SEAT Leon Hatch FR – 2023
By Ian Strachan.
SEAT’s Leon Hatchback has long been a family car which is roomy and practical but still looks elegant and sporty. In the FR Sport version you get the benefits of more technology and sharper performance added to an already attractive mix.
The latest SEAT Leon Hatchback FR Sport has good looks, a very smooth ride, good handling, a fairly frugal, well-powered 1.5 litre engine and a comfortable and roomy interior, which add up to everything you could want in a car of this size.
Clever use of space in this SEAT gives a good-sized load area, with 380 litres of boot space which can be increased by folding the rear seats. But despite its practicality it still looks sporty, with impressive 18-inch machined alloy wheels and FR Sport bumpers.
I drove the Leon Hatch FR petrol-powered version, with a smooth and responsive 130 bhp engine which can return a respectable 45.6 miles to the gallon in mixed driving, helped by some interesting technology which means you are running the engine on just two cylinders when you don’t need much power.
The power plant is easy-revving and is never under strain. Married to a smooth and pleasant six-speed manual gearbox it gives good acceleration through the range, and a sedate ride on long journeys. A feature on the dashboard reminds you when you need to change gear for the most frugal driving.
Ride and handling is both refined and composed, with sure-footed cornering, even at speed.
Inside, the Leon is impressively roomy, particularly in the back. Instruments are well laid out and clear. The high quality suede seats are comfortable and supportive, with a powered driver’s seat with memory.
Standard equipment on the well-equipped FR spec which I tested includes a colour 10-inch touchscreen for satellite navigation and media controls, DAB radio/MP3 player with Bluetooth, smartphone charger and steering wheel-mounted controls, cruise control with speed limiter, rear-view camera and parking sensors, electrically operated and heated memory door mirrors, three-zone air conditioning, all-round airbags, electric windows and daytime running lights.
You also get interior wraparound lighting, heated front seats and steering wheel, and rain-sensing wipers.
On the road price of this SEAT Leon Hatchback FR Sport 1.5 TSI 130PS is a competitive £28,860. My test car was fitted with a safety and driving pack with lane control at £685 and a space-saver spare wheel at £125.
This is an excellent, smooth running and sophisticated hatchback from SEAT that feels more expensive than it is.
