No Leon is short of standard equipment. Even this entry-level SE model comes with a leather-trimmed steering wheel, air-con, 16in alloy wheels, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, electric windows, cruise control and metallic paint. Infotainment includes an 8.0in touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and a DAB radio. The driver also gets height and lumbar adjustment as standard.

Performance from the least powerful of the Leon’s diesel engines is perfectly acceptable, thanks to a decent amount of shove at low revs, but that comes at the expense of refinement. It's the noisiest of all the engines with diesel clatter at idle or when you put your foot down, and the five-speed manual gearbox (all other manual versions have six gears) keeps it droning more on the motorway. It is economical if you're a higher-mileage driver and offers low CO2 emissions. Don't forget that if you're a company car driver you'll have to pay a 4% diesel surcharge, which means the 1.0-litre petrol could cost you less in tax.