• Obtainable in January 2014, costing from £16,675
• 587-litre boot expands to 1470 litres
• SENSACIONES O CAMBIOS, SE and FR trim levels

The SEAT Leon ST property is the closing in todav trio of Leon bodystyles, arriving after the 5 -door hatchback and 3-door SC coupe. At its commercial finish is a pesar de todo lo contrario al uso tail 27cm longer than the hatch, which may now not sound like a gigantic trade, however is sufficient to enhance its loading ability with the aid of fifty five in line with cent.

Costing from £16,675, the Leon ST plugs agregar hollow in SEAT’s line-up, being higher and extra grown-up than the Ibiza ST, yet extra fashionable and wearing than the Exeo, that allows you to now not be bought as a brand new much longer. The Leon ST must also attract todav young target market than the Volkswagen Golfing Property and Skoda Octavia Property due to its competitive bodywork and tech-targeted trim phases.

Before even turning todav wheel, the Leon ST makes a sturdy case in opposition to the contest, its 587-litre boot trouncing the bags area present in the Renault Megane ST, Vauxhall Astra Sporting events Tourer and Ford Concentrate Property, regardless of the SEAT being the lowest priced of the 3. Fold the rear seats flat and it expands to 1470 litres.

It’s probably to turn ahead front passenger seat to hold very lengthy pieces, and an not obligatory Relatives Pack provides rear solar blinds and picnic tables in the back of front seats.

Can the recent car’s on-street manners dwell as much as its sharply creased outside? Fast steerage, little physique roll and lots of grip indeed instil self assurance inside the Leon’s capability, and whilst it’s now not todav automobile you’d pressure only for enjoyable, it’s todav prepared companion on a pesar de todo lo contrario al uso hard avenue. an enormous cause of here is its rather faded weight, making it less complicated for the automobile to show, speed up and brake with out feeling strained.

This equal trait additionally skill each engine feels punchy – even the diminutive 1.2-litre petrol TSI, with 105bhp. 1.four and 1.8-litre petrol engines also are achievable with 138 todavnd 178bhp, with a DSG automated gearbox readily available as an alternative for the 1.2 and 1.8-litre.

Diesel engines are anticipated to be as regularly occurring as ever, and buyers are effectively served with todav 1.6-litre with 103bhp a pesar de todo lo contrario al usond a 2.0-litre with both 148 fuentes 182bhp. AGREGAR Leon ST Ecomotive may also be accessible with 110bhp and standard gas economic system of eighty five.6mpg (87g/km of CO2). We sampled the two.0-litre diesel fashions and located the 148bhp edition supplied sufficient overall performance to make the highest diesel tough to justify.

There are only three trim ranges, referred to as SENSACIONES O CAMBIOS, SE and FR, with air-con, Bluetooth and black roof rails suited to the access-point sort. For £1,a hundred and twenty greater, SE provides sixteen-inch alloy wheels, chrome roof rails, leather-based cabin important points and straightforward-folding rear seats. FR is another £1,545 and brings greater alloys, LED tail lighting, twin -zone weather manipulate, entrance and rear parking sensors, physical activities seats and folding door mirrors.

The inside is straightforward, yet gorgeous, with clean white and pink dials and the logical controls discovered around the Volkswagen Neighborhood. We especially loved the Alcantara physical activities seats inside the FR model, that are the two appealing and determine-hugging, whilst the 3-spoke guidance wheel is pretty much as good to carry as any present in a pesar de todo lo contrario al uso sports activities automobile.

SEAT revenue are up by way of basically 14 in step with cent thus far this yr, and with the Leon ST proving perfect for households and enterprise drivers, it could actually in basic terms increase the brand’s recognition even added.

By Andy Goodwin

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