Seat Leon Review (2005 to date)

Quick Summary

The SEAT Leon is an extremely competent vehicle hobbled by rather unusual styling and SEAT's decision to delay the launch of the much-vaunted hot models. It's still worth taking a long, hard look at on the used market and the 2.0-litre TDI Sport model remains the pick of the bunch. If you can get along with the looks, a late plate Cupra makes a very smart piece of business in the face of new rivals.

Overall:

Models Covered:(5 dr family hatch, 1,6, 2.0 petrol, 1.9, 2.0 TDI diesel [Essence, Reference, Stylance, Sport, FR, Cupra])

THE LEON KING

Although the British public hasn't warmed to this version of the SEAT Leon in quite the way they did its predecessor, there's little doubt that it's a very competent car and one that's well worth tracking down on the used market. Reluctant take up from new often spells used bargains and this Leon is an excellent example of these market forces at work.
Used Seat Leon for sale

History of the Leon

It's no exaggeration to say that the MK1 SEAT Leon, especially in Cupra guise, developed into a cult car in the UK. I can remember that this car was my pat answer for a good few years for any of my colleagues looking to spend around £15k on a new car. Unfortunately, I've never come close to that stage with the Leon's second generation iteration, launched in this country in late 2005. Although there is very little wrong with the car in an objective sense, the styling didn't cut the mustard for many and the value proposition no longer seemed quite so special with Skoda having upped its game. Cars like the Renaultsport Megane and the Ford Focus ST arrived to rule the hot hatch roost and standard Focus models as well as increasingly aggressively priced Golfs make big numbers among the family hatches at the Leon's expense. Competition even came from within SEAT with quick and capable Altea models more than justifying their existence.SEAT took their eye off the ball rather by failing to launch a sporty FR model until July 2006 and delaying the launch of the red hot Cupra variant until December 2006. Quite why it took them so long to bring these key models to market (the old Cupra accounted for over half of all UK Leon sales) is down to VW Group internal politics but it robbed the model of crucial momentum and both the FR and Cupra were unfairly overlooked when they did arrive.
Used Seat Leon for sale

Seat Leon Road Test

Underscoring SEAT's broad targeting of the Leon, the range includes a number of engine choices. Diesel buyers will get to choose between a 103bhp 1.9-litre unit that's a little old fashioned and a 138bhp 2.0-litre that most certainly isn't. The petrol powerplants open with a 101bhp 1.6-litre and a 148bhp 2.0-litre direct injection FSI but, to be frank, if you're going to opt for these engines, the Altea makes a smarter purchase. Move up the power table and the Leon starts to make all sorts of sense and SEAT wisely earmarked three engines to cope for us British bhp junkies. First up is the 168bhp TDI diesel, while those looking for a seriously sporting drive will opt for the 200bhp FR model with its turbocharged 2.0-litre FSI engine or the 240bhp Cupra which used a tweaked version of that unit. SEAT worked hard at improving the chassis dynamics and benchmarked the best handling cars in the class. Given that the basic underpinnings are shared with the MkV Volkswagen Golf, it's made of stern stuff. Factor in an additional aluminium subframe for added rigidity and stiffer suspension and you've got a package that's significantly more able in the twisties than the previous generation car with its rather rudimentary torsion beam rear suspension.
Used Seat Leon for sale

Buying a Seat Leon

Tried and tested engines, the VW-standard quality auditing and an inherent feeling of solidity all bode well for the Leon's reliability. Having been on sale for such a short duration, it's perhaps inevitable that no major faults have emerged, but watch out for neglected ex-hire cars. The Leon is a car where the price differences between good and bad examples aren't too great, so be fussy. Look for a fully stamped up service history and reject anything that looks in any way tatty, grubby or vaguely dog-eared. Give FR and Cupra models a particularly detailed inspection and ensure that they've been run in quality synthetic oil.
Used Seat Leon for sale

Seat Leon Typical Pricing

You should be able to pick up a low mileage 1.6 Essence model for less than £8,500 and 1.9-litre TDI Reference models can be found for a bit under £10,000 with the plusher Stylance versions tacking another £1,000 onto these values. The cars that are in the biggest demand remain the 2.0-litre Sport variants. The 2.0-litre FSI Sport retails at around £8,900 for an 04 plate car, while you'll need £12,300 for a similar vintage 2.0-litre TDI Sport. Insurance ranges from Group 5 through to Group 17.
Used Seat Leon for sale

Seat Leon Parts

(approx based on an Leon 2.0 TDI DSG ex VAT) SEAT spares are reasonably priced, with a replacement Leon headlamp costing £111. A replacement alternator unit retails at around £185 with an exchange starter motor setting you back just under £120. Opt for a new alternator and starter motor and the prices stack up at £370 and £226 respectively, so even if the old one is a steaming basket case, you'll save by getting an exchange unit. Front brake pads are £50 with rears a tad under £30 per pair. Many parts are a little cheaper for the 1.6-litre petrol models.
Used Seat Leon for sale