Seat Leon SC prices announced

* Sportier styling than five-door version * 300 cheaper than five-door cars * On sale in July from 15,370...

Seat Leon SC prices announced

Prices for the new three-door Seat Leon SC have been revealed ahead of its UK launch making it 300 cheaper than the five-door model.

Restyled from the windscreen back, the SC gets a lower roofline, wider rear wheelarches and a more steeply raked rear window. It's also 35mm shorter than the five-door Leon.

The styling changes have made the rear seats slightly less roomy, but the boot has stayed the same size at 380 litres.

Five engines are available from launch: three petrols and two diesels. The petrol options are a 104bhp 1.2-litre with average economy of 57.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km, a 138bhp 1.4 that averages 54.3mpg and emits 119g/km of CO2, along with a 1.8-litre that produces 178bhp, averages 47.1mpg and emits 137g/km of CO2.

All petrol engines come with a six-speed manual gearbox while a seven-speed DSG semi-automatic 'box is available on the 1.2 and the 1.8.

Diesel options are a 104bhp 1.6 that averages 74.3mpg and emits 99g/km of CO2 and a 148bhp 2.0-litre that averages 68.9mpg and emits 106g/km of CO2.

The 1.6 diesel comes with a five-speed manual, while the 2.0-litre is mated to a six-speed manual. Both are also available with the seven-speed DSG automatic.

There are three trims. Entry-level S models get air-conditioning, Bluetooth, touch-screen infotainment system and sports seats.

SE trim adds chrome detailing to the dashboard, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearlever, front foglights, cruise control, hill hold control and 16-inch alloys.

Top-spec FR cars come with 17-inch alloys, FR sports seats, dual-zone climate control, sports suspension, LED tail-lights, redesigned front and rear bumpers and a system that allows the driver to change the car's driving style.

Full LED headlamps are available as an option on SE and FR models.

Prices for the Seat Leon SC start at 15,370 for the 1.2 TSI S and rise to 22,335 for the 2.0 TDI FR DSG.

Seat dealers will start taking orders for the SC from April 15 and the first cars will appear in showrooms fro, July. The third model to join the range, the Leon ST (estate), is expected to reach the UK before the end of the year.

By Matthew Burrow