SEAT Leon Estate Review 2024

SEAT may offer a range of SUVS, such as the Ateca and Tarraco, but there is still plenty of practicality to be found in a traditional estate car. The latest SEAT Leon Estate has moved upmarket, coming close to challenging the Volkswagen Golf Estate.

Not everybody needs, or wants, an SUV to deal with the demands of family life. An estate car can be just as effective when it comes to load-lugging, even if it might not have the same ‘on trend’ image as a higher-riding alternative

SEAT’s Leon Estate remains a top choice for those who require maximum space on a budget, and want to steer clear of an SUV. Priced from around £25,000, it represents a lot of car for the money, aided by plenty of standard equipment across the range.

The SEAT Leon’s main party piece is its cargo capacity. With the rear seats up, the Spanish-built car can swallow 620 litres of luggage. That is only just behind the mechanically similar Skoda Octavia Estate, and more than the (also related) Volkswagen Golf Estate. Space for passengers is also generous, with plenty of room in both the front and rear. Playing the family holdall will be no issue for the Leon.

Previously, the SEAT Leon was easily discernible as the budget option in the Volkswagen Group hierarchy. However, the changes made to the interior of the latest model have pushed this estate closer to premium territory. Build quality feels on par with the Golf and Octavia, thanks to liberal use of soft-touch materials.

Adding to the sense of upmarket value is a list of standard equipment that includes climate control air-con, LED headlights and rear parking sensors. Higher-spec versions of the Leon gain more kit, such as a digital instrument panel and wireless smartphone charging.

The only downside is the infotainment system familiar from other Volkswagen Group models. It makes use of a touchscreen to operate almost every interior function, with a menu system that feels unintuitive. 

At least the SEAT Leon Estate driving experience remains frustration-free. Accurate steering, plenty of grip and a strong resistance to body-roll mean it’s easy to make swift progress. The Spanish wagon also helps the driver feel part of the process, being a genuinely rewarding car to drive.

SEAT offers the Leon with a host of petrol and diesel engines, but the efficient plug-in hybrid model is currently unavailable. Most buyers will be served best by the 1.5-litre TSI petrol, which comes with a choice of 130PS and 150PS outputs. It can handle the SEAT Leon Estate when fully loaded, and offers a decent blend of performance and economy.

Fleet users, or those doing regular long journeys, will be drawn to the 2.0 TDI diesel. This can achieve up to almost 66mpg in official fuel economy tests, while delivering strong performance in 150PS guise.

The Volkswagen Golf Estate and Skoda Octavia Estate are the more obvious choices in this segment, along with the Ford Focus Estate. However, the SEAT Leon delivers a pleasing combination of practicality, affordability and fun. It has very few weaknesses, providing the temptation to buy another SUV can be resisted…

Driving enjoyment may not be top of the list of priorities for a family estate, but the SEAT Leon manages to entertain on the road. It cannot match the class-leading Ford Focus Estate in dynamic terms, but it is certainly more engaging than the equivalent Volkswagen Golf Estate.

Central to the SEAT Leon Estate’s handling is steering that is naturally weighted, and offers decent feedback about what is going on up-front. Even with standard suspension, the Leon resists body-roll well, and can generate a surprising amount of cornering speed.

Opting for cars in FR or FR Sport trim brings the addition of sports suspension to the SEAT Leon Estate. Although this provides better body control, adding to the handling prowess, there is an obvious trade-off in terms of ride quality. FR models fitted with the larger 18-inch alloy wheels will be particularly firm over the worst bumps and potholes.

Sticking with SE or SE Dynamic trim is the best choice for those who want maximum ride comfort.

SEAT has updated the Leon Estate’s engine range, with buyers now able to choose from a selection of three petrol engines and two diesels of differing power outputs.

A slick six-speed manual transmission is standard across the SEAT Leon lineup. Certain engines can also be combined with a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. This incorporates mild-hybrid technology, boosting efficiency by allowing the car to coast with the engine off.

The petrol choices kick off with a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that generates 110PS. A 0-62mph time of 11.0 seconds may sound underwhelming, but the 1.0 TSI makes effective progress around town.

Most SEAT Leon Estate buyers are likely to be drawn to the popular 1.5-litre TSI four-cylinder petrol engine. This comes in both 130PS and 150PS versions, but both serve up more than enough power for real-world driving. Only the 150PS version can be matched with the DSG transmission, with this combination delivering a 0-62mph time of 8.8 seconds.

For those tackling more miles, or regularly making full use of the SEAT Leon Estate’s cargo capacity, a diesel engine may make sense. The 2.0-litre TDI comes in 115PS and 150PS flavours, with the latter delivering impressive torque for towing. For maximum fuel economy, the diesels are unbeatable.

SEAT previously offered a plug-in hybrid option for the Leon Estate, branded ‘e-Hybrid’. This combined a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, generating a total of 204PS. At present, the e-Hybrid powertrain is unavailable to order.

A 190PS 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine has also been cut from the SEAT Leon Estate lineup, but can now be found in the related Cupra Leon.

The SEAT Leon Estate is a very safe car, having been awarded the maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP for its performance in crash tests. With an adult occupant protection rating of 91 percent, plus 88 percent for child occupants, the Leon Estate is at the top of its game.

All versions of the SEAT Leon Estate come equipped with lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning with autonomous braking, and cruise control with a speed limiter as standard. More safety equipment, including adaptive cruise control, is available as part of the optional Safety and Driving Pack.

The SEAT Leon Estate is likely to hold appeal for those looking to pull a caravan or trailer. SEAT offers a tow bar as one of the official accessories for the Leon.

The top choice for towing is the 2.0 TDI diesel engine. Both the 115PS and 150PS versions are able to haul a braked trailer weighing up to 1800kg.

For those in need of more towing ability, the SEAT Ateca or Tarraco SUVs are more capable, given the SEAT Leon Estate’s relatively low kerb weight.

Practicality is the lifeblood of a family estate car, and SEAT has not forgotten that here. The important headline figure is a boot capacity of 620 litres with the rear seats in place, which seems generous given the Leon’s sleek styling.

That boot capacity is only 20 litres less than the Skoda Octavia Estate, and nine litres more than the Volkswagen Golf Estate. It means you can have the SEAT Leon Estate for its handsome looks without having to compromise on the all-important cargo capacity.

The story is the same for passenger space, with the SEAT Leon Estate coming close to matching the larger Skoda Octavia Estate. Both headroom and legroom are generous in the front, while three adults could sit side-by-side on the rear bench at a push. There are Isofix child car seat fitting points on the outer back seats, with wide-opening doors making it easier to manoeuvre a toddler in or out.

All models above SE trim come with a front centre armrest, whilst FR and FR Sport versions have a rear armrest that doubles as a ski hatch. Matt black roof rails are fitted to all Leon Estates.

Previous versions of the SEAT Leon made their lower status in the Volkswagen Group quite clear when it came to interior quality. Not so the latest car, which has build quality on par with the Volkswagen Golf or Skoda Octavia. The Audi A3 is better still, but much more expensive.

Most materials used are soft to the touch, although there are still a few cheaper plastics to keep costs down. Chrome trim adds a little bit of bling to the cabin, while the wraparound lighting is a neat (if potentially distracting) feature.

The entry-level SE version of the SEAT Leon Estate makes use of a smaller 8.25-inch multimedia touchscreen. All other versions come with a larger 10.0-inch touchscreen, but the operation of the two is the same.

Similar to other Volkswagen Group vehicles, almost every interior function is controlled through the SEAT Leon Estate’s infotainment screen. There is a row of touch-sensitive sliders beneath the display to adjust the climate control, but these are not backlit – making them hard to use at night.

Adjusting everything else requires multiple finger-prods through the many menus of the infotainment system. Familiarity does little to make this easier, as the layout used for the various folders never feels particularly intuitive.

Versions with the 10.0-inch display can be controlled with voice commands, providing you say ‘Hola, hola’ (how very Spanish) before each instruction. Steering wheel-mounted buttons are available, too.

On cars above SE grade, the standard 10.25-inch digital dashboard provides a visual lift for the Leon’s cabin. It also offers a variety of display designs, thanks to plenty of customisation options.

Although prices for the SEAT Leon Estate have increased since the model was first launched, it remains affordable today. The entry-level Leon Estate SE 1.0 TSI starts from less than £25,000, making it nearly £1,000 cheaper than the equivalent Skoda Octavia Estate.

At the other end of the scale, the most expensive SEAT Leon Estate is the FR Sport version with the 2.0 TDI 150 engine. Even this seems something of a bargain, though, costing around £33,500.

There are likely to be potential deals available on nearly-new or pre-registered models, which also helps avoid the need for waiting lists.

Being pitched as an affordable family estate, the SEAT Leon offers running costs that should make it an attractive option.

For maximum fuel economy, the 2.0 TDI diesel engine will be the top choice – providing you do a large enough annual mileage. The 115PS version can officially average up to 65.7mpg, while the more powerful 150PS diesel still manages almost 63mpg.

In terms of petrol engines, all options return respectable fuel economy figures in the official tests. The 1.0 TSI sips the least petrol, with a combined average of up to 51.4mpg.

Even the 1.5 TSI engine can return 50.4mpg in 130PS trim, or 48.7mpg in 150PS eTSI guise with the DSG automatic gearbox. This engine does like to be revved, however, which may reduce the figures you see on the road.

With the 1.4 e-Hybrid currently unavailable to order, the 2.0 TDI diesel engine with 115PS is probably the best choice for company car drivers. In entry-level SE trim, this version of the SEAT Leon Estate has a benefit-in-kind (BiK) tax rate of 28 percent.

With high-performance versions of the SEAT Leon Estate now sold under the separate Cupra banner, the regular SEAT version proves universally affordable to insure. The 1.0 TSI model starts in insurance group 13 (out of 50 groups in total), with the 2.0 TDI 150 in group 20.

All SEAT Leon Estates come with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty as standard. This can be upgraded to a four years/75,000 miles or five years/90,000 miles for an extra cost. SEAT also offers fixed-price servicing deals, helping keep maintenance bills under control.

SEAT has rationalised the choice of trims offered for the SEAT Leon Estate, removing the previous range-topping Xcellence version from price lists.

SE is the starting point for the SEAT Leon Estate range, but this is certainly not a bargain-basement specification. Standard equipment includes LED headlights, LED front fog lights with a cornering function, and daytime running lights. Metallic paint is also included, along with a set of 16-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, the SEAT Leon Estate SE benefits from seats finished in two-tone cloth upholstery, with manual height adjustment for the driver and passenger. Chrome detailing helps lift the cabin, while keyless entry, cruise control and rear parking sensors are also fitted. Front assist and lane-keeping assist are among the standard safety kit.

An 8.25-inch multimedia touchscreen is fitted to SE models, with DAB radio, Bluetooth audio streaming and steering wheel-mounted controls. Wired connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included, too.

For more equipment in a SEAT Leon Estate, buyers can move up to the SE Dynamic version. This sees the alloy wheels enlarged to 17 inches, and also adds rear privacy glass.

The biggest change for the SE Dynamic is the fitment of the larger 10.0-inch multimedia infotainment screen. This includes satellite navigation, along with DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. Apple CarPlay devices can now be connected wirelessly, with Android Auto users having to use the wired USB-C connector.

A 10.25-inch digital cockpit replaces the analogue instrument panel and the climate control air-con becomes a three-zone system. Front parking sensors are added as well.

The sporty SEAT Leon Estate FR comes with a bespoke bodykit, complemented by 17-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels. Its LED headlights feature dynamic indicators, with the LED tail lights linked by a signature ‘coast to coast’ light strip. The headlights operate automatically, and are joined by rain-sensing windscreen wipers.

Sports suspension is installed, as is a drive profile selector that can adjust the steering and throttle response, along with the gear shift mode on DSG versions. Wireless phone charging, ambient lighting and seats covered in grey fabric with red stitching complete the FR spec.

FR Sport now tops the Leon range, with 18-inch alloy wheels, wraparound interior lighting and microsuede upholstery for the sports seats. The front seats are heated, as is the leather-wrapped sports steering wheel. The driver’s seat gets powered lumbar adjustment, along with power height adjustment and a memory function.