Seat Leon: Intriguing automobile
Here is some thing that won’t take place quite often these days – a auto that will get a lot more fascinating or appealing relative to the levels of as time goes by. Of course, sometimes cars that are under-appreciated at the time on turn out to be a lot-cherished classics but it is strange for this to happen whilst a design is even now latest – especially when benchmarked versus more recent rivals.
The Seat Leon, though, would show up to be a little bit of an exception. Like other mid-range Volkswagen group autos, the Leon is obtaining on just a tiny bit in terms of its basic style. That is since when Volkswagen replaced the Golf five with the Golf six, it failed to go for a complete platform transform, which has had a knock-on outcome on other Golf-based mostly models these kinds of as the Seat Leon or the Octavia – they both now seem to be to be facing prolonged substitute cycles.
But even though present-day Leons may look just like their 2005 equivalents, they have airly a little bit a lot more going for them – and that begins with their styling. That may possibly appear a peculiar point to say provided that so little has modified, but the Leon has developed into its seems instead properly as time has passed. When the current model appeared, in widespread with its a bit hideous sisters, the Altea & the Toledo, it signalled a all new Style path for Seat that took very a bit of getting used to. Time has not been specifically type to the Altea & Toledo but now the Leon’s seems to be, aided by a couple of mid-lifestyle tweaks, gel in a way that they did not before.
Under the body, in widespread with other mid-array Volkswagen group autos, the Leon enjoys a robust rejuvenated motor range. Rough aged pump-jet diesel engines have been eased out to make way for considerably smoother common-rail electrical power units, whilst the petrol aspect of the variety has been significantly improved by the introduction effective and inexpensive turbocharged engines, badged TSI, with capacities of one 2, 1.4 and 2.13 litres.
Even the littlest of these supplies quite strong efficiency that is up to most Uk conditions, as effectively as getting quite refined. The 1.2 TSI motor produces the identical 105 horsepower as the commonly aspirated one.6-litre engine even now fitted to some mid-assortment Volkswagen group vehicles but is much nicer.
Ultimately, Seat has this yr released Copa variations of selected Leon variants, which provide sturdy worth-for-funds tools bundles for autos fitted with the S or SE trim levels. At £16,180, the Leon S Copa 1.2 TSI charges £565 a lot more than the equal Leon S and the same as the S Emocion, but has a fancier dual-zone local weather handle program, cruise control, Bluetooth, as effectively as seats with specific Copa upholstery, and height and lumbar adjustment for the driver and front passenger.
The Copa SE builds on the a lot more generous SE trim level by providing a fancier media program, rear parking sensors, light and rain sensors, an instantly dimming rear view mirror and the Copa upholstery for no further value. The Copa SE fees £16,940 in 1.2 TSI form. The least expensive Leon in the latest array, an S-trimmed car with an 85 horsepower 1.4 litre usually-aspirated petrol engine and without the Copa goodies, is priced at £14,545 – but the Copas almost certainly offer greater appeal for money.
