Used Seat Leon Hatchback 2005 - 2012 reliability
Category: Family car
It's built to a budget, but the Seat Leon is a safe and pleasing family car
What should I look for in a used Seat Leon hatchback?
Some people will absolutely cherish their hot Leon FRs, and yet others will undoubtedly rev them within an inch of their life. Happily, both the 2.0-litre FSI turbo petrol and the 2.0 HDI turbodiesel can take a lot of abuse, but you still need to be careful.
Check that the petrol engine isn't noisy on start-up, because it should be capable of idling very quietly. You can't expect the same level of refinement from the diesel, but what you don't want to see is a lot of black smoke from the exhaust when you put your foot on the accelerator.
With either FR version, you'll have to put up with a horrid, oversized gearlever, but don't put up with an abused gearbox or slipping clutch, check both out thoroughly on a test drive before handing over any cash. Ensure the suspension feels right, too, and that the brake discs are not warped.
