Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2
The Seat Leon is priced below the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf when you’re comparing like-for-like versions. A Skoda Octavia will cost a similar amount, but the Skoda Scala is a fair bit cheaper. Sizeable discounts are available so check out our New Car Deals pages to see how much you could save.
We reckon the 1.5 TSI 130 in sporty FR trim is the best buy. It’s a really economical engine and is significantly cheaper than the more powerful 1.5 TSI 150. If you’re a company car driver, the e-Hybrid's low official CO2 emissions give it a big benefit-in-kind (BIK) car tax rate advantage over regular petrols and diesels. It should attract lower company car tax bills than the Golf GTE, but the Octavia iV wraps all of that up in a more practical package. The mild-hybrid eTSI is expensive compared with the manual equivalent, and official fuel economy isn’t that impressive.
Equipment, options and extras
Don’t dismiss entry-level SE trim – it’s surprisingly well equipped. You get 16in alloy wheels, air-conditioning, keyless start, cruise control and even metallic paint as standard. We do think SE Dynamic is worth the extra, though, because as well as the various infotainment upgrades, it adds larger 17in wheels, three-zone climate control and tinted rear windows.
Our preferred FR trim brings an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and dynamic indicators that illuminate LEDs in sequence, effectively pointing in the direction you’re about to turn. FR Sport trim adds bigger 18in wheels, heated seats and a heated steering wheel, an electric driver’s seat and nicer upholstery. FR models also have sports suspension.
