SEAT León, Presentation and Test Drive in Salamanca (I)

On Friday, March 8th, SEAT invited a group of journalists and former owners of the brand to test the new five-door León in the lands of Salamanca. Highmotor was there, and over the next few paragraphs I will tell you the impressions I was able to gather from the Spanish compact, as well as how the weekend unfolded at the event.

SEAT had summoned us to an exclusive hotel in central Madrid to collect the cars for the journey to Salamanca, passing through the beautiful provinces of Segovia and Ávila. More than twenty vehicles awaited us in the car park, and there was my unit, a red León 2.0 TDI 150 CV manual with the FR trim. The journey promised well.

As soon as I opened the door, the four full LED headlights light up to welcome us. Its modern design shows at first glance that we are facing a completely new vehicle; nothing has to do with the previous generation. From its platform to its design, everything is different. The León has undergone a major change; everything about it is better.

The FR trim — the only version I had the chance to test — differs from the rest of the range with a more aggressive front bumper, a rear with small design changes, offering customers a sportier and younger look. Finally, the chrome exhaust pipes and a body sitting closer to the ground make it clear that this is no ordinary León.

Inside, the steering wheel and seats are very sporty, the latter offering really good lateral support. It is very spacious, allowing people over two metres tall to drive without problems. In addition, the cabin has changed enormously compared with the previous generation of the model. The plastics are much softer, and at last the touchscreen, from which you control the radio, the GPS and vehicle data, sits in a high position that means you do not have to take your eyes far off the road.

Its insulation makes long journeys comfortable, although it is true that some road and wind noise seeps into the cabin.

We adjusted the driving position and started the engine for the first time. In the cabin, nothing tells us we are in a diesel: there are no noises or vibrations typical of the old 2.0 TDI from the VAG group. We pressed the clutch, engaged first gear and set off. The clutch is firm and the gear lever needs getting used to; at first it is easy to confuse one gear with another.

For the first few kilometres I drove in Sport mode. The engine responds more quickly and the steering becomes firmer. There are no other changes. On FR versions, you can also choose between Normal, Eco and Individual modes. The latter lets you adjust various parameters of the vehicle to your liking. In Eco, the electric steering is far too light, which is why I decided to start in Sport.

The whole group set off in convoy towards Salamanca. It was a very rainy day where caution at the wheel had to be maximal. As the minutes passed, I began to feel as if the steering were very imprecise in the bends, but I was mistaken. After talking with my colleagues, we discovered that my SEAT León unit came with the lane change assist as an extra. I had never tried it before, so at the first bend I came across, I took my hands off the wheel. It works perfectly. For 10 seconds, the car takes care of driving for you.

On national roads at high speed in the rain, the car holds its line as if its life depended on it. It has great composure and nothing makes us think we could lose control of the car. This is due to the low centre of gravity of the new platform used by the León, the Golf and the A3.

The main drawback I found on the first day was that, at least in the FR trim, it is an uncomfortable car and every hour and a half you need to stop and rest. The suspension is too firm for the class of vehicle it is.

At motorway speeds, the SEAT León is a car that lets you hold conversations without raising your voice. Engine noise is barely perceptible inside, although wind noise is somewhat more noticeable, but never to the point of being annoying.

Images | Test team

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackSEAT Leon68 versions · from 27,822 €