Motoring review: Seat come up trumps with excellence of all new Leon

Seat have consistently been able to churn out beautiful cars over the years that are very simple looking, but cunningly attractive and eye-catching. There has, however, been a question mark over whether Seat have been able to back up such style with any notable substance, but such notions have been dispelled with the latest edition of the Seat Leon.

The Leon has always been a well-designed car on the outside, and it has never undergone any radical changes to its looks, but there is plenty on the inside and under the bonnet to make this an absolute peach of a car.

The car taken out for this test drive was the 1.4 TSI Seat Leon Xcellence, and, to be honest it lives up to its name.

How does it drive?

Quite well. It's a powerful car that packs a much greater punch than other cars of this size and engine capacity. A 125bhp four-cylinder engine in this model gives plenty of bang for its buck, and it offers as much comfort on a city street in traffic as it does when powering past other drivers on the motorways. While it isn't the quickest car out of the blocks, it is quite responsive.

The handling of the Leon makes it very fun to drive, especially if you end up on a winding road somewhere in the countryside. There is great control in the steering, though when cornering there is a slight tentative feeling of pulling up going around bends due to a slight lack of confidence in the grip from the front tyres and the fact that it feels like a relatively light car.

Is it economical? 

For a petrol engine, a resounding yes. The 1.4 litre version has six gears, which would have been unthinkable for most manufacturers a few short years ago, but Seat have got the balance absolutely perfect with the Leon. It is a car that can comfortably be pushed into sixth gear while staying below 100kmh, saving the driver from burning too much petrol. The eco system in the car even prompts the driver to do so, while you will also get notifications to pull up the windows if they are causing an 'aerodynamic drag' that adds to fuel consumption.

It does just under 55mpg, so no qualms there.

What is the technology like?

This is where the Seat Leon really comes to life. There is an endless amount of little intricacies in the technological department that make this car a real pleasure to be in, but that doesn't mean that there are buttons located all over the dash or the steering wheel to make things complicated.

The obvious place to start is with the radio, and the Seat Leon Xcellence comes with a well thought out 8" colour touchscreen that boasts a wealth of features. Hooking up your iPhone allows the user to enjoy a display that features apps such as Spotify, Maps and messaging, which really makes a long drive that bit more enjoyable. It of course also has Bluetooth connectivity so other phones can be connected, while there is a wireless charging dock located just under the radio.

A rear reversing camera also comes in this model, while it is yet another car with a keyless drive system and a button handbrake, though that is not everyone's cup of tea.

Is it comfortable?

As for the comfort of the drive, Seat have really stretched their boundaries with the Leon. One of the first things noticed was when, having just picked the car up, a speed ramp in the road was met with such effortless grace that it felt like it the car was rolling over a pillow rather than taking on a curved mound of concrete. That comes from the brilliant suspension system that has been installed.

For a family hatchback, the Leon boasts plenty of space and is incredibly comfortable to sit into. There is ample leg space and everything from the coffee cup holders to the numerous cubbie holes seem to be placed in the right area to gain easy access. The boot is of more than adequate size, though that may detract somewhat from the space within the backseats.

The final thing to note is the almost assassin like silence of the Leon. When the start button is pressed the only way you would notice that the engine is running is by revving the car, while it glides on the road with an air of elegance and panache that goes almost unnoticed.

How much does it cost?

The Seat Leon S starts from €19,195, while the SE starts from €22,105. The Seat Leon Xcellence - the car featured here - starts from €25,585.