-beam rear suspension – even on the larger wheels. It’s not easily deflected down a broken road and is comfortable at a cruise, even though in the cabin is a bit noisier than a Golf.

But that’s not its aim – if you want to go fast, we’d recommend the go faster Cupra, mainly because the brakes can’t handle much enthused driving without the pedal wilting to the floor.