Should you buy one?

The SEAT Leon is a sharply-styled and spacious hatchback with a generous level of equipment and a good range of punchy engines. Considering the price, we reckon it should make your shopping list.

Sure, a Honda Civic is an altogether more complete car, but the Leon has a wider choice of engine and trim levels. Diesel is becoming rarer in the family hatchback scene, and we’re pleased that SEAT is still offering it. Just remember to be careful with the options; going for too plush a model makes it a bit too pricey to recommend.

What is it?

The SEAT Leon offers sharp exterior lines and hybrid tech borrowed from the latest Volkswagen Golf at a considerably cheaper price. This has always been the Leon’s key selling point, perhaps explaining why it remains SEAT’s most successful family car in the UK to date.

The Leon is likely to end up on the same shopping lists as buyers considering the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla, Peugeot 308 and Honda Civic, as well as the countless small SUVs that buyers are increasingly turning to. That’s a tough crowd to make a significant impact in, but the good news is that SEAT has created a wide range of models to tempt you.

There are a lots of engine options, but no electric version – that’s covered by the Cupra Born. The petrol engines consist of a 110hp 1.0-litre, and a 1.5-litre in 130hp and 150hp outputs. Plus, you can have a 2.0-litre diesel with 115hp.

There’s also an eTSI-badged mild-hybrid petrol and a plug-in hybrid version. SEAT revised the latter powertrain in 2024, increasing its battery capacity from 13kWh to 25.8kWh. That jacked up its maximum electric driving range from 40 miles to a whopping 82 miles, shunting it right to the top of the class in the process.

We have written separate reviews for the two other variations. There’s the more practical SEAT Leon Estate, while the Cupra Leon is the hot hatch model.

Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the SEAT Leon, including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it’s like to drive – and whether we recommend buying one.