The New Seat Leon Is Stylish Inside And Outside

The latest SEAT Leon is the third car to be built on the VW Group’s much praised MQB platform. This platform will eventually be used in almost 30 cars from the Polo to Passat. The Leon is the trendiest car yet being built on the MQB platform. This car is smaller than its predecessor; it’s got a larger wheelbase for extra interior space and the boot is bigger too. Quality has been improved, with better interior and precise body panel gaps. The comfort has been improved too thanks to a much relaxing ride. Its engines and gearboxes have also come from the Mk7 Golf. The Seat Leon is the firm’s fresh ‘Arrow Head’ design language. LED headlights can be had as an option, while the new Leon is also the first vehicle to get the company’s new simpler ‘S’ logo.

The interior is much more exciting place to be than the serious Golf, and the quality is top notch too. All models across the range get a touch screen to control the audio and the optional sat-nav. The dials seem to have been borrowed from the expensive Audi A3. The new Leon has been tested for the Euro NCAP safety ratings. However, the body is made from high-strength steel, stability control comes as standard and it has lots of airbags. As it is built on the MQB platform, it features the same engines and the gadgetry as the new Golf and A3. Despite its elegant looks, the five-door Leon is still a practical car. It has lots of space for front seat passengers.

The back doors open wide and there’s lot of leg and headroom for tall passengers. The boot is big with a luggage capacity of 380 litres and is nice and deep. The rear seats don’t fold flat fully. If practicality is what you’re looking for then wait for the Leon ST estate which arrives in late 2013. Its stylish looks don’t mean that the Seat Leon is not practical. It has lots of space for front seat passengers which make a comfortable driving position. The 380 litres boot is very handy. If practicality is what you are looking for than the Leon ST estate arrives later this year. The new Leon is the first car to get its new ‘Arrow Head’ design.

The LED headlights are now LED and it gets the new simple ‘S’ logo. Seat Leon has been made with new steel body and it has host of safety equipment on board. It has plenty of air bags which helped it to score a five start Euro NCAP rating. All of the Seat Leon engine range is now turbocharged with direct injection. Some engines have improved efficiency up to 22 per cent from the previous engines. Using the MQB platform Seat has managed to cut weight by 90kg from the outgoing model. The Leon is also 10 per cent more aerodynamic than the previous car. Seat will add an even prudent Ecomotive model emitting just 89g/km, to its range later in 2013. But the Leon’s key plus point is that it’s around 10 per cent cheaper than a Golf on which it is based.