SEAT’s eagerly awaited new Leon has arrived in Ireland across Seat dealerships nationwide. The all-new Leon is a completely new car from the ground up, benefiting from Volkswagen’s MBQ platform, which we’ve recently seen in the new Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3.
The new Leon is competitively priced, with the range commencing from €18,995. It’s available across three trim specifications, Reference, Style and FR. The level of standard equipment included is generous, this includes six airbags, air conditioning, a multifunction steering wheel, a 5” colour touch screen multimedia system and Bluetooth connectivity. The Style variant gains such additions as front fog lamps, cruise control, a leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake handle, 16” alloys, an XDS differential lock and hill hold. The top of the range FR model comes with a host of features, these include light and rain sensors, rear parking sensors, tinted windows, 17” alloys, two zone climate control, 5.8” colour touch screen.
The engine line-up for the new Leon includes a 1.2-litre TSI petrol model with 86hp and 105hp variants, a 1.8-litre TSI petrol that produces 180hp, a 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine with 90hp and 105hp and a 2.0-litre TDI diesel with 150hp and 184hp on offer. The key seller will no doubt be the 1.6-litre TDI 90hp Leon, which offers low emissions and excellent fuel economy of just 3.8l/100km. At launch we took a short drive in a 2.0-litre TDI Leon, our first impressions are all very positive. The build quality is first-rate and the car drives every bit as good as its close relatives, the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3. We’ll have a full review of the new Leon in a few weeks when we take an extended test drive.
