SEAT Leon 2018 in-depth review | Mat Watson Reviews

The SEAT Leon's based on the practical, and ever-popular, VW Golf but looks distinctly sportier and comes with a remodelled interior. Will this be enough to make it stand out in the hotly contested family hatchback class or will it be a model to avoid? I take a detailed look at this smart-looking Spanish hatchback and give you my verdict.

Read our full SEAT Leon review –

SEAT Leon practicality review –

SEAT Leon infotainment and interior review –

See the best SEAT Leon deals –

Awkward haggling is a thing of the past with carwow. Choose your perfect car with our configurator tool and let the country’s best dealers compete over you. Compare the five best offers by price, location and dealer ratings and choose the one that’s right for you – no hassle, no haggling, just a great deal.

[ronshephard]

That cabin is no more drab than a Golf cabin. What's he expecting, led lights around the dash. Looks great to me.

[indelebilis]

12V socket? Come on Matt, 12V socket in Trunk you have to pay 200€ extra even in Mercedes C class...

[christophercooke]

You pay £35.000 maybe more for a audi or BMW and you don't even get L.E.D headlights as standard, my seat leon didn't cost nowhere near that much and I only had to pay a thousand pound more to get the L.E.D headlights that included extra's as well. What some audi owner's seem to forget is seat is in the same VW group, I have also noticed they have been building some audi's at the seat factory, it is all about badge snobbery.

[ale]

I used to drive VW golf 13 in work but we switched to seat leon 18. Its a really nice car. Steering is excellent, quick and responsive. Good gear box. Easy to drive. Yes might be a bit bumpier then the older golf but it was kinda good u felt the road.

[ACS]

Matt, i think you'll find that the black gloss around the Nav is the same as before and you've ignored the centre console design change and the new electric handbrake that has replaced the old manual. More time needed studying the interior and less time on researching sausages i think.

[klu]

The cabin looks great! Neat and tidy, without any fireworks. Just what I need in my car, not some circus.

[alan]

I love Seat Leon FR I’ve brought one a month ago I love it comfy, and nice drive for 1.5 evo Tsi

[steveelliott]

Had my 1.5 tsi xcellence for a week now and I love it! Full leather, heated seats and yes! A rear seat armrest with cup holders too

[KOL]

Good video. Personally I like the really clean simple design of the dash it’s really smart and not gaudy like other cars. I am loving these and might buy one!

[JULIAN]

Here is a very nice idea: do a comparison of german hot hatches, seat leon cupra 300, Golf R, Audi S3. Please make it happen

[Matt-jtic]

Others have said it already but I've never understood the "drab interior" complaint. I don't want it to be exciting, I want it to feel solid and plush with everything laid out logically. Which this is by the looks of it.

[kadajawi]

When I bought my current car I test drove the Leon with regular suspension (not the stiffer FR) and 16" rims as well as the Golf with regular suspension and 16" rims. The Leon is much more fun to drive. The Golf just took more time to react to steering input, and doesn't give much feedback. Yes, the ride is a bit harsher on the Leon, but it's a small difference. My Golf now sits on 17" rims, which worsened the ride, obviously, I'd say to Leon levels (or a bit worse), but help with handling. Now it reacts more direct. HOWEVER: It's still nowhere near as fun to drive as the Leon was. There's something about that steering. Oh yeah, and unlike the Leon with its light steering my Golf has the optional driving profile selection thing, which let me set the wheel to heavy, the way I prefer it. Still, the Leon was more fun to drive. I'd almost compare it to the 1 series BMW, though that manages to be comfy as well.

Also that interior looks a bit like older Audis, and anyway, I think while not as exciting as the exterior it does look rather nice.

[JaayB]

I've been driving a 1.6 TDI for the last three years and loved it. I managed to get 600 miles out of a single tank on a few occasions before I stopped playing chicken with the fuel meter. I loved it so much I'm now waiting for my new Leon FR 1.4 EcoTSI to be built in 2 weeks time. You really cannot beat this car on value for money, style and just plain fun. Also I really quite like the door handles. Maybe it's just me?

[Yakito]

We had Seat Leon FR tourers as company cars and to this day it's my favourite car ever. Beats any car I've driven before or since. And then 2.0 diesel is AMAZING on MPG. Not to mention that the seat has low emissions compared to cars like Honda Civic.

[mrblue]

Just ordered the St Xcellence Lux 2.0 with a 7 speed DSG auto in magnetic grey. 12 weeks and counting, can't wait.

[teoss]

I have a leon style 1.0 eco tsi dsg with media system and led lights. I really recommend this car. My old car was again a 1.2 tsi leon, 2016

[ApurtureSci]

Glad to see that the 1.8 TSI is still offered, it's being phased out of most other VAG engine lineups.

[yudhabagaskara]

do head2head between facelifted MQB cars

[timedestroyer]

Hey just want to point out about the rear seatbelts. The two outer ones have a plastic clip next to the seat so you can "lock" them in place.

[fayssalagngou]

1:59 Leon the professional in storage compartment was hilarious