We tested the SEAT León that I would buy: the compact always wants you not to buy an SUV

The current SEAT León continues to be one of the brand's most successful models. Since its launch, more than 190,000 units of the current generation have already been sold in Europe (and just over 34,000 units so far this year).

And in this final stretch of the year, SEAT completes the range of the Leon in Spain with a 130 CV version associated with a manual gearbox, starting at 26,810 euros.

Available in a five-door body and a Sportstourer estate , the new SEAT León 130 CV is theoretically the most rational proposal in the current range. We tested it to find out if the theory is proven in practice.

Price and alternatives

The new SEAT León 130 CV is available from 26,810 euros with a five-door body and from 28,170 euros with a Sportstourer family body and its 620-liter trunk (compared to the 380-liter five-door). Compared to rivals such as the Citroën C4 , Peugeot 308, Toyota Corolla or Hyundai i30, the SEAT León 130 CV offers a good price-equipment ratio.

The Peugeot 308 Puretech (from 29,450 euros) has a much higher starting price than the Leon, while the Hyundai i30 120 CV is cheaper (from 25,945 euros) than the Leon with similar equipment and also has the ECO label thanks to its 48V mild hybrid system, when the Leon is a C label.

The Toyota Corolla , for its part, also offers an ECO label and its access version (from 24,200 euros) is cheaper than the Leon, although later in the higher finishes it is significantly more expensive than the SEAT.

Standard equipment includes, among others, cruise control and speed limiter, lane departure assist (one of the best and smoothest on the market) and the XDS electronic limited slip differential emulator .

In terms of comfort and technology, it includes the automatic dual-zone climate control, 8.25-inch touch screen , the keyless start system, the Full Link cable system (two USB-C sockets, in front) compatible with Apple Car as standard. Play, Android Auto  and Mirror Link and the SEAT Connect connectivity services, with, for example, remote access to some car functions.

On board

On board, nothing changes compared to another SEAT León in terms of habitability and presentation. The perceived interior quality is really good, with the exception of the plastics that delimit the central tunnel or the door handles.

The digital instrument panel can be customized, although some interfaces are more original than really legible. Of course, it keeps the digital instrument panel and the 8.25-inch touch screen. Its technological and visual aspect is very nice, but it is also an attack on ergonomics.

There are hardly any physical buttons on the dashboard and you have to use the touchscreen for everything from adjusting the climate or even the volume of the audio system (which is also accessed via a button on the steering wheel). There's always voice control , certainly, but it's still somewhat counter-intuitive for many people. In any case, the ideal would be to offer both possibilities, careful ergonomics in that regard, and voice control.

Otherwise, roominess is one of the best in the category , especially for rear passengers. Rear passenger legroom is one of the strengths of this car, thanks to a generous wheelbase. The front seats deserve special mention, with an excellent softness, a semi-sports look that holds the body well.

At the wheel

The Leon is built on an MQB Evo base , like the latest Audi A3 , Skoda Octavia or Volkswagen Golf or the Cupra Formentor . Thus, the front suspensions are of the McPherson type, while the rear suspensions are torsion bar pulled wheel. On a practical level, and for those who are not interested in technique, you just have to know that the car is precise and direct in its direction and it is comfortable.

On a mechanical level, it is equipped with the Volkswagen Group's turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine , an engine that is already equipped with other SEAT models and other brands in the group. In this version, it develops 130 CV and is exclusively associated with a 6-speed manual transmission.

It is a brilliant engine, within its segment, with a pleasant elasticity and surprising flexibility thanks to the 200 Nm of torque available from 1,400 rpm to 4,000 rpm. However, the character of this car is given by the gearbox, not the engine.

Associated with a 6-speed manual transmission , a solution that is less and less popular compared to automatic transmissions that are becoming more and more convincing, let's say that it continues to fulfill its function, but without special shine. Its handling is pleasant and relatively precise. But the developments in the box are what dictate the character of the car.

With 130 CV and despite a very contained weight of only 1,350 kg, the León 130 is no lightning bolt, as attested by its 80 to 120 km/h in fourth gear that takes around 8.5 to 9 s and its 0 to 100 km/h in 9.4 s.

The developments of the first three gears are noticeably shorter to provide some oomph under acceleration, giving the illusion of a car that accelerates with gusto. However, the next three gears are much longer, with a sixth whose eternal development is unable to take advantage of the 200 Nm available at less than 2,000 revs.

Be careful, it is not something negative per se . It is a family car, with more than enough verve to move with great ease in urban traffic and at the same time does not consume too much once it hits the road.

In fact, in our short test run (less than 140 km) made up of 40% mountain roads and another 40% highway, the Leon reported an average consumption of 6.7 l/100 km , with a peak at 8.1 l/100 km on a steep mountain road. And it is that the Leon continues to be a car with which you can easily raise the pace, without apprehension. It is a noble car, with a precise front end, and hardly any understeer at the limit.

On the road, the acoustics are good, it is a fairly quiet car. Only on expressways are slight aerodynamic noises at the level of the mirrors. Overall, it is a good car for long trips and to get around a city.

In the end, the Leon complies with what is asked of a compact, to be good in all sections . A difficult premise that not all compact models always know how to solve correctly. The Leon 130 CV does. And also with a price that without being cheap is relatively affordable.

In fact, it is a car that I would buy, attending to reason and not to the heart, of course. It is comfortable, spacious, well equipped, has relatively low consumption on the highway and is sufficiently dynamic and noble in curves for those who like to drive.

Ok, it does not have a DSG transmission to make it more comfortable in the city, but its transmission and clutches are smooth, nor does it have an ECO label, but currently its real need is for a few days a year and in certain cities. In return and without being cheap, it is not expensive. Given the current market situation , its price is even reasonable.