Used Seat Leon Estate 2020-present review

Seat named the Leon after the city of the same name – and it also means “lion” in Spanish. That’s a brash title for a sensible estate car and its standard family car sibling, but it fits the latest, fourth-generation model more than ever.

Launched in 2020, the Leon is sharp, well-rounded and efficient, and the Leon Estate receives extra practicality and spaciousness over the hatch. This current model has a lot to live up to. You see we liked the previous version of this Leon Estate, known as the Leon ST, a lot, and the contemporary Leon family hatchback we actually crowned our What Car? Used Car of the Year a few years back.

Engines: Under the bonnet, the base engine is a 1.0-litre petrol, badged 1.0 TSI 110, and you shouldn’t rule it out. It pulls well enough from low revs and doesn’t struggle to keep up with faster-moving traffic. You’ll certainly appreciate the extra punch of the 128bhp 1.5-litre petrol, badged 1.5 TSI 130, though.

For more power, there’s the 148bhp version of the same 1.5-litre engine, badged 1.5 TSI 150, and a 187bhp 2.0-litre engine, badged 2.0 TSI 190. Mild-hybrid versions of the 1.0 and 1.5 TSI are also out there, but there are no diesel options.

At the top of the range there's an eco-friendly plug-in hybrid (PHEV), creatively named the eHybrid. It uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine (shared with the Volkswagen Golf GTE) with an electric motor that bumps up the power to an impressive 201bhp.

Trims and equipment: Trim-wise, you can pick between relatively modest SE (or SE Dynamic) trim, the more extrovert styling and sportier driving manners of the FR versions or a more luxury-focused Xcellence trim.

The entry-level SE trim is surprisingly well-equipped. You get 16in alloys, air-conditioning, keyless start, cruise control and metallic paint as standard. Step up to SE Dynamic and, in addition to various infotainment upgrades, buyers will also enjoy front parking sensors, larger 17in wheels and tinted rear windows.

FR trim plays to the Leon’s strengths, with its standard sports suspension making it great fun through the bends. You get more goodies than you do with SE Dynamic trim, including an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and climate control.

Finally, we have Xcellence with its extensive list of bells and whistles. It gets 17in alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, heated front seats, a heated leather steering wheel, suede-lined seats, a powered driver’s seat with memory and adjustable lumbar support, three-zone climate control, a rear view camera and keyless start and entry. And breathe.

Ride and handling: On the road, the Leon boasts fun driving dynamics and keen handling. It also won’t rattle your fillings out and is compliant over large undulations, such as speed bumps, but it does fail to be quite so absorbent over rough town roads or pockmarked A-roads. The FR trim’s sports suspension makes for a slightly less comfortable ride, but it’s the plug-in eHybrid versions that are the least forgiving Leons along pockmarked roads. This is because the extra weight of the battery makes more demands on the suspension.

For a more comfortable PHEV, we’d point you towards the Skoda Octavia iV Estate, and for a more entertaining drive, we’d recommend the Ford Focus ST Line Estate. That said, we still think the Leon truly impresses with how it drives.

Interior and practicality: Inside, the Leon’s driving position is fundamentally very good, with pedals that line up neatly with the seat and steering wheel, and a driver’s seat that’s comfy on long journeys and supportive through corners. The fact that all trims come with adjustable lumbar support certainly helps.

If you go for entry-level SE trim, you’ll get an 8.3in touchscreen, a DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a seven-speaker sound system and two USB-C ports. The higher trim levels come with a 10in touchscreen, and add built-in sat-nav and natural voice recognition. FR models get a couple of extra USB-C ports too.

Interior quality is great, with squidgy, dense-feeling plastic on the top of the dashboard and above the armrests on the doors. Plus, the buttons on the steering wheel are nicely weighted and don’t feel at all cheap.

Space for front and rear passengers is plentiful and boot space is slightly above par compared with rivals, which is to say very good, but not quite on the level of the super-practical Skoda Octavia Estate. It’s worth noting that the eHybrid’s boot is smaller than that of the non-electrified Leons.

If you're interested in finding a used Leon Estate, or any of the other estate cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Used prices for the Seat Leon Estate begin at around £14,000 for an SE or SE Dynamic model. Engines at this price point include the 1.0 TSI 110 and 1.5 TSI 130, while the 1.5 TSI 150, along with higher trim levels, are likely to set you back closer to £15,000. Plug-in hybrid examples are available for upwards of £17,000. Spend in excess of £18,000 on 2022 and 2023 models.

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Find a used Seat Leon estate for sale here

MPG

Starting with the base 1.0 TSI 110 and its 1.0-litre petrol engine, it averages 51.4mpg (according to WLTP testing). The 1.5 TSI 130 averages 49.6mpg, while the more powerful 1.5 TSI 150 averages 48.7mpg. The e-Hybrid is the most economical variant, with a claimed average of 235.4mpg.

Road tax

Owners of petrol-powered Leon Estates will have to pay £180 per year under current VED regulations, while hybrid examples attract a fee of £170 per year. To find out more about road tax costs, click here.

Servicing and insurance

Insurance groups are generally low, meaning the Seat Leon Estate should be cheap to insure. In terms of servicing, if your example is less than 12 months old, you’ll receive your first two services for a fixed price throughout the duration of the plan: 24 monthly payments of £17.25 or you can pay in full for £414.

For cars one to 15 years old, you can pay upfront for £502.80 or spread the cost from as little as £20.95 per month over 24 months.

The base 1.0 TSI 110 is a great choice, offering decent performance and excellent fuel economy. If the punchier 1.5 TSI 130 wasn’t available at a similar price point, it’d be our go-to. Is it worth going a step further and getting the 1.5 TSI 150? Not particularly, as the slight boost in performance isn’t entirely worth the extra cash. At that point, you might as well spring for the eHybrid if you have the money.

SE Dynamic is our trim of choice. SE already comes well equipped, but the Dynamic’s bigger wheels, infotainment upgrades and front parking sensors can be enjoyed for not much more money.

Our favourite Seat Leon Estate: 1.5 130 TSI SE Dynamic

Cheaper versions count the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer among its rivals; it's a ubiquitous but pleasant car that’s good to drive and comes with a practical interior. Entry-level versions can be a bit sparse and the diesel engines can be gruff. On top of that, the low-speed ride is a little firm.

The Ford Focus Estate is great to drive, with a smooth and quiet Ecoboost engine in some versions and low running costs. Some rivals are cheaper, though, and the Leon feels a little better-made.

The previous-generation Volkswagen Golf Estate is worth considering, although it has been replaced by the latest Volkswagen Golf, which shares its underpinnings with the current Octavia estate. VW's model is brilliant to drive, well equipped, refined and comparatively cheap to run. On the other hand, the interior is a little dreary.

If you're interested in finding a used Leon, or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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