SEAT LEON HATCHBACK 2005-2009 Review
Good Points
- Distinctive sporty styling
- Enjoyable to drive
- Cheap to run in comparison to other rivals
- Well built and reliable
Bad Points
- Some of the interior plastics look cheap
- The boot space could be more generous
Engines
The Leon originally came with four engines, but this has been increased to six over the years. The entry level petrol is a 1.6-litre producing 102bhp, followed by a 2.0-litre FSI 150bhp and a turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI 125bhp.
The diesel engine range starts with a 1.9-litre producing 105bhp, followed by a 2.0-litre with 140bhp, 1.6-litre 105bhp that replaced the 1.9-litre alternative, but has drastically improved fuel efficiency.
Performance & Economy
The 1.6-litre petrol with its 102bhp is surprisingly nippy giving a good performance despite only going from 0 to 60mph in 11.3 seconds, but it does return 39mpg. The 2.0-litre is incredibly smooth accelerating from 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds. It’s not particularly fuel efficient though with its 34mpg fuel efficiency. The 1.4-litre TSI is the pick of the petrol engines with its turbocharged engine producing 125bhp. It accelerates it from 0-60mph in 9.5 seconds which is only a second slower than the 2.0-litre, but is far more efficient managing 45mpg. It delivers excellent pace feeling very enthusiastic whilst still remaining smooth and refined.
We wouldn’t recommend the 1.9-litre diesel engine as it feels unrefined and produces a lot of noise when pushed hard. However, it does achieve 56mpg and isn’t too slow going from 0-60mph in 10.9 seconds. The 2.0-litre with its 140bhp is quick for a diesel managing 0-60mph in 9 seconds and achieves 50mpg, but still isn’t particularly refined. The 1.6-litre was introduced in 2010 replacing the 1.9-litre diesel. It is a great little engine producing the same 105bhp and isn’t much slower coming in at 11.1 seconds from 0-60mph and it achieves up to 74mpg. It is also incredibly smooth and refined providing good acceleration despite its long gear ratios. The start / stop system helps to keep the efficiency so high, but also gets the emissions down to 99g/km making it free to tax.
You can also create your own reviews in our car owner reviews section.
Introduction
The SEAT Leon comes with its own unique sporty styling which is show with both the exterior styling and is carried though to the interior and engines. The Leon is a sporty hatchback with an exceptional ride, sharp, accurate and balanced steering that makes cornering easy. The new Leon is longer, wider and taller than the previous generations making the interior feel a lot more spacious.
Exterior & Interior
The Leon comes with sporty styling thanks to its coupe shape and the rear doors which have their handles cleverly hidden. This new generation is taller, longer and wider than its predecessor that helps to make the interior a large open space. There is plenty of space up front for the passenger and driver. The rear of the car will also fit three adults in the back, although it lacks shoulder room. The seats are all supportive, if a little hard, and the driving position is good with an adjustable seat and steering wheel.
The boot is a good size at 341litres and with the 60/40 split folding rear seats this can be increased to 1,305litres. The high lip of the boot can prove troublesome making it difficult to get large and heavy items in and out. There is also additional storage that comes in the form of door pockets and a glove compartment, but these are extremely small and will not hold much.
The build quality is good, although not quite on par with the Golf. The Leon carries the sporty feel well through to the interior thanks to its small steering wheel, clear dials and circular vents. It underwent a facelift in 2009 which improved the quality and appearance of the interiors. All cars come with traction control, air-con, remote central locking, adjustable steering wheel and drivers seat, electric front windows, CD stereo and remote central locking as standard. Optional extras and higher trim levels include Bluetooth connectivity, xenon headlights, sat-nav, alloy wheels, dual zone climate control, cruise control, tinted windows, electric windows all round, steering wheel mounted controls and front fog lights.
Drive
The ride in the Leon is as sporty and enthusiastic. It handles really well as it is well weighted and it corners extremely well with loads of grip and minimal body roll. The ride does suffer because of this as the suspension has been stiffened, but it’s not uncomfortably hard. The gear changes are smooth and precise in both the five and six speed gearboxes making the drive even more pleasurable. During the 2009 facelift the suspension was tweaked to give a more comfortable ride and you can feel the difference. Thankfully it doesn’t lose any of excellent handling though and if anything it has been improved, especially when travelling at speed. The driving position is also good, however, the large front pillars do obstruct you’re view which can be a problem for some drivers.
Faults & Repairs
There have not been many problems with the Leon over the years. The main problems that have occurred are with the engines and gearboxes where drivers have revved them too hard. The petrol engines shouldn’t be noisy when you start them and if the diesels emit a large cloud of smoke when you accelerate, then just walk away from the vehicle. The clutch may cause some problems as they begin to start slipping when used hard, but a thorough test drive should highlight any of these problems. Other than that there have been no major problems with the Leon. The service and repair costs aren’t the cheapest and if taken to a Seat dealer it can prove to be more costly to service than a VW Golf.
SEAT Links:
SEAT Car Blogs | Get Car Finance for a SEAT | Get Insurance for a SEAT | Sell a SEAT | Original SEAT LEON review
