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Seat Leon 1.0 eTSI Xcellence 5dr DSG Review

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Don’t discount the entry-level 1.0-litre three cylinder engine. A turbocharger gives it plenty of poke from low down, providing perfectly adequate if not sparkling performance. Economy is good and it’s pretty refined, too.

1.0 eTSI

Hatchback

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

Seat markets the Xcellence as ‘the indulgent one’, which seems appropriate once you consult the brochure. As standard it comes with 17in alloy wheels, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, suede-lined seats, a powered driver’s seat with memory function, a rear-view camera and even keyless entry.

Xcellence

1.0 eTSI Xcellence 5dr DSG

10-etsi-xcellence-5dr-dsg

Park assist (inc front/rear parking sensors)

Start/stop system with regenerative braking

LED front fog lamps with cornering function

Separate daytime running light with automatic headlight control and coming home feature

Electric adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors with memory

Full link smartphone integration with Mirror Link, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Google Android Auto

LED headlights and tail lights with dynamic turn signals, welcome light silhouette from exterior mirrors and dynamic headlight range control

Driver and front passenger airbags with front passenger airbag de-activation, front side and curtain airbags

Seat Leon

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.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

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Seat Leon 1.0 eTSI Xcellence 5dr DSG Review

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