FRill a minute Seat Leon - On the road

Thanks to that GTI-sourced 197bhp unit the sporty Leon scorches from 0-62mph in a mere 7.3sec. There's plenty of urge, even at low revs, and strong pull all the way to the redline.

Alternatively, for an extra £500 you can have your FR with a 168bhp diesel. This doesn't have the same linear power delivery, but is still usefully flexible and fast, reaching 62mph in 8.2sec. Average fuel consumption is a tempting 47.1mpg, too.

Seat is positioned as the VW group's sporty brand, so both FRs have been given a very stiff suspension set-up. This provides excellent body control and composure through corners, plus there's tenacious grip and sharp steering.

Wind noise is minimal at the national limit, however road noise does find its way into the cabin. The six-speed manual gearbox has a positive action.