Item: Used Seat Leon Estate 2020-present review
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

Cheaper versions count the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/estate/used-review/n955">Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer</a> among its rivals; it's a ubiquitous but pleasant car that’s good to drive and comes with a practical interior. Entry-level versions can be a bit sparse and the diesel engines can be gruff. On top of that, the low-speed ride is a little firm.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/estate/used-review/n20364">Ford Focus estate</a> is great to drive, with a smooth and quiet Ecoboost engine in some versions and low running costs. Some rivals are cheaper, though, and the Leon feels a little better-made.

The previous-generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/estate/used-review/n783">Volkswagen Golf estate</a> is worth considering, although it has been replaced by the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/?aq=Volkswagen%20%20Golf&amp;amp;type=review&amp;amp;src=SearchDropdown&amp;amp;oq=vw%2520golf">Volkswagen Golf</a>, which shares its underpinnings with the current Octavia estate. VW's model is brilliant to drive, well equipped, refined and comparatively cheap to run. On the other hand, the interior is a little dreary.

If you're interested in finding a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/seat/leon?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;yearFrom=2020">used Leon</a>, or any of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-family-cars-2021/n16996">other family cars</a>&nbsp;mentioned here, head over to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">&nbsp;Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">What Car? Newsletter here</a>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

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As of writing, the current Seat Leon estate has yet to experience any major recalls, though it is rather new. The previous generation had very few reported problems, too, which is promising when looking to the latest model.

The current Leon estate was too new to feature in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-family-cars/n23409">2021 What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, but its predecessor, in family car form, did. In petrol guise, it managed a 10th place finish out of 24 cars in the family car class. The diesel version came 11th.

Seat as a brand performed rather averagely, finishing in 17th place out of 30 manufacturers.&nbsp;

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information. 

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Estate

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

LEON

The Seat Leon estate is a fantastic all-rounder. It comes packed with kit and has a roomy interior, plus it’s relatively affordable to buy and run.

Used Seat Leon Estate 2020-present review

<h3 dir="ltr">MPG</h3>

Starting with the base 1.0 TSI 110 and its 1.0-litre petrol engine, it averages 51.4mpg (according to WLTP testing). The 1.5 TSI 130 averages 49.6mpg, while the more powerful 1.5 TSI 150 averages 48.7mpg. The e-Hybrid is the most economical variant, with a claimed average of 235.4mpg.&nbsp;

<h3>Road tax</h3>

Owners of petrol-powered Leon estates will have to pay £155 per year under current VED regulations, while hybrid examples attract a fee of £145 per year. To find out more about <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.&nbsp;

<h3>Servicing and insurance</h3>

Insurance groups are generally low, meaning the Seat Leon estate should be cheap to insure. In terms of servicing, if your example is less than 12 months old, you’ll receive your first two services for a fixed price throughout the duration of the plan: 24 monthly payments of £17.25 or you can pay in full for £414.&nbsp;

For cars one to 15 years old, you can pay upfront for £502.80 or spread the cost from as little as £20.95 per month over 24 months.

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The Seat Leon estate is a fantastic all-rounder. It handles well, comes packed with kit and has a roomy interior, plus it’s relatively affordable to buy and run.

Used prices for the Seat Leon estate begin at around £20,000 for a nearly new SE or SE Dynamic model with less than 5,000 miles. Engines at this price point include the 1.0 TSI 110 and 1.5 TSI 130, while the 1.5 TSI 150, along with higher trim levels, are likely to set you back closer to £25,000. Plug-in hybrid examples are available for upwards of £27,000.

Check the value of a used Seat Leon with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

Find a used Seat Leon estate for sale <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/seat/leon?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;derivative.category=estate&amp;yearFrom=2020">here</a>

The base 1.0 TSI 110 is a great choice, offering decent performance and excellent fuel economy. If the punchier 1.5 TSI 130 wasn’t available at a similar price point, it’d be our go-to. Is it worth going a step further and getting the 1.5 TSI 150? Not particularly, as the slight boost in performance isn’t entirely worth the extra cash. At that point, you might as well spring for the eHybrid if you have the money.&nbsp;

SE Dynamic is our trim of choice. SE already comes well equipped, but the Dynamic’s bigger wheels, infotainment upgrades and front parking sensors can be enjoyed for not much more money.&nbsp;

Our favourite Seat Leon estate: 1.5 130 TSI SE Dynamic

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

On the whole, the Leon estate is a solid and sensible family car, usually bought by people who look after their cars well. Check the interior for signs of wear and tear and alloys for any kerb damage.

Seat named the Leon after the city of the same name – and it also means “lion” in Spanish. That’s a brash title for a sensible <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/category/estate">estate car</a> and its standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family">family car</a> sibling, but it&nbsp;fits the latest, fourth-generation model more than ever.

Launched in 2020, the Leon is sharp, well-rounded and efficient, plus the estate receives extra practicality and spaciousness over the hatch.&nbsp;

That said, this current model still&nbsp;has a lot to live up to. We liked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/estate/used-review/n17410">the previous version of the car</a>&nbsp;so much that, in family car form,&nbsp;it became our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/used-car-awards">What Car? Used Car of the Year</a>&nbsp;a few years back.

To find out how this latest estate stacks up, let's begin under the bonnet.&nbsp;The base engine is a 1.0-litre petrol, badged 1.0 TSI 110, and you shouldn’t rule it out. It pulls well enough from low revs and doesn’t struggle to keep up with faster-moving traffic. You’ll certainly appreciate the extra punch of the 128bhp 1.5-litre petrol, badged 1.5 TSI 130, though.&nbsp;

For more power, there’s the 148bhp version of the same 1.5-litre engine, badged 1.5 TSI 150, and a 187bhp 2.0-litre engine, badged 2.0 TSI 190. Mild-hybrid versions of the 1.0 and 1.5 TSI are also out there, but there are no diesel options.

At the top of the range there's an eco-friendly <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-a-hybrid-car-and-should-you-buy-one/n1290">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV), creatively named the eHybrid. It uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine (shared with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17166">Volkswagen Golf GTE</a>) with an electric motor that bumps up the power to an impressive 201bhp.&nbsp;

Trim-wise, you can pick between relatively modest SE (or SE Dynamic) trim, the more extrovert styling and sportier driving manners of the FR versions or a more luxury-focused Xcellence trim.

The entry-level SE trim is surprisingly well-equipped. You get 16in alloys, air-conditioning, keyless start, cruise control and metallic paint as standard. Step up to SE Dynamic and, in addition to various infotainment upgrades, buyers will also enjoy front parking sensors, larger 17in wheels and tinted rear windows.

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, including an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and climate control.&nbsp;

Finally, we have Xcellence with its extensive list of bells and whistles. It gets 17in alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, heated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel, suede-lined seats, a powered driver’s seat with memory and adjustable lumbar support, three-zone climate control, a rear view camera and keyless start and entry. And breathe.

On the road, the Leon boasts fun driving dynamics and keen handling. It also won’t rattle your fillings out and is compliant over large undulations, such as speed bumps, but it does fail to be quite so absorbent over rough town roads or pockmarked A-roads. The FR trim’s sports suspension makes for a slightly less comfortable ride, but it’s the plug-in eHybrid versions that are the least forgiving Leons along pockmarked roads. This is because the extra weight of the battery makes more demands of the suspension.

For a more comfortable PHEV, we’d point you towards the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/estate/used-review/n23576">Skoda Octavia iV&nbsp;Estate</a>, and for a more entertaining drive, we’d recommend the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/estate/used-review/n20364">Ford Focus ST Line Estate</a>. That said, the Leon truly impresses with how it drives.&nbsp;

Inside, the Leon’s driving position is fundamentally very good, with&nbsp;pedals that line up neatly with the seat and steering wheel, and a driver’s seat that’s comfy on long journeys and supportive through corners. The fact that all trims come with adjustable lumbar support certainly helps.&nbsp;

If you go for entry-level SE trim, you’ll get an 8.3in touchscreen, a DAB radio, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone mirroring, a seven-speaker sound system and two USB-C ports. The higher trim levels come with a 10in touchscreen, and add built-in sat-nav and natural voice recognition. FR models get a couple of extra USB-C ports&nbsp;too.

Interior quality is great, with 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.

Space for front and rear passengers is plentiful and boot space is slightly above par compared with rivals, which is to say very good, but not quite on the level of the super-practical <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/estate/used-review/n23576">Skoda Octavia Estate</a>. It’s worth noting that the eHybrid’s boot is smaller than that of the non-electrified Leons.&nbsp;

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/seat/leon?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;derivative.category=estate&amp;yearFrom=2020">used Leon estate</a>, or any of the other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/category/estate">estate cars</a> mentioned here, head over to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars"> Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Seat Leon Estate 2020-present review review

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Wondering what the best used Seat Leon 2020 - present is for your money? The expert What Car? review team can help you out.

The base 1.0 TSI 110 is a great choice, offering decent performance and excellent fuel economy. If the punchier 1.5 TSI 130 wasn’t available at a similar price point, it’d be our go-to. Is it worth going a step further and getting the 1.5 TSI 150? Not particularly, as the slight boost in performance isn’t entirely worth the extra cash. At that point, you might as well spring for the eHybrid if you have the money. ,SE Dynamic is our trim of choice. SE already comes well equipped, but the Dynamic’s bigger wheels, infotainment upgrades and front parking sensors can be enjoyed for not much more money. ,Our favourite Seat Leon estate: 1.5 130 TSI SE DynamicPage 4 of 5

Used Seat Leon Estate 2020-present review review

Seat Leon 1.0 Tsi Se Dynamic [ez] 5dr

Seat Leon 1.5 Tsi Evo Se Dynamic [ez] 5dr

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