Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr Car Review - April 2013

REVIEW
List Price: £17,720
Tax Band: C
Insurance Group: 17
MPG: 53.3
CO2: 119
0-62 Mph: 8.1 secs
BHP: N/A BHP
Range: 586 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
The Seat Leon has been with us for a decade-and-a-half now, but with the model now into its third generation it remains fresh and cutting edge. Previously available in 5-door format only, the new range unveiled in 2012 comes with the availability of a 3-door body style called the SC, with the Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr aiming to do battle with its sporty counterparts in - for example - the VW Golf and BMW 1-Series ranges.

PROS:  A well-built, spacious, nice to drive, performance 3-door hatchback, that will cost you much less than a Volkswagen Golf.

CONS:  If economy is more important to you than performance, you'd probably go for one of the diesel models in the Seat Leon range.

Behind the Wheel

The Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr comes with a 1.4-litre, 16-valve petrol engine, producing 138bhp and generating 184lb-ft of torque at 1500-3500 rpm. Mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, it has a competitive feel to its performance and the steering is very responsive. It is a comfortable car to drive as, despite the reduced dimensions of the 3-door body shape over the 5-door models, cabin space has been only minimally compromised, with no effect on the driving position. The compact dimensions of the 3-door Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI coupled with the weight reduction in the new Seat Leon range means the handling is very positive, and it is a car which seems happy to be driven aggressively.

Looks & Equipment

The styling of the new Seat Leon range is much sharper and angular than the model it replaced. The Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr has a very dynamic, purposeful demeanour, with a shorter body than the 5-door variants.

It comes as standard with power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric windows, cruise control, driver airbags, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser, and CD player with Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity. In addition, there are a range of optional extras, for example you can add rear parking sensors for an additional £265, metallic paint for £475, and an electric sunroof for an extra £695.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr comes as standard with stability control and driver, passenger, and front side airbags, which should give peace of mind to the safety-conscious motorist.

Seat, as with all brands within the Volkswagen Group, has a strong reputation for reliability, and a 3-year, 60,000-mile manufacturers warranty backs this up.

The 3-door Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI is impressively practical as, despite the reduced dimensions over its 5-door bigger brother, Seat have managed to minimise the effect on the occupants. Rear legroom is slightly less plentiful, but the 3-door body style still retains the 380-litres of boot space found in the larger 5-door model.

Value for Money

At £17,540, the Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr has a price tag of almost £1,500 less than the equivalent Volkswagen Golf SE 1.4 TSI 3dr, sharing with it the same combined fuel economy of 54.3mpg, and CO2 emissions of 119g/km which puts it in the £30-a-year Road Tax Band C. As would be expected, the 1.6-litre diesel models in the Seat Leon SC range benefit from improved fuel economy and emissions figures, for example the Seat Leon SC SE 1.6 TDI 3dr returns a combined 74.3 mpg and falls into the lowest Road Tax Band A thanks to its CO2 emissions figure of 99g/km. However, it is £650 more expensive than the Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr, and less powerful. The Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr should attract people to whom fun is a greater consideration than economy, so it's horses for courses, and with its lower price tag it does compare well in the value for money stakes compared to its VW Golf equivalent.

Seat Leon SC SE 1.4 TSI 3dr Car Review - by 
All Seat Leon Reviews
Seat Leon S 1.4 5dr - March 2012
The Seat Leon S 1.4 5dr is a great value for money hatchback, which offers practicality and good handling, although the refinement of the engine is not great. The engine is not particularly powerfu...
Seat Leon SE Copa 1.6 TDI CR 5dr - March 2012
The Leon SE Copa 1.6 TDI CR 5dr is a great hatchback with loads of kit as standard including satallite navigation. The price is a little higher than other versions of the Leon hatchback, but in ret...
Seat Leon SE Copa 1.6 TDI CR DSG 5dr - February 2012
This version of the Seat Leon is in the middle of the range in terms of the list price, but this version of the diesel engine is the most efficient of all those available. It is also a car that is ...
Seat Leon FR+ 2.0 TSI DSG 5dr - March 2012
The Seat Leon FR+ 2.0 TSI DSG 5dr offers a turbocharged engine that gives great performance and comes with loads of equipment, but at an extra cost. The running costs are quite high too. For those ...
Seat Leon Cupra R 2.0 TSI 5dr - March 2012
The Seat Leon Cupra R 2.0 TSI 5dr is the sports version of the Leon hatchback range and offers a great performance, with all the practicality of the hatchback. However, it is a big step up in price...
Comments
Medium Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the Seat Leon. Here are some popular Seat Leon alternatives:

NEW RELEASE
Jeep Avenger revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
Ferrari Purosangue revealed
NEW RELEASE
Ford Mustang revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
New BMW M2 has been revealed
NEW RELEASE
Electric SUV coming soon
NEW RELEASE
Popular hatchback gets an update