What’s hot
- All these cars go like stink. Don’t forget what they’re up against with the more run-of-the-mill 5-door hatch models. The Leon has already gathered accolades for handling and performance but the three quickest SC models that we tried are in a different league…
- …and if you really want a treat, try the 1.8 TSI 180PS.
SEAT has improved on quality across the board. In FR trim the new Leon SC feels ‘right’, and it’s well equipped too - The DSG gearbox is a ‘must try’ for all automatic gearbox haters. Ordinary auto boxes just don’t compare. The DSG is brilliant and if ever it’s not doing quite what you want why there’s the paddles at your finger-tips to over-ride it (it’s handy on the diesels which can be a bit late to change up, but with a petrol engine you’ll soon give up and leave it to the box).
- The SC is cheaper than the corresponding 5-door, not always the case with coupes.
- Business essentials like sat nav and the infotainment package are comprehensive. The Bluetooth ‘phone connection is particularly slick.
Surprisingly roomy in the back – and complete with anchor points for child seats - Surprisingly comfortable in the back. It can feel like being buried alive in the back of a coupe, but the Leon isn’t like that.
- Particularly in the leathery FR trim versions, the coupe has that wrap-around cosseting embrace when you get in. Feels right. In fact all the Leons are well-finished with a bare minimum of cheaper feeling harder plastics.
- Discreet, understated appearance. These cars are quicker than they look.
- You can select ‘Sport’ or ‘Normal’ driving modes and, childish though it may seem, they even change the engine note to match! Feels altogether more urgent and responsive in ‘Sport’ mode.
- For performance like this, all the quick SCs are remarkably frugal. Even the testosterone special 184PS diesel only emits 109g/km of CO2 which means you’ll pay £59 a month in company car tax as a basic rate tax payer. And it does 65.7mpg even if it can reach 62mph in 7.5 seconds. The 180PS petrol engine is a little more expensive to run, but the deal breaker is the 150PS diesel – which does 62mpg in 8.4 seconds and emits a measly 106g/km of CO2 (manual gearbox).
- The 180PS 2.0 litre petrol version is simply a great car to drive. When you hop into this, with the DSG gearbox, you’ll turn back into a petrol head.
What’s not?
- At £25,115 for the range topping 184PS diesel it’s a bit dear, at least in the specced up form we tried. There was about £3000 worth of extras in that – mainly leather and titanium alloys.
- The DSG gearbox, lovely though it is, cranks up the CO2 emissions so leads to higher company car tax, but…
- …we’d still like to see it as an option on the highest powered diesel – the 184PS 2 litre TDI.
- Peddles (on all the Leons) are noticeably off-set to the right to make room for a clutch-peddle foot-rest. Pretty common in cars of this size, but not great for the back.
- Access to the rear seats is still a tricky business, in spite of the slidey front seats. But hey, it’s a coupe. What did you expect?
- Diesels run out of steam at 4000rpm, but the DSG gearbox holds on to a gear for longer than that so there’s a marked ‘surge’ in acceleration when eventually it changes up. Using the paddle change solves the problem though.
- I still don’t know how to dim the dashboard lights – and I even asked the omniscient Sue Baker in case it was just me.
