Item: Used Seat Leon Hatchback 2005 - 2012
Author: Steve Huntingford

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<p dir="ltr">Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


SEAT

LEON

<p>It's built to a budget, but the Seat Leon is a safe and pleasing family car</p>


Used Seat Leon Hatchback 2005 - 2012

<p>The days of picking up low-mileage, second-hand Seats for a song are long gone. When the Leon was released in 2005, predicted resale values were strong - maybe not quite up to VW Golf levels, but certainly better than the equivalent Ford Focus or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/review/n17347">Vauxhall Astra</a>. So, a used Leon can look quite dear.</p>

<p>Servicing costs aren't exactly low, either, but they are still reasonable. The 10,000-mile service intervals are not as lengthy as those of a Vauxhall Astra, which can in theory run for up to two years or 20,000 miles before needing attention.</p>

<p>Similarly, if you need to pay for repairs at a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/seat">Seat</a> dealer, you'll be charged a slightly higher hourly rate than at a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ford">Ford</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/vauxhall">Vauxhall</a> or even <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> franchise.</p>

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It's built to a budget, but the Seat Leon is a safe and pleasing family car

<p>All models get electronic traction control and state-of-the-art brakes, along with front, side and curtain airbags as standard. Entry-level Essence trim skimps a little on kit, but even so, you get electric front windows, a CD player and spilt folding rear seats.</p>

<p>Reference adds air-conditioning, while Stylance, our recommended trim, provides rear electric windows and cruise control. Sport and FR are the two top trims available.</p>

<p>The most powerful engine is the 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged, direct-injection petrol unit, which is found in various sporting VWs, Audis and Skodas. This and its 168bhp 2.0 TDI diesel stablemate power the hot FR versions that were released in June 2006.</p>

<p>The 140bhp 2.0 diesel is our favourite engine overall, as the 105bhp 1.9 diesel suffers from a narrow powerband. And, of the two remaining petrol engines, we prefer the 1.6-litre 101bhp unit over the 2.0-litre 150bhp engine.</p>

<p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a></strong></p>

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<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>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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;</p>

Family

<p>Some people will absolutely cherish their hot Leon FRs, and yet others will undoubtedly rev them within an inch of their life. Happily, both the 2.0-litre FSI turbo petrol and the 2.0 HDI turbodiesel can take a lot of abuse, but you still need to be careful.</p>

<p>Check that the petrol engine isn't noisy on start-up, because it should be capable of idling very quietly. You can't expect the same level of refinement from the diesel, but what you don't want to see is a lot of black smoke from the exhaust when you put your foot on the accelerator.</p>

<p>With either FR version, you'll have to put up with a horrid, oversized gearlever, but don't put up with an abused gearbox or slipping clutch, check both out thoroughly on a test drive before handing over any cash. Ensure the suspension feels right, too, and that the brake discs are not warped.</p>

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<p>The Seat Leon looks absolutely gorgeous, thanks to that teardrop, five-door hatchback shape. And, with the underpinnings of the widely acclaimed Volkswagen Golf backing the Leon up, there's substance beneath those seductive looks.</p>

<p>Very good though the interior is, don't expect absolute top-notch quality plastics. Visibility isn't great, either, due to thick, sweeping, windscreen pillars. The boot isn't as big as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>'s or a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>'s, nor is the load aperture as practical.</p>

<p>Sitting behind the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/hatchback/review/n89">Leon</a>'s small steering wheel on the well bolstered driver's seat, you feel very much as if you're in a sporting car - and it doesn't disappoint you out on the road, either. Although the ride can be a little firm, body control is tight and the handling is tidy and precise, while the engine line-up is impressive, at least for the most part.</p>

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Used Seat Leon Hatchback 2005 - 2012 review

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