SEAT Leon SC running costs are reasonable across the range. Cleanest and greenest is the 103bhp 1.6 TDI diesel which emits less than 100g/km of CO2, making it cheap to tax, and averages a claimed 74mpg. The more powerful 2.0-litre diesel isn’t bad either, returning a claimed 68mpg.

Of the petrols, the 1.2-litre TSI is cheapest to tax and averages a claimed 57mpg. Unsurprisingly, the 178bhp 1.8 TSI will cost most to tax and insure. It returns a claimed 49mpg with the DSG transmission or 47mpg with a manual ’box.

SEAT Leon SC emissions are currently all below 120g/km of CO2, with the exception of the 1.8 TSI petrol which emits 137g/km in manual spec or 132g/km with a DSG auto transmission. Interestingly, the DSG box improves emissions for petrol models but increases them for diesels.

Many derivatives are fitted with SEAT’s Ecomotive energy recovery and start/stop systems.

Cleanest engine is the 103bhp 1.6 TDI diesel, which emits 99g/km of CO2.

The car shares it’s the majority of its essential structure, components and engines with other vehicles in the VW Group (which owns SEAT), including the current Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia, so SEAT Leon SC reliability should be just as good as those cars.

If you specify the optional LED headlights, SEAT says they’ll be maintenance-free and last for more than 10,000 hours.