Used Seat Leon (2013-present) long-term test review

• The car 2017 Seat Leon 1.4 EcoTSI FR Technology
• Run by Max Adams, used cars reporter
• Why it’s here To find out if our 2018 Used Car of the Year still represents a stonking used purchase
• Needs to Cope with the daily commute and occasional long-distance trips, as well as establish whether the fuel-saving tech makes financial sense against the cheaper 1.4 TSI 125 model

Price when new £25,245 (including £1885 worth of options) Value on arrival £15,194 Value now £15,038 (trade in) Mileage on arrival 5583 Mileage now 9463 Official economy 57.6mpg Test economy 49.7mpg

1 October 2018 – Reflections of view

It’s about time that I got off my chest the quirks that irk with our Leon. No car is truly free of idiosyncrasies and this Seat is no exception. Let’s start with the mirrors.

It’s not that they don’t work because, thankfully, they do. No, it’s that you can select to have your mirrors dip when you engage reverse in the infotainment screen, but it doesn’t tell you that you need to select which mirror does this via the adjustment knob on the door. Otherwise, no mirror lowers to help you see the kerb.

Also, I’ve selected the ‘fold when parked’ feature, yet the mirrors don’t tidy themselves away when you lock the car. No, you must stand there like a lemon and either hold the lock button down with the key or keep your finger on the keyless lock pad on the handle. That’s no good if it’s raining.

Then there’s the adjustable height boot floor. True, it does help when loading shopping but, when it’s up, you can’t use the space underneath as a hidden storage spot since there’s no carpet covering the spare wheel. The Polo I ran previously had a fully carpeted boot, and you had tabs to hold up the adjustable floor in place when accessing the spare tyre. You don’t get anything like that on the Leon, except a juggling act or a face full of hard boot floor as it smacks you on your noggin.

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