Used Seat Leon 2020-present review

What's the used SEAT Leon like?

Seat named the Seat Leon after the city of the same name – and it also means 'lion' in Spanish. That's a brash title for a sensible family car, but one that fits the latest, fourth-generation model more than ever.

Launched in 2020, it’s sharp, well-rounded and efficient. It has a lot to live up to, though, because we liked the previous version of this car (the 2013-2020 Seat Leon) so much it was actually our overall What Car? Used Car of the Year a few years back.

Overview

The Seat Leon is a well-rounded family car that's fun to drive, spacious and well equipped, plus it's available with a wide range of engines and trims. Unfortunately, it has a poor reputation for reliability, with many owners reporting issues with the infotainment system. This is a shame, because it's an otherwise tempting used buy.

Pros

• Great to drive
• Loads of space in the back
• Well equipped

Cons

• Poor reliability record
• Firm ride on FR models
• Road noise

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SEAT Leon

1.0 TSI EVO SE Dynamic Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,290

SEAT Leon

1.0 TSI EVO FR Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,495

SEAT LEON

1.0 TSI EVO SE Dynamic Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,790

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1.5 eTSI MHEV FR DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,990

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1.0 TSI EVO FR Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,795

SEAT Leon

1.5 TSI EVO FR Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,809

SEAT Leon

1.5 TSI EVO SE Dynamic Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,990

SEAT Leon

1.0 TSI SE Dynamic Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,100

SEAT Leon

1.0 TSI EVO SE Dynamic Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,395

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Engines and performance: So how does this latest version stack up? Let’s start under the bonnet. 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.

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 as of yet.

At the top of the range there's an eco-friendly plug-in hybrid (PHEV), creatively named the eHybrid. It uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine (shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTE) with an electric motor that bumps up the power to an impressive 201bhp.

Ride and handling: On the road, the Leon boasts fun driving dynamics and keen handling. It won’t rattle your fillings out and is compliant over large undulations, such as speed bumps, but it's not 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 bumpy roads. That's because the extra weight of the battery makes bigger demands of the suspension.

For a more comfortable PHEV, we’d point you towards the Skoda Octavia iV, and for a more entertaining drive, we’d recommend the Ford Focus ST-Line. That said, the Leon truly impresses with the way it drives.

Inside, the Leon’s driving position is fundamentally good, thanks to 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.

Interior and practicality: If you go for entry-level SE trim, you’ll get an 8.3in touchscreen, a DAB radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a seven-speaker sound system and two USB-C ports. All of the higher trim levels come with an enlarged 10in touchscreen, and add built-in sat-nav and natural voice recognition. While the system isn’t the most intuitive set-up, it is better than the system in the Volkswagen Golf.

In 2024, the Leon was lightly updated, with the biggest change being the addition of a new infotainment system. This brought a larger 10.0in screen on entry-level cars, and a 12.9in screen on upper trim models.

Interior quality is impressive, 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 on par with rivals, which is to say good, but not quite on the level of the uber-practical Skoda Octavia and Scala. It’s worth noting that the eHybrid’s boot is smaller than that of the non-electrified Leons.

Trims and equipment: All versions of the Seat Leon get five doors, and you can pick between relatively modest SE (or SE Dynamic) trim, the more extroverted 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 even 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 with SE Dynamic trim, too, including an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and climate control.

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.

Facelift: The Leon was given the lightest of updates in 2024, with changes to the engine line-up and infotainment system. The latter brought in a larger screen with improved software. It's a much better system than the previous set-up, even though it still has the fiddly touch-sensitive sliders for the climate and volume controls.

"All versions of the Leon have physical steering wheel buttons. I'd say this is a big win over the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, which has touch-sensitive buttons on top-spec models that are deeply irritating." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

If you're interested in finding a Seat Leon or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Ownership cost

What used SEAT Leon will I get for my budget?

Used prices for the Seat Leon begin at around £8000 for 2020 cars with high miles, either in SE or SE Dynamic trim. For low mileage examples, this moves up to around £11,000. Engines at that price point include the 1.0 TSI 110 and 1.5 TSI 130, while the 1.5 TSI 150 and plug-in hybrid models are likely to set you back upwards of £12,000. You'll likely be spending upwards of £16,000 on a 2024 or 2025 model, and over £20,000 on a 2026 car.

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How much does cost to run a SEAT Leon?

MPG

Starting with the base 1.0 TSI 110 and its 1.0-litre petrol engine, it averages 52.3mpg (according to WLTP testing). The 1.5 TSI 130, on the other hand, averages 51.4mpg, 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.

Road tax

All versions of the Leon cost £200 per year to tax under current VED regulations. You can find out more about road tax costs by clicking that link.

Servicing and insurance

Insurance groups are quite low, meaning the Seat Leon 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 for the duration of the plan: 24 monthly payments of £17.25, or you can pay in full for £414. 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.

Warranty

From new, every Leon comes with a two-year unlimited-mileage warranty and a third year of cover as long as your total mileage doesn't exceed 60,000 miles. That’s pretty standard, but it doesn't beat the five-year, unlimited mileage cover from Hyundai and the seven-year, 100,000-mile cover from Kia.

Safety

The Leon scored five stars out of five for safety when it was appraised by Euro NCAP in 2020. It was found to offer marginally better crash protection for adults in the front than the closely related Audi A3. That car proved slightly safer for children in the back, though.

Reliability

The Seat Leon (2020-present) received mixed reliability scores in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, based on real-world feedback from owners.

Petrol versions performed reasonably well overall, with some drivers reporting no issues. But others experienced electrical faults, such as infotainment bugs and unexplained warning lights. Hybrid models were less dependable, with owners frequently mentioning battery and electronic problems – one even called their car “unreliable from the start”.

Seat’s dealer support also split opinion. While some owners found quick and friendly service, others complained about poor communication, delays and repeated trips to fix the same issues.

Learn more about used Seat Leon reliability on our dedicated page.

Our recommendations

Which used SEAT Leon should I buy?

Engine

The base 1.0 TSI 110 is a great choice, offering decent performance and excellent fuel economy. If the punchier 1.5 TSI 130 weren’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.

Specification

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.

Our favourite Seat Leon: 1.5 130 TSI FR

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used SEAT Leon?

The Toyota Corolla is a brilliant used family car. There are plenty of them available on the market for a reasonable price, plus it has a fantastic reputation for reliability. Ride comfort and efficiency are strong points, too.

The Honda Civic offers many of the same strengths as the Corolla, but adds quicker performance and a plusher interior. It is more expensive, though, even when buying used.

The Ford Focus has always impressed us for its practicality nearly as much as it has for its driver appeal. It’s a compelling package and one worth a good look if the Leon doesn’t quite float your boat.

The most obvious rival might be the car on which so much of the Seat Leon is based, the current Volkswagen Golf. Both are similarly good family cars, but unfortunately the Golf is more unreliable than the Leon, which makes it difficult to recommend.

Other cars that share the Leon’s underpinnings are the Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia. The A3 is a premium car that has a nicer interior and generally feels more classy. It's also significantly pricier than the Leon, so perhaps it’s not as much of a rival for the Leon as the Octavia.

While the Octavia is longer and more spacious than any of the other cars mentioned here, it is in more direct competition with its relation, and is good to drive and wonderfully spacious. It’s worth noting it suffers from the same reliability issues as the Leon, whereas the A3 doesn’t.

If you're interested in finding a Seat Leon or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.