Seat

Seat Leon ST 1,5 TSI ACT

Posted 09/07/2019 by Terje Bjørnstad

act — The Seat transformed into a "manor wagon" when we parked in front of the Eidsvoll building itself.

The Seat Leon ST (SportTourer) is nothing new. Next year there will be a new model. What is new and exciting about "my" Leon ST is the latest engine series with ACT (Active Cylinder Technology).

The first series (CZEA 1.4 TSI ACT 150 HP) – was developed by Skoda, and has been in production since 2014. It was installed in the Skoda Superb, Seat Leon and Ateca, among others. Now the engine volume has been increased to 1,5, while performance, consumption and emissions are almost identical to the predecessor. Audi logically calls the engine COD (Cylinder on Demand), while Volkswagen uses designations such as ACT and EVO.

First, let's take a closer look at the Leon ST

The Leon ST went on sale from the 2014 model, 2 years after the hatchback. Although it is not new, it is experienced as new on Norwegian roads. As far as I know, Møller has not previously taken in any station wagons of the Leon 3. LED lights and digital instrument panel also make "my" Leon look even younger. Equipment level "Style" is not as exciting as "FR". What I miss most are seats with marked side rails. I still find an alright driving position. The standard seats have normal height adjustment at the rear edge of the seat cushion and the steering wheel is of course adjustable. I don't know if it's the kinship of Volkswagen and Audi that does it, but I certainly feel a good portion of "feelgood" behind the wheel. Not luxury and premium feeling, but everything is practical, beautiful and intuitive.

act — Infotainment system with the option to retrieve navigation and music from Apple and Android.

No surprises

I know the Seat Leon well from the past. I like this model, without being able to put my finger on it what. It does not send any special signals. It is thought anonymous. "Look and feel" is exactly like the base version of the Golf or A3. I quite like the fact that it doesn't offer any surprises - but at the same time realize that it can also be a negative feature. In Norway, Leon is only sold with one drive unit – 1.5 TSI 150 HP with 7-speed DSG. It is an excellent engine option. Abroad, you can order the downsized 3-cylinder 1-litre TSI engine of 115 HP. It would be useful as an affordable means of getting around, but would be a big yawn.

On the road

Technically, the Seat Leon is identical to the Golf 7 - which is now also offered with the same engine. This is perhaps the best petrol engine option for the Golf class in terms of performance, consumption and engine characteristics. Good torque in normal traffic. Approaches to the motorway and overtaking are quick and effortless. I like that the powers are delivered without stress and fuzz. The sound from the engine is otherwise absolutely perfect. New downscaled petrol engines often lack the "correct" engine sound. Should I put my finger on something, I noticed that the car jerked a little when I set off with a cold engine. This can perhaps be explained by the fact that the car was brand new and had only driven a couple of kilometres.

Noise level

The Leon is very well soundproofed from the engine compartment. You rarely hear anything about the engine. On the other hand, I thought the tire noise seemed louder than what I have experienced on European roads. "My" Leon was on standard 205/55R16 tires, Continental EcoContact. The Seat I drove earlier this year on Spanish and French roads had Hankook tires in the same dimension. The noise picture is not just about decibels, but about how the sound is perceived. Subjectively, I thought the Continental tires made more noise on dry roads than on rain-soaked asphalt. I only mention it as a note in the margin. Noise is not a serious problem in the Seat Leon.

Daytrippers

After a trip from Bærum to Nes in the Roman Empire, I took the route around Eidsvoll. I had seen on social media that the Veteran VW Klubben had a mini meeting at one of the Nebbenes taverns. At about the Samvirkelaget in Hammerstad, the floodgates of heaven opened. Driving rain! When I blinked into Nebbenes, I met a red air-cooled bubble and an Opel Rekord A that had packed up and headed home. Public carriages in summer rain wake up good memories. I took a few quick "shots", dried the lens and glasses and started on my way home. First past the old Nebbeneskroa, then the Eidsvoll building. Then I took the west side road south via Brårud. An ideal touring route for both Golf-based Leon and air-cooled people cars. The village road with its dashed edge runs through beautiful woodlands and fields, - along well-tended farms. The DSG gearbox kept the rpm at the bottom of the good torque range around 1500 while we cruised around 70-80 km/h.

Removable cylinders in several models

The last time I drove with replaceable cylinders (ACT) was in a Seat Ateca with 1,4 TSI ACT 150 HP. Seat has had this technology since 2014 – long enough to be able to detect any problems. On an online forum page, an "inside" mechanic claims that the ACT engines have worked fine - without any problems. So one might ask why the Volkswagen group chose a different/changed engine when the ACT technology is being rolled out in even more models? The outgoing and new engine have almost identical specifications - also with regard to consumption and emissions.

The 1,5 TSI differs from the 1,4 TSI in that it has a timing belt instead of a chain. This hopefully eliminates early problems with the TSI engine's timing chain/tensioner - problems that have led to many engine failures. 1,5 TSI with switchable cylinders - or "Cylinders on Demand" is currently offered for the following models: Volkswagen Golf, T-Roc, Tiguan, Touran and Arteon. Skoda Octavia. Audi A3. Seat Leon and Ateca.

act — The ST is 26 cm longer than a combi-coupe - over the rear axle.

How 2 cylinder mode works

ACT kicks in when the engine is working at low load, for example when the engine is spinning without pulling the car forward. The text "2-cylinder mode" is then displayed in the instrument panel. During normal driving - without focus on ACT - the cylinders are switched out for very short periods, for example while you pick up the revs again after letting off the gas on a downhill. If you are careful with the throttle as the revs reach car speed, you can keep the engine longer on 2 cylinders. With a little practice, it is possible to maintain speed on gentle downhills and on flat roads, although it only takes a breath of wind before the economy mode disappears. The engagement and disengagement of cylinders takes place completely without vibrations or sound. It is only the text in the instrument panel that tells what is happening.

Not ideal together with cruise control

Adaptive cruise worked perfectly. It should also just be missing, since all the components are sourced from Volkswagen. But with the cruise control engaged, the cylinder deceleration was not utilized as optimally as when I adjusted the speed myself with an eco-friendly gas pedal. Old fashioned as I am, I believe that we humans can still drive more sparingly than computers, at least as long as we can read and adapt our driving to the topography of the road. There is still no doubt that tomorrow's cruise control should be able to work more effectively with ACT.

Real consumption

I don't know what effect ACT has on consumption. When two cylinders are switched off, fuel consumption is halved. But if there is to be any measurable effect, surely at least 10% of the driving should take place on 2 cylinders, or something like that? In daily driving without focus on the ACT system, I think the savings are barely measurable. My drive started at 0,58 liters per mile at highway speed, measured on the car's trip computer. The average ended up at a decent 0,51 as I became more conscious of driving economically and cutting cylinders. 0,51 is in line with stated EU consumption. You have to be extremely light on the throttle to keep the engine in economy mode.

act — Good distribution of seating and luggage space for a 4,5 meter car.

Place

Interior space is exactly like the Volkswagen Golf. Subjectively, the Leon feels a little bigger, but that's just imagination. The luggage compartment has a good length (1 meter) with a pass-through hatch. The space is easy to use. There are 587 liters up to window height, and 1470 liters with the seats folded down. There are separate handles for folding down the seats from the luggage compartment. The seat backs do not lie completely flush with the floor in the cargo area - only almost. A nice detail is that the boot lid can be used as a dividing net with the rear seats folded down.

seat-leon-st-boot — Good cargo space. 587 liters up to the windows.

Conclusion

"EVO", "COD" or "ACT". Dear child has many names. The Volkswagen group has decided that engines that cut 2 cylinders will no longer be reserved for Seat and Skoda. They are now being rolled out across the entire Golf family. With the 7-speed DSG, it is a perfect drive for all Golf-based cars, not least the Seat Leon ST.

It is unknown how much you actually save on replaceable cylinders. Strictly speaking, the cylinders don't come out very well either or to or particularly for a long time. Whether that entails truth is not known - but could the purpose of ACT have been to achieve good emission and consumption results in the new EU-based driving cycle NEDC? It affects car taxes in countries like Norway and looks good for all car buyers who want to make environmentally friendly choices. Win-win for all parties, as long as it is possible for you and me to achieve the same results.

With a little practice, I think it will work.

In any case, I can only recommend the Seat Leon ST. Skoda Octavia costs, of course as much, is supplied with same drive unit, has 23 litres bigger trunk and may be easier to sell as used because it has been a big seller for many years. Skoda Octavia or Seat Leon basically don't play a big role. I would choose Seat because it is just as good like Skoda, not as widespread on the road – and because it reminds me of Catalonia.

- Summer vacation coming soon, guys!

Facts

Drivetrain
1.5 TSI EVO. Turbocharged, 16-valve inline-four with (ACT) Active Cylinder Technology.
Horsepower: 150 HP at 5000 rpm.
Engine code: DADA
Torque: 250 Nm between 1500 and 3500 revolutions.
7-speed DSG automatic transmission, front-wheel drive.

Performance and consumption
Max speed: 213 km/h
0-100: 8,3 seconds
Stated consumption city: 0,65 litres/mile
– highway: 0,44 litres/mile
– overall: 0,52 litres/mile.
Measured overall consumption: 0,51 litres/mile

Weights and Measures
Length, width, height in cm: 455, 182, 144
Wheelbase in cm: 263
Petrol tank: 50 litres
Boot space up to window: 587 litres
Luggage compartment with rear seats folded down: 1470 litres
Own weight: 1271 kg
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 1400 kg
– without brakes: 630 kg
Max roof load: 75 kg.

Tires
Continental EcoContact 205/55R16
Speed marking: V

Price:
Purchase price: NOK 355 including winter tires and trailer hitch
Price leasing including VAT: 54 lump sum, 000 fee, 5300 monthly cost, 3012 years
Terjes Biler's analysis of leasing offers (seat.no):
Sum to be amortized: 300
Assumed interest rate: 2-5%
Estimated residual value: 290-000 (depending on interest)

About the car
Mileage at start: 25
Kilometers covered: 190
Source: Seat.de
Owner: Harald A Møller (Seat.no)
Rented through Hyre.no
The car-sharing service Hyre has now received several brand new Seats for hire. Contact Seat.no for a test drive, or do like me, - use the app and rent when you need one, or want to get to know it better.

PHOTOS

Click on the images to see them in a larger format!

seat leon 1,5 tsi act — Digital instruments.

seat-leon-st-rolfstangen — Right now there are 2 Seat Leon ST for rent here at Rolfstangen. Just run and rent!

See

Driving pleasure on the altar of downsizing?

Driving pleasure on the altar of downsizing?

Posted 13/05/2019 by Terje Bjørnstad

I like Volkswagen's 1,2 TSI engines. They are a good example of successful downsizing. But Volkswagen has moved on. By going down to three cylinders, both consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced. The new 1-litre engines have even got more horsepower and higher torque, but not the same driving pleasure.

Seat Leon is not a bad car. It is as big as the Volkswagen Golf and more beautiful than the Audi A3 (in my own humble mind). Leon is a lot of car for the money – a car for sensible people. Maybe not in Norway, but in the rest of Europe. In the last five years I have spent many miles in Seat Leon, - as rental cars. NOK 1 for 740 days with unlimited mileage is very affordable.

Widespread engine

My car this time is relatively simply equipped. The engine is the well-known 1,2 TSI with 110 horsepower. This engine is found in a wide range of models, including the Volkswagen Polo, Golf, Golf Sportsvan and Touran, Audi A3, Skoda Fabia, Rapid, Octavia and Yeti. How the 1,2 liter is experienced in the Seat Leon could just as well have been conveyed from one of the other models on the same platform, for example the 2018 Volkswagen Golf 1,2 TSI.

Lower consumption and CO2, but...

In 2019, the Volkswagen group chose to replace the four-cylinder 1,2-liter with a three-cylinder 1-liter. The new engine uses less petrol, has lower CO2 emissions and weight - and consequently lower taxes. On the road, the two engines have a lot in common, especially in the way the power is delivered. With a 6-speed gearbox, the revs can be kept down to around 1500 revs in quiet city traffic, and then you don't hear the engine as much. It is only when you need to go a little harder that the engine is heard. The 1,2 engine, with its slightly high-frequency hum, undoubtedly sounds like a small engine. Nevertheless, I think it sounds better than the three-cylinder 1-litre engine, where the sound image lies in a lower pitch, but with the unmistakable sound you get from three cylinders. It's a sound that reminds me of an outboard I had a few years ago. If it had only been the sound image that had been sacrificed, I should not have said anything. But the 1-litre engine doesn't feel as responsive when we move up from the very lowest rev register. It feels like a slight turbo lag. In addition, I sense vibrations and roughness through the driveline at low revs.

Good torque

The 1,2 engine gets a maximum torque of 175 Nm already from 1500 revolutions. Then the curve is flat until 4000 revolutions. Then you have a good torque throughout the rev range you use during daily driving. The 1-litre engine gets a maximum torque of 200 Nm first from 2000 revs up to 3500. But already at 1500 revs the torque is as high as in the 1,2 engine. The curve makes a small crack at 1500 revs to give extra boost at low revs. On paper, everything looks very promising.

Alright "Golf engine"

On the road with "my" 2018 Seat Leon, with the four-cylinder engine, I can pick up the revs carefully from 1200 revs completely smoothly, without vibrations. There is no noticeable turbo lag at startup. The turbo kicks in so early that you rarely notice it. As long as the turbo is on, the 1,2 engine seems very responsive. This is what makes the drive more fun than other similar drives.

After 860 km, the average consumption ended at 0,54 liters per mile measured on the car's trip computer. It's not bad for a car in the Golf class on southern European motorways and traffic that occasionally requires hard use of the gas. Based on previous experiences with the 1 liter engine, I would hardly have saved more than 0,04 - 0,05 liters per mile with the new engine option.

Consider going up an engine size

Regardless of whether you drive the 1-litre engine or the 1,2 engine, there is no denying that it is about the basic engine. You can buy much more exciting engines for the Seat Leon, for example the 1,4 engine with 150 horsepower and Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) which cuts 2 cylinders when the engine runs effortlessly. It is this engine that sits in the cars that are brought into Norway. The Norwegian tax system means that these cars then end up in a price gap where the car buyers choose other cars that are more widespread than the Seat Leon. Both Golf and A3 offer similar engine solutions for those who do not want the 1-litre engine.

Conclusion

The point of comparing the two base engines from the Volkswagen group is that base engines don't have to be boring. The 1,2 TSI is not experienced as a boring engine. The 1-litre TSI engine provides both better performance and lower consumption (win-win), but it feels less engaging to drive. As a "keen driver", I conclude that the Volkswagen Group's downsizing has been more successful on paper than in reality.

If you are considering buying a used Golf, A3 or Octavia, don't worry that you will get the 1,2 engine instead of the new 1-litre engine. On the contrary. I promise you will like it.

Seat Leon

The Seat Leon comes every moment in a completely new edition. Today's model was presented in 2012 and received a small facelift in 2017. Life with "my" Leon's over several years has been good. Super noise isolation – better than its brother Audi A3. The design still keeps up with the times. The driver's seat feels like other cars from the same group and the space conditions are identical to the Golf. So is the technique.

Should you come across a newer Seat Leon on the second-hand market, just go for it. Then you get a car like few others. Don't listen to the advertising. Seat does not make you younger, more attractive or more urban. It's just a sensible everyday car.

Facts

Consumption and benefits

	1,2 TSI 110	1,0 TSI 115
Consumption l/mile (combined driving)	0,49	0,44
0-100 in seconds	9,9	9,6
Top speed	194	198
Emission standard	Euro 6	Euro 6
CO2 emissions g/km	114	102
Horsepower	110 at 4600-5600 rpm.	115 at 5000-5500 rpm.
Torque (Nm)	175 at 1400-4000 rpm.	200 at 2000-3500 rpm.
Net weight	1138	1127
Trailer weight w/brakes	1300	1000

About the test car
Seat Leon 1,2 TSI Style 6-speed manual
Year Model: 2018
Mileage: 24340
Km driven: 864
Owner: Europcar.es

Source
AUTO-DATA.net

PHOTOS

See photos of the Seat Leon around France, 20 miles from Seat's production site. The town is called Céret and here the cherries are just ripe. They are sold from everywhere - from private gardens - and sales stalls have been set up everywhere. Every year the mayor of this small town sends a box of ripe cherries to the French president in Paris.

See

Seat Ateca

Posted 20/04/2018 by Terje Bjørnstad

The Seat Ateca has arrived in Norway. It is a model that shares a platform, drivetrain and components with other SUVs from the Volkswagen group.

I borrowed "my" Seat Ateca FR from Hyre.no, a new car-sharing service that has placed brand new Seats in strategic locations in the center of Oslo. If you want to test drive, you can borrow the car for free. It is Sunday, glorious April sun and summer heat. The car looked great in the pickup lot. First a couple of errands, then up to Exporama to visit Oslo Motor Show. Finally, a couple of detours on the way home. The daily rental includes 150 km. It's just to enjoy yourself.

First meeting

The FR is the top model. It says "FR" in the grill, on the steering wheel and the tailgate, so no one can avoid noticing what this is. In Norway, the variant FR+ is also sold, which includes a panoramic sunroof and premium sound system. All models are delivered with four-wheel drive and automatic transmission.

The seats look and feel like Volkswagens. Alcantara/fabric surfaces and electrically adjustable driver's seat in all directions. With the adjustable steering wheel, I find a perfect sitting position. Look-and-feel is roughly on a par with the Tiguan, but lower than a well-equipped Q3, without being able to put my finger on anything special. The Ateca seems larger than the Q3 inside, although on paper they are the same size. Still, I'm sure you can stow more luggage in the Ateca's square shape than under the Q3's sloping rear window. I easily found the driver assistance functions. I turned off "Active Lane Assist" but kept the others.

Cuts 2 cylinders

The small 1,4 liter TSI engine produces 150 horsepower and a torque of 250 Nm between 1500 and 3500 rpm. The special thing about the engine is that it has so-called Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) which cuts 2 of the cylinders when the engine is running without load. It affects fuel consumption, but requires some getting used to in order to drive properly economically.

Measured at relatively short 2-3 mile intervals, I was able to achieve an average consumption of less than 0,5 litres/mile on country roads and motorways. Then I had to make sure that the engine stayed on two cylinders for as long as possible, even with weak throttle input. You do not hear the engine cutting cylinders, but a text appears in the instrument display. Great for eco-nerds like me. The factory figures are respectively 0,74 litres/mile for city driving and 0,61 litres/mile on country roads. My numbers for city driving matched the factory numbers. The car is fun to drive in the city, and I think it will be difficult to get below the factory numbers. On country roads, it is easier to utilize the engine's economy function.

Sporty

Although it is possible to cut back on consumption, the Ateca FR undoubtedly appears sporty. Fat 19-inch wheels, paddle shift and responsive engine contribute to that. On the road, the suspension feels tight, - a thought for sporty in terms of comfort. You can choose different driving modes, including Eco, Normal and Sport. In sport mode, steering movements and throttle input are tightened, while the chassis seemed equally tight the whole time.

On winding back roads, the car was well on the road. But when the asphalt along the edges began to bear the impression of telehive, the sporty character clearly outweighed the comfort. The big rims didn't help make it much better. Winter tires in size 245/40 R19 are also far from silent. Like the Leon, the Ateca is well soundproofed from the engine compartment. The engine is practically inaudible. The only thing audible, apart from the radio, is the tire noise. The problem is not primarily the noise level, but that the sound can be quite annoying. A kind of shrill noise of the same type as truck tires make. I wonder what the soundstage will be like with summer tires? Normally, sporty summer tires make more noise than soft, studless winter tires, but if the sound had been more low-frequency it would have been less bothersome. I wouldn't go for 19-inchers on the winter tires anyway, even though they look great.

Is there room for the Ateca in Volkswagen's SUV range?

Space and safety in the Ateca are on the same level as its group brothers Q3, Tiguan and Karoq. The Ateca holds 510 liters up to the hat shelf and 1604 liters with the rear seats folded down. The tailgate is electrically operated. The four-wheel drive steals a few liters from the boot, but it's the same for the other SUVs here too.

The Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan are already established models in the market. The question is where does the Seat Ateca fit in? In Europe, Seat's have the edge for equipment, a price advantage that does not come to light in Norway because of the taxes. If Seat is to have a chance on the Norwegian market, it must be well-equipped cars - cars that are as good as the Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan. The comparison here can be difficult because the various models do not match each other in terms of drivetrain and equipment level. I will try to value the Ateca in relation to the others.

Seat Ateca FR 1,4 TSI 150 HP 4DRIVE DSG costs 507. It is then fully equipped. The only things you need in addition are paint additives and winter tires. It's not particularly cheap, but also no bargain compared to its group brothers. The closest Audi Q500 Quattro comes with the 3 TFSI 2,0 HP S tronic. It costs 180 without extras. The Volkswagen Tiguan with the same engine as the Ateca, plus 560Motion and DSG, costs 000 as Highline, or promotional price 4 in Business line. But one has to add a lot of expensive accessories to match the Seat Ateca FR. The Skoda Karoq currently offers no models with four-wheel drive and a petrol engine.

Buy it online!

One factor that can determine which of the SUVs one chooses is which dealer is closest to where you live or work. Seat may have an advantage here as it is only sold via the Internet. Book a test drive online, pick up a car nearby, or rent one for the whole weekend. Then you can sit in your own living room and order online.

FACTS

Engine:

Designation: 1,4 TSI 150 HP with Active Cylinder Technology (ACT).
Torque: 250 Nm between 1500-3500 revolutions.
Series: EA211
Engine code: CZEA
Gearbox: 6-speed DSG
Four-wheel drive system: 4Drive (Haldex 5)

External dimensions (cm):

Length: 436
Width: 184
Height: 161
Wheelbase: 263

Luggage volume (litres):

Up to the hat shelf: 510
With rear seats folded down: 1604

Weight (kg):
Net weight: 1476
Trailer with brake: 1900
Trailer without brake: 750

Consumption (litres/mile with 19″ wheels):
City driving: 0,74
Road: 0,61
Combined: 0,65

See

Those who actually drive Seat

Posted 09/04/2018 by Terje Bjørnstad

Seat is back in Norway. It will fill a need among young, urban people. But who actually drives Seat today?

The country's first online car shop?

Møller, who now calls himself Moller Mobility Group, Seat is testing through a new sales channel. This could become the country's first functioning online car shop. I have previously written about car sales online. One of the problems is the test drive. In the past, you couldn't take a test drive without going to a car salesman, who will certainly do everything he can not to miss out on his commission by letting you order online yourself. Now you can test drive for free via Hyre.no, - a car rental concept that will take on the competition with Nabobil.no. Afterwards, you can choose the model and color at your leisure, and order it via "Click, click. Go".

As made for car sharing

The collaboration between Møller, Hyre.no and the online store "Click, click. Go" can make many people get to know a Seat more closely. If you need an extra car, just order online - preferably just for one trip. Car rental and car sharing are gaining momentum as an alternative to owning. It opens up a market for anyone who doesn't need a car 24/7, but can share it with others. Then others pay for the car while you don't need it yourself. If you choose leasing, you can get a clear car finance.

Draws a wrong picture

If you are going to rent out your leasing car, you should live in an urban area where there are residents who find it profitable to leie instead of owning. According to Møller's marketing people, Seat is well suited to this arrangement. I believe in that. But it becomes difficult when the models are described with phrases such as: "The urban car" - "the stylish car" - "created in Barcelona" - "the car for the big city".

Seat is no more urban and stylish than other cars from the Volkswagen group. Barcelona's urbanites rather whiz around on scooters. Maybe a Fiat 500, if they can afford it. Seat is chosen by people who are guided by reason, almost bordering on common sense. They want the most - and best - possible car for the money. Seat is cheaper than similar brothers from Audi and Volkswagen with which they share a platform and drivetrain. The lower prices reflect that Seat does not offer the same premium feeling as Audi and Volkswagen. If I were to describe Seat in one word, it would have to be "reliable".

Spanish and Spanish, Mrs. Blom?

Today's Seats share platforms and technology with corresponding Volkswagen models. They were designed by Volkswagen's German design department. The factory is located at Martorell outside Barcelona. The robots inside are set up and programmed by Germans. There is nothing wrong with the German car industry. It works just as well in Spain as it does in Mexico, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany. But Seat is no more Spanish than the Volkswagen Polo, which is produced a few miles away, in Pamplona, - or the Audi Q3, which is produced together with the Seats.

Seat Leon

I currently drive around in a Seat Leon. I've had it for a couple of weeks. Like most Norwegians, my experiences with Seat are exclusively as rental cars. I have driven the Leon before as well. If I lived in one of Barcelona's suburbs, I might own a Seat. I like Leon a lot. In my eyes the best Seat, especially the station wagon, Leon ST.

"Seat Leon is a good-looking A3!"

The quote is taken from a web comment. The Leon is technically similar to the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf. Of the two, I think the Leon is most similar to the A3. I have previously driven an Audi A3 with the same TDI engine that is in "my" Leon, - 1,6 TDI 110 HP. Then I could ascertain that the rough diesel sound was audible all the time. The Leon is actually much better soundproofed from the engine compartment than the A3. With the 6-speed gearbox, the engine is almost inaudible, even on the motorway. The Leon TDI 110 is available with both a 5- and 6-speed gearbox. The 5-speed gearbox works well for Norwegian speed limits, but the needle shouldn't go much above 100 km/h before you start looking for a 6th gear.

The fuel gauge hardly moves

The TDI engine has surprisingly low consumption. If I hadn't driven the Leon earlier, I would have thought the fuel gauge had died. It is no art to achieve a consumption below 0,4 liters per mile. Without resetting the trip computer, my average consumption stabilized at around 0,44 liters per mile in southern traffic. The A3 with S tronic used around 0,6 on the same type of driving.

Feelgood

The feelgood factor is the same in the Seat Leon as in the Audi A3 – in standard design, of course. I find the same driving position and feel that the cars are the same on the road. However, it is not unusual to add 100 in extras to a new Audi, including driver assistant functions, sports seats, leather/Alcantara, infotainment, sound system and so on. Unfortunately, you cannot freely choose additional equipment on Seats bought via Møller's online store. Sin. Probably only stock models are sold. If I compare the standard Leon with the full-spec A000, of course the balance falls heavily on Audi's side.

Facelift

Inside, the Seat Leon feels somewhat larger than the Volkswagen Golf. But it is an optical illusion. Golf and Leon have almost exactly the same goal. The same applies to luggage space. "My" Leon was produced before the facelift for the 2018 model year. Then Leon got a different pattern in the grill and a small change in the air intake under the bumper. Almost impossible to see. Inside, it received a long-awaited upgrade to the infotainment system with a larger screen. In addition, modern safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control and emergency stop became available. "My" 110-horsepower TDI engine has gained more horsepower. Now with 115 HP.

The rental car favourite

I chuckle a little when I think of Møller relaunching Seat through a new sales channel based on online sales and rental based on the sharing model. Those of us who have lived for a while still remember Seat when they produced it Fiats under own model names? These were cars that we Norwegians liked to rent in the south, and which were often in poor condition. I recently had a flashback to the 80s when I saw a Seat Marbella - Seat's "Fiat Panda".

"My" blue Seat still looks new, even though it has over 57 km on the odometer, big-city scratches in the bodywork and a clutch that sings on the last verse.

Seat is still a rental car favorite on the continent. It is not always an advantage for the car brand's reputation, as the cars are often subjected to reckless and unkind treatment. I hope the cars that will be rented out here at home will be loved by everyone who drives them.

Facts

Seat Leon is offered in the following versions:
Style: NOK 345
FR: NOK 372
FR+: NOK 401

Audi A3 e-tron (for comparison).
Sports: NOK 360

No hybrid model yet

All Leon variants have Volkswagen's 1,4 TSI 150 HP and DSG automatic transmission. This drivetrain fits this model well. However, if you are considering buying the Seat Leon, you should consider the Audi A3 e-Tron. In Norway it costs about the same as the Seat Leon. In Barcelona, however, the Audi A3 e-tron Sport costs twice as much. From a financial point of view, it is therefore difficult not to choose the Audi A3 over the Seat Leon, especially considering the second-hand value. Then you get a plug-in hybrid 1,4 TFSI 150 HP, 54 HP electric motor and S tronic. A total of 204 HP. Remember that the Audi e-Tron can also be leased under similar conditions as the Seat, and you can rent it out at Hyre.no - or Nabobil.no.

What speaks in Seat's favor is that you get the car almost immediately, and that you can drive in a car that is not as common as the Audi A3.

Sources:
www.seat.no
www.audi.no

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Seat to Norway again?

Posted 19/03/2014 by Terje Bjørnstad

Seat has been in Norway before. Why did the brand disappear from new car shops? Can the brand be resurrected here at home? Do the cars have a chance?

seat1

Inside the huge Seat plant in Martorell outside Barcelona, the welding robots go full throttle to produce new cars. Not only new Seaters, but also Audis are coming out. It is not talked about very loudly, but here in the Catalan part of Spain, everything is going smoothly. The unemployment that has affected the rest of Spain does not exist here.

Seat is the fourth of five car brands in the Volkswagen Group (VAG). The others are Audi, Volkswagen and Skoda in descending order of prestige. I have never been clear as to whether Skoda is more prestigious than Seat. To me, they stand evenly and differ from each other in design. The fifth car brand is none other than Lamborghini! According to German motoring press, Lamborghini was saved at the last minute by German Audi engineers.

Cannibalism?

In 2006, Seat disappeared from car dealerships in Norway due to poor profitability. Seat was sold through a Møller-owned dealer network. What Møller knows is that when Seat is removed from the market, many customers will go to Skoda or Volkswagen instead. I imagine few customers will go to, say, Opel if they're looking for Seat. They will very likely buy another car model from the same group. If Seat's demise results in the same customers going to another, already established Møller-owned dealer, it would not be economically profitable for Møller to sell Seat.

Wrong target group and weird design

Some might think that Spanish-made cars are for young and hip people. Very stupid, when young people rarely have money to buy a new car, and hip people stick to prestige cars. Seat is simply a car for the "everyman" and the average family, - sensible people who think Toyota is OK but a bit boring. It sells on "value for money". The foursome, Spanish must by all means never be emphasized in a car advertisement! Did you know that the Seat factory supplies the whole world with the Audi Q3? Would Audi ever sell the Q3 as "Spanish and foursome"? I think not.

In the mid-2000s, all the Seats got a new design language, which is partly still alive. Responsible for the design was Walter de Silva, a genius-explained and high-profile car designer in the Volkswagen group. He has designed many fine cars, but the Seats were an unfortunate project for him Silva. Curved lines that criss-crossed and ended up in the middle of the car - like fluttering gloves along the car. It didn't turn out well. Nice cars should have lines that flow along the direction of travel and all main lines should preferably end together at the rear edge (shutlines).

But now then? The design is fresh and the technology is state-of-the-art. After driving a brand new Seat Leon with the brand new TDI common rail engine of 110 horses, I have no doubts: This is a car I could live with and drive hundreds of thousands of kilometers in. Even if it does not differ significantly from others cars on the market, it is a car of which there are not many on the road. Let's call it sensible individualism.

Lately, I've had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time in Catalonia, the region that makes Seat. Why are there so few Seaters on the road? Without having done any serious counting, I think there are more Volkswagen Polos on the roads around Barcelona than there are Seat Ibizas. Both models are produced in Spain, respectively Pamplona and Barcelona. The taxi ranks at Sant's main station are filled with Skoda Octavias! The number of Seat Toledos can be counted on one hand. Do the Catalans really prefer Volkswagen and Skoda to their own heirloom silver? Maybe the Seat factory can't produce enough Seaters? Perhaps the group management has decided that the production lines should be filled up with other brands?

There is a danger that the Volkswagen group chooses the same solution as Møller did here at home. If Seat were to disappear, where would the customers go? Where they already go, of course! For Skoda and Volkswagen. Why then spend money on Seat?

If the Volkswagen group chooses to support Seat, I have faith that the brand will survive.

New Toledo and outgoing Altea have no future in Norway. Leon, on the other hand, is a very good model. In a campaign, well-equipped Leons can be styled and sold as Audi A3 lookalikes at Golf prices. The station wagon version has more space than the A3 Sportsback. In terms of quality, it is probably better than the Golf station wagon, which is produced in Mexico. On car review websites, it is no secret that owners of Mexican Golfs experience far worse quality than owners of European Golfs. The Ibiza is built on the same platform as the Polo, A1 and Fabia. It is available in a great station wagon version, too.

I like Seat because it increases the diversity on the road. It makes the traffic picture more pleasant.

seat_leon_st_1 — Leon on Norwegian roads?

The taxis at Sants main station in Barcelona. Not many Seaters.

Taxis at Placa Catalunya in Barcelona. Only Octavias - no Toledos here, no! — Taxis at Placa Catalunya in Barcelona. Only Octavias – no Toledos here, no!

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This car used so little diesel that I thought the fuel gauge had died.

2017 Fiat Tipo. Will it come to Norway? — 2017 Fiat Tipo.

Extremely low consumption!

Posted 18/03/2014 by Terje Bjørnstad

consumption seat leon

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.

consumption seat leon — Instruments that we are used to seeing in VAG products (the picture is taken from a car with km on the odometer and not miles as in the test car).

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

consumption seat leon 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):

	1.2 TSI 105 In-Tech	1.6 TDI CR 110 Style
Net price NOK	131 692	169 902
Norwegian VAT NOK	32 923	42 475
One-off scrap deposit etc.	55 769	42 152
A total of NOK	220 384	254 529

consumption seat leon

Extremely low consumption
Pleasantly low sound level

consumption seat leon

Nothing to criticize about the design of the mirror housing.

Destination: Afternoon Tea at Wivenhoe House

See

Can Seat be resurrected here at home? Do the cars have a chance?

Well delivered?

Posted 01/02/2014 by Terje Bjørnstad

Have you experienced that cars with new engine technology can be experienced as surprisingly agile on the road even when the engine has a small displacement and relatively modest performance? With new engines, it is more important than ever to get the engine power delivered in a good way.

Today, everyone knows how turbo technology has changed engine characteristics from focusing unilaterally on horsepower to focusing on both horsepower and torque. I like to explain the two concepts in the following way:

Imagine you are going to drag whetstone. Your arm is the horsepower, while the rotating grindstone is the torque. Imagine that you could use two whetstones, - one made of stone, the other of styrofoam. Stone represents a high-torque motor, while Styrofoam is low-torque. The power in your arm is the same. Now imagine someone trying to sharpen their scythe against the rotating disk. With stone in the disc, you hardly notice anything. You need less force to keep the disc moving smoothly. With styrofoam, you will notice much greater resistance and have to use more force in your arm to keep the disc in steady rotation.

rpm range The diagram shows how the torque and horsepower develop with the engine speed. The curve applies to the popular 2.0 TDI engine from Volkswagen with 110 horsepower. This engine pulls like a locomotive from 1500 to 2500 revolutions. During driving, the engine is best experienced at moderate revs. It is unusual if you come from a conventional petrol car not downshift before overtaking. You should rather consider gearing up for the engine to be at its best. During the overtaking, it is important to be aware that the gear you have at the entrance of the overtaking is quickly emptied. Acceleration then stops completely if you are not quick to follow up with the next gear.

If we take Volkswagen's small TDI engine as an example, we want to accelerate continuously from 50 to 120 km/h in order to perform safe overtaking under Norwegian conditions. With an effective rpm range of just 1000 rpm, it means that we mustn't use the gear lever, and that the ratios in the gearbox are designed so that the engine stays in the optimum rev range during the entire acceleration.

My best experience with a modern diesel engine and gearbox was in a new 2006 Volkswagen Passat with a 1.9 TDI 105 HP pump nozzle engine. It had a 5-speed gearbox which had two important features: You could shift gears quickly with it, and the ratios were optimal to make the most of the engine's relatively narrow rev range. This - on paper modest engine - provided traction on a par with the best family cars, provided the driver used the gear lever actively and correctly. For a less active driver, the engine would be nothing more than what it is on paper.

For me, this is real driving pleasure.

rpm range

But you cannot count on all new cars with new engine technology to really provide driving pleasure. If the interaction between engine and gearbox is not optimal, the driving experience can be anything but enjoyable. Imagine that the car manufacturer had chosen to equip the car with a gearbox that does not harmonize with the engine characteristics. Imagine that one gear sits in the middle of the performance curve. During acceleration, you experience that the gear is emptied far too quickly. Next time you skip this gear, but then experience landing outside engine performance curve. You think wrong. No, this is the everyday life of car manufacturers when they assemble cars based on off-the-shelf products. The VAG group today supplies a series of TDI engines that look physically identical, but have different performances. It is expensive to develop new components. It is then tempting to use the same gearbox on different engines, even if the engines have different performance curves.

As a car buyer, it is impossible to read up on this in brochures and interactive configurators. It must is tried. You have to take the car out on the road and test it for as long as possible. It actually takes a couple of months to get used to using a new car optimally. Do you feel like you're hitting the wrong gear despite upshifting at a smooth acceleration? It is the the feeling you get when the engine and gearbox don't harmonize. It has the greatest consequences in a variant with a weak engine than in a variant with a strong engine.

You can find plenty of driving pleasure in modern, high-tech cars. It is not the engine power that is most important, nor the rpm range within which the engine works best. The most important thing is the interaction between the components.

Good test ride!