Extremely low consumption!

Oh, oh, I thought. Only 1500 miles on the odometer and then the fuel gauge has stopped working? After all, we have been driving around for hours with no results. Luckily I was wrong.

Look and feel

 
In my opinion, Leon has had a successful design from the first model. Also saw our test car in Apollo Blue with 16 inch alloy wheels that I got to drive for a weekend around Essex, UK. Although it shares the chassis with the Golf, it appears longer and wider - but that turns out to be an optical illusion. On paper, only a couple of centimeters separate it from the Golf. Today's Leon is the third generation, and appears in a sharper design with a more aggressive front. With the LED package, you would get the beautiful triangular driving lights. Model pictured has standard reflectors.
 
Inside, it looks like a product from the Volkswagen group. The dashboard is simple in the sense of stylish (free of frills), without giving any premium feel. I didn't expect that either. The built-in screen has a nice location. With the upgraded infotainment system, the large screen can operate together with a small screen between the instrument dials, exactly the same type of solution that Audi has chosen. When I sit in, I notice that the seats are softer in the stop than what I am used to from Volkswagen and Audi. The seats are reminiscent of modern French cars. It was probably only now that I noticed something that could link it to its Latin origin. The seats are good, though. The handbrake is of the usual mechanical type and not electromechanical. Seat supports well be a little more easily equipped than Volkswagen and Audi?
 

Driving pleasure

The 110 horsepower engine is a brand new common rail diesel that you can currently only get in Seat. On paper, it should be possible to keep consumption as low as 0,33 liters of diesel on the road. However, an extremely favorable consumption does not dampen the driving pleasure. The engine has good bottom traction. The forces are delivered to the drive wheels via a 6-speed gearbox which works perfectly in all speed ranges. On the road, I have the same good, slightly firm feeling as the Golf and Passat.
 

Comfort

The first thing I noticed on the comfort side was the noise level, i.e. the absence of engine noise in all speed ranges! You have to deliberately rev the engine to hear it. I don't know if this is a feature of this newly developed engine, or if Seat has paid for solid sound insulation against the engine compartment. In any case, it is a plus for comfort. Add comfortable seats, a good infotainment system and an air conditioning system from the Volkswagen group's shelves, and you have a comfortable journey ahead of you.

Place

The space conditions in the front and back are good. The luggage compartment of 380 liters is in the middle of the tree in this class. It is too small for families with children, but Leon has come with a station wagon - and it will probably be able to cover the space needs of ordinary families. Fortunately, the station wagon (ST) has emphasized design rather than load characteristics.

Safety

All relevant safety equipment is in place from the Volkswagen group's shelves. Lane change alerts can be ordered.

Economy

We have tested an engine which is expected to appear in new Volkswagen Bluemotion models in the future. The Volkswagen Group has long tested new technology on its Seat models. I didn't get consumption measured, but as I said I discovered driving for hours without the fuel gauge moving, and without being slow in traffic. This promises very well! The engine has start & stop.
 
In terms of price, the Volkswagen group's philosophy is that Seat should be more affordable than a similarly equipped Volkswagen. In terms of equipment, you "must" have a full LED package. I would choose leather/alcantara seats and upgraded infotainment system with navigation à la Audi. Then we already have equipment worth NOK 50. I wonder if a panoramic sunroof would not be stylish? The price in Norway is not known, but you can import the car to Norway through The Møller group. I have made the following calculations based on French on-route prices (without winter package, winter tyres, extra equipment and shipping):

• Extremely low consumption
• Pleasantly low sound level

• No

Destination: Afternoon Tea at Wivenhoe House

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