Seat Leon review
The Seat Leon is great value. It’s stylish and a good all-rounder, but doesn’t quite match the class best in some areas
RRP £25,995
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Seat Leon vs Toyota Corolla
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Available now from: £18,990
RRP from: £25,995
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From £18,990
Leasing deals
From £219
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Seat Leon
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £218.68 Initial payment £2,624.16
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£2,869 total upfront (£2,624 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Power
113 bhp
0-62 mph
10.4 s
Efficiency
53.3 mpg
Figures for 1.5 eTSI MHEV SE Dynamic DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
5-Star
Family
Fuel efficient
Jump to:
Introduction
Performance & drive
Interior
Passenger & boot space
Buying & owning
Lawrence Cheung
Updated: 10 December 2022
How we test cars
The Seat Leon is a perfect example of why the most popular things in life are not always the best. How so? Well, this Spanish hatchback is massively outsold by its closest rivals, but when you weigh everything up, it’s better than many of them.
If you're not familiar with exactly where the Leon sits in the car world, it’s what we class as a family car. That means it’s about the same size as the Ford Focus and VW Golf – two of the cars it lags behind in the sales charts.
New car deals
Best price from £18,990
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £18,990
RRP from: £25,995
Available now
From £18,990
Leasing deals
From £219
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Seat Leon
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £218.68 Initial payment £2,624.16
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£2,869 total upfront (£2,624 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
All versions of the Seat Leon come with five doors as standard, although there’s a choice of engines, ranging from "does the job" to smile-inducingly brisk. You can also pick between the relatively modest SE (or SE Dynamic) trim, and the more extrovert styling and sportier driving manners of one of the FR models.
So now that we’ve already told you the Leon is one of the best cars in the class, why wouldn’t you just go out and buy one? Well, it might be a better all-rounder than most rivals, but in some areas it trails other family cars, and if those areas are crucially important to you, you might be better off looking elsewhere.
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Read on to find out where the Seat Leon excels and falters against rivals, and which engines and trims make the most sense...
What’s new
- September 2025: Tribe Edition launched, featuring new Manganese Matt exterior finish, bespoke alloy wheel made from 20% recycled material, and bio-based paint for elements of the interior
- July 2025: Leon updated with Matrix LED headlights, Cross Traffic Assist and a new Dark Void exterior paint option
- June 2025: Black Edition announced, featuring Obsidian Black exterior elements and an optional rear wing
- May 2025: Style trim level added to the Leon e-Hybrid range, bringing more standard equipment, 18in alloy wheels and LED headlights and taillights
- March 2025: ABT partnership announced by Cupra, which will result in bespoke Leon models for customers from 2026
Verdict
The Seat Leon is a fantastic all-rounder. Not only is it great to drive, well equipped and exceptionally roomy in the back, but it should also prove relatively cheap to run thanks to the frugality promised by its petrol engines – especially the 1.5 TSI 130. Indeed, its blend of talents make it one of the very best family cars.
Best buy
1.5 eTSI MHEV SE Dynamic Hatchback 5dr Petrol Hybrid DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (115 ps) review
RRP £30,710
Pros
- Great to drive
- Loads of space in the back
- Well equipped
Cons
- Firm ride on FR models
- Road noise
- Fiddly infotainment system
Best buy
1.5 eTSI MHEV SE Dynamic Hatchback 5dr Petrol Hybrid DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (115 ps) review
RRP £30,710
Trims available
SE
Don’t dismiss entry-level SE trim; it’s surprisingly well equipped. You get 16in alloys, air-conditioning, keyless start, cruise control and even metallic paint coming standard.
FR
FR trim plays to the Leon’s strengths, with its standard sports suspension making it great fun through the bends. You get more goodies than you do with SE Dynamic trim, too, including an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and ‘dynamic’ indicators – these illuminate a series in LEDs one after the other, effectively pointing in the direction you’re about to turn.
FR Sport
Like the FR, but FR Sport has larger 18in alloys, a full LED light bar at the back, heated steering wheel and front seats, electric driver’s seat adjustment, and suede upholstery.
SE Dynamic
We think SE Dynamic is worth the extra over entry-level SE trim, because as well as various infotainment upgrades, it adds front parking sensors, larger 17in wheels, tinted rear windows, and three-zone climate control.
New car deals
Available now
Leasing deals
Performance & drive
What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is
Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox
The Seat Leon's entry-level engine is a 109bhp 1.0-litre petrol (badged TSI 110). It pulls well enough from low revs and doesn’t struggle to keep up with faster-moving traffic, with 0-62mph taking a respectable 10.8 seconds.
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We prefer the 128bhp 1.5-litre TSI 130 petrol, though, because it offers considerably more punch, with a 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds. In fact, it’s good enough to negate the need for the more expensive 148bhp version of the same 1.5-litre engine.
Versions with an automatic gearbox use mild-hybrid versions of the 1.0 and 1.5 petrol engines (1.0 eTSI 110 and 1.5 eTSI 150), and you’ll notice very little difference in economy between these and their non-hybrid counterparts.
A better bet for miles per gallon are the diesel engines, with a 2.0 TDI with either 113bhp or 148bhp. They’re not as sweet as the petrols, but their muscular power delivery at low revs make them ideal for long-distance cruising.
At the top of the tree sits a 187bhp 2.0-litre petrol (2.0 TSI 190). This comes exclusively with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and can hit 62mph from a standstill in 7.4 seconds. However, with the 1.5 TSI models being so flexible at most speeds, we don’t think the extra power is worth paying so much more for.
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If performance is key for you, read about Cupra's hot hatch take on the Leon in our Cupra Leon review.
Suspension and ride comfort
The Leon is a comfortable car on its standard suspension – particularly over large undulations, such as speed bumps. Things aren't quite so impressive along rough town roads or pockmarked A-roads, but it's still a more agreeable option than the rival Peugeot 308.
FR trim models come with sports suspension, and this has an impact on ride comfort, especially for the pricer FR Sport version with its larger 18in wheels.
You won’t exactly be wincing every time you hit a drain cover, but larger impacts can throw you around in your seat more than if you were in a Toyota Corolla, Vauxhall Astra or VW Golf. There's also a bit more fidget along smoother roads.
Handling
The sports suspension fitted to FR models really helps the Leon shine on twisty roads. This is a car that turns in keenly with little body lean, and the plentiful grip allows you to carry a surprising amount of speed through corners.
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True, the steering isn't quite as interactive as on the Ford Focus but it is naturally weighted, edging ahead of the Honda Civic and is much better than the Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Astra.
Non-FR versions lean a little more through bends, but they still hang on tenaciously enough. Unlike in FR versions, there's no drive profile selection, so you can't alter the weighting of the steering to suit your preferences.
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Noise and vibration
The 1.5 TSI engine can always be heard humming in the background and it can sound a bit coarse when worked hard. You can detect a low-level buzz through the pedals as well.
The three-cylinder 1.0 TSI 110 is a little bit smoother and quieter. The DSG automatic gearbox that comes with the eTSI engines is smooth and delivers swift shifts.
You’ll hear a bit more road and wind noise at motorway cruising speeds than you would in a Focus or Golf, but not enough to make the Leon a wearing long-distance companion. Indeed, its light but positive clutch pedal and sweet manual gearshift make it a pleasure to drive in more built-up areas.
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Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Interior
The interior layout, fit and finish
Driving position and dashboard
You sit higher up in the Seat Leon than you do in the Honda Civic or Vauxhall Astra – something to bear in mind if you have a particular preference either way.
The Leon’s driving position is fundamentally very good, though, thanks to pedals that line up neatly with the seat and steering wheel, and a firm driver’s seat that’s comfy on long journeys and supportive through corners. All trims come with adjustable lumbar support, which certainly helps.
Our only complaint is that the Leon doesn’t have proper buttons and switches for its air-conditioning system – you have to use touch-sensitive pads instead. You can’t find these by feel, so you have to look away from the road to check you’re not just pressing a random bit of the dashboard. That’s distracting at 30mph, let alone 70mph – and to make matters worse, the pads aren't illuminated at night.
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Visibility, parking sensors and cameras
The Leon has reasonably slender windscreen pillars so forward visibility is fine, but chunky rear pillars make seeing what’s behind you when reversing trickier than it is in some rivals.
Fortunately, what you can’t see will be announced audibly by the standard rear parking sensors (and hopefully not by a loud crunching noise). If you go for SE Dynamic trim or above, you get sensors at the front of the car as well. However, the only way to get a rear-view camera is by forking out for pricier Xcellence or Xcellence Lux trim.
Powerful LED headlights come as standard on all versions of the Leon. From FR trim and up, the lights dip automatically to avoid dazzling other drivers.
Sat nav and infotainment
Entry-level SE trim includes an 8.3in touchscreen, a DAB radio, a seven-speaker sound system, two USB-C ports, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring (so you can run phone apps through the screen).
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Higher trim levels have a bigger (10in) touchscreen, and add built-in sat-nav with natural voice recognition. FR models and above add wireless phone-charging.
The 10in infotainment screen (we haven’t tried the smaller one yet) is bright and clear. Although the operating system it runs is more intuitive than the VW Golf set-up, the fact that it’s a touchscreen still means that some of your attention is diverted away from the road. A few of the basic functions require far too many presses in order to find them, while some of the icons are small and difficult to aim for.
The natural voice control function works really well, too. You wake it up by saying “Hola, Hola”, and then talk to it. If you say “I’m hot” it’ll turn up the air-con and, while it's not infallible, we found that it works well with a variety of accents.
Quality
The Leon certainly has a plusher interior than the Focus. You’ll find squidgy, dense-feeling plastic on the top of the dashboard and above the armrests on the doors, plus the buttons on the steering wheel are nicely weighted and don’t feel at all cheap.
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It doesn’t look or feel as posh inside as a BMW 1 Series, but then that's a more expensive car. The physical controls in the Honda Civic feel nicer to use, while the Peugeot 308 and Toyota Corolla use a classier blend of materials. The Leon's door pulls also feel a bit low-rent.
Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Front space
There’s absolutely loads of head room in the front of the Seat Leon, and its seats slide back a long way too. In fact, we can confidently say that no matter how tall you are, you’ll fit.
You’ll also find an array of storage spots dotted around the place. These include a decent-sized glovebox and broad door bins, a tray for your mobile phone in front of the gear lever, two cupholders and a cubby under the front armrest.
Rear space
The Leon is slightly longer than the VW Golf and this means it has quite a lot more rear leg room.
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Indeed, rear space is roughly on a par with that of the Ford Focus – although the Focus is more comfortable for a middle passenger because they won’t have such a big floor hump to straddle. Impressively, the Leon even trumps the larger Skoda Octavia for rear seat space, with fractionally more leg and head room.
Seat folding and flexibility
The Leon’s rear seats don’t do anything particularly clever, but they do fold in a 60/40 split for those occasions when you need extra space for luggage.
There’s also a ski hatch from FR trim upwards, enabling two rear passengers to be carried in comfort while a long, narrow load is slid through between them.
Boot space
The Leon’s boot space isn’t up there with the real leviathans of the family car class – namely the Skoda Octavia and Skoda Scala – but it's roughly the same size as the Focus and Corolla boot, and beats the Golf for load-lugging. If luggage space is super important, check out the Seat Leon Estate.
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We managed to slot six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf (one more than the VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra swallowed), although there is an annoyingly big drop down to the boot floor from the entrance.
It’s a pity Seat doesn’t offer a height-adjustable boot floor to rectify this problem and also iron out the step in the floor of the extended load bay when the rear seats are folded down.
Tips & Advice
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Buying & owning
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Equipment, options and extras
Don’t dismiss entry-level SE trim – it’s surprisingly well equipped. You get 16in alloy wheels, air-conditioning, keyless start, cruise control and even metallic paint as standard. We do think SE Dynamic is worth the extra, though, because as well as the various infotainment upgrades, it adds larger 17in wheels, three-zone climate control and tinted rear windows.
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Our preferred FR trim brings an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and dynamic indicators that illuminate LEDs in sequence, effectively pointing in the direction you’re about to turn. Meanwhile, FR Sport trim adds bigger 18in wheels, heated seats and a heated steering wheel, an electric driver’s seat and nicer upholstery. All FR models also have sports suspension.
Ways to buy
Cash from £18,990 Own the car outright. No monthly payments.
Lease from £219pm Drive a new car every few years. Lower upfront costs.
£2,624 initial payment , 48 month contract , 5000 miles p/a . Subject to status and conditions.
Available Now from £18,990 Choose a car from stock. Drive away today!
Seat calls the Xcellence "the indulgent one", which seems appropriate once you consult the brochure. It comes with 17in alloy wheels, heated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel, suede-lined seats, a powered driver’s seat with memory function and keyless entry. Xcellence Lux adds larger 18in alloy wheels, wraparound interior lighting, leather seats and adaptive cruise control.
Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2
The Seat Leon is priced below the Ford Focus and VW Golf when you’re comparing like-for-like versions. A Skoda Octavia will cost a similar amount, but the Skoda Scala is a fair bit cheaper. Sizeable discounts are available – see how much you can save by checking our New Car Deals pages.
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We reckon the 1.5 TSI 130 in sporty FR trim is the best buy. It’s an economical engine and is significantly cheaper than the more powerful 1.5 TSI 150. The mild-hybrid e-TSIs are best avoided unless you're desperate for an automatic gearbox. They're expensive compared with manual cars and fuel economy isn’t that impressive.
If you’re thinking about taking out a PCP finance agreement, bear in mind that your monthly repayments won’t necessarily be lower on a Leon than on more expensive rivals, including the Toyota Corolla. That’s because PCP deals factor in depreciation and the Leon doesn't hold on to its value particularly well.
Reliability
The Seat Leon came 25th out of 26 family cars ranked in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, which is not reassuring. Meanwhile, Seat came 26th out of 31 brands, which is not as bad but still not impressive. Ford and VW both did better.
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All versions of the Seat Leon come with a two-year unlimited-mileage warranty and a third year of cover as long as your total mileage doesn't exceed 60,000 miles. That’s par for the course, although not as impressive as the standard seven-year warranty on the Kia Ceed.
You can, of course, pay extra to have the warranty extended if you plan to keep your Leon for longer.
Safety and security
The Leon has been appraised for safety by Euro NCAP and scored five stars out of five. It was found to offer adults in the front slightly better crash protection than the Audi A3, although that car proved marginally safer for children in the back.
All versions come with automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, tyre-pressure monitoring and a driver fatigue monitor.
If you choose FR trim, you’ll have the option of adding a Driving and Safety Pack M, which brings a host of extra aids, including traffic-sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. It’s reasonably priced and definitely worth considering. If you want blind-spot monitoring, you’ll need the pricier Driving and Safety Pack L.
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All versions of the Leon come with an alarm and an immobiliser.
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SEAT Leon owner reviews
Sort by: Most Recent Star rating
Richard
Seat Leon petrol
Likes: Reliability, Running costs
Jun 22, 2026 9:52 PM
The Seat Leon in solid rear axle leaves a lot to be desired in the wet in corners or roundabouts. For a front wheel drive car it is tail happy. Changing from manufacturer tyres to Davantis to Pirelli, to Pirelli All Seasons calmed it down.The entertainment system was woefully buggy, constantly crashing in the first year. Having endured and anticipated software updates, this year seems to have settled it down. There has been three updates since January, with the last one deleting your login profile. I am now only experiencing a software clash around once a month.
Anonymous
Seat Leon petrol
Dislikes: Reliability, Running costs
May 5, 2026 10:04 PM
Seat Leon 1.5 FR Sport with the 130 engine. Touchscreen is poor with lagging making it frustrating to use. Heating slider control and volume slider doesn't light up at night - an absolutely baffling decision by the manufacturer! Engine feels underpowered. In 2.5yrs of ownership it has needed the rear window glass replacing because the DAB signal was non existent, a boot latch (which now needs replacing again) and various rattles fixing (which never were fixed properly). Too much road and wind noise overall when driving.
David
Seat Leon petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Mar 31, 2026 12:54 PM
No issue, very reliable and economical
Anonymous
Seat Leon PHEV
Likes: Value, Servicing, Running costs
Dislikes: Reliability
Mar 22, 2026 6:56 AM
Great to have the electric range for short journeys, economy is mediocre on longer journeys - similar to the diesel hatch we had prior to this. Actual electric range varies from 25-34 miles depending on the weather. Performance is great particularly when overtaking on A roads. Infotainment system doesn't consistently pick up touch inputs and not having any backlight on the heating buttons is really irritating at night.
Stephen
Seat Leon petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Dec 7, 2025 7:39 PM
My Leon has been a pleasure to own and drive since I purchased it 18 months ago .
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Tips & Advice
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
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Similarly priced cars
Vauxhall Astra
Skoda Octavia
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Toyota Corolla
If you're interested in finding a Seat Leon, or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to our Cars available now pages to find new cars listed for sale at great prices.
SEAT Leon specifications
Best buy
1.5 eTSI MHEV SE Dynamic Hatchback 5dr Petrol Hybrid DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (115 ps) review
RRP £30,710
RRP price range
£25,995 - £40,165
MPG range across all versions
41.5 - 256.8
Available fuel types (which is best for you? )
Petrol Hybrid, Petrol, Diesel, Petrol Plug-in Hybrid
Available colours
Number of engines (see all)
4
Number of trims (see all)
8
Warranty
3 years / 60,000 miles
Company car tax at 20% (min/max)
£518 - £2,149
Company car tax at 40% (min/max)
£1,036 - £4,298
FAQs
Is the Seat Leon available as a hybrid or electric car?
The Seat Leon is available with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engines but there is no electric car version. In fact, there are no all-electric Seat car models.
What is the Seat Leon’s infotainment system like?
The Seat Leon has a good infotainment system. Entry-level SE trim versions get an 8.3in touchscreen, a DAB radio, a seven-speaker sound system, two USB-C ports, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring. Higher trim levels have a bright and clear 10in touchscreen, and add sat-nav and natural-voice recognition.
How big is the boot in the Seat Leon?
The Seat Leon has 380 litres of boot space in most versions – enough for six carry-on suitcases – and about 100 litres less if you select the PHEV (e-Hybrid) engine. That's about the same load-lugging capacity as the Ford Focus and a bit more than the VW Golf. If you need a lot of space, see our Seat Leon Estate review.
New car deals
Best price from £18,990
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £18,990
RRP from: £25,995
Available now
From £18,990
Leasing deals
From £219
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Seat Leon
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £218.68 Initial payment £2,624.16
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£2,869 total upfront (£2,624 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
SEAT Leons available to buy
In partnership with
SEAT Leon
1.5 TSI SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £25,995
£18,990
SEAT Leon
1.5 TSI SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £25,995
£18,990
SEAT Leon
1.5 TSI SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £25,995
£19,990
SEAT Leon
1.5 eTSI MHEV SE DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £29,030
£22,280
SEAT Leon
1.5 TSI FR Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £29,475
£22,750
SEAT Leon
1.5 TSI FR Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £29,475
£22,765
SEAT Leon
1.5 eTSI MHEV FR DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £33,125
£23,999
SEAT Leon
1.5 eTSI MHEV FR Sport DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £33,775
£24,990
SEAT Leon
1.5 eTSI MHEV FR Black Edition DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
RRP £36,105
£25,690
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Lawrence Cheung
Title: New cars editor
Follow Lawrence Cheung on
Lawrence Cheung has worked at What Car? as New Cars Editor since 2021. He oversees the first drives section of the site and magazine, commissioning and writing about the latest cars to hit the market. He also contributes to sister magazine Autocar.
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