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SEAT Leon Hatchback boot space, practicality and safety

2013 - 2020 (change model)
Practicality rating: 4.5 out of 54.5

Written by Keith Adams Updated: 12 July 2022

  • Plenty of front and rear passenger space
  • Respectable boot size
  • Five-star safety rating in 2012

The SEAT Leon delivers a solid amount of outright practicality thanks to a spacious cabin and reasonable luggage capacity. Drivers of all sizes shouldn’t have any problems getting into the front seats (although some may find the higher Arona or Ateca easier to climb into), plus storage space is ample. Note that all models apart from the entry-level SE benefit from an electronic handbrake instead of the older lever design, one of the benefits being an extra storage space between the driver and passenger.

2019 SEAT Leon rear seat passenger space

Meanwhile, those in the back are slightly shorter on storage, yet passenger room is excellent. A chunky central tunnel running through the middle of the car does however mean that foot space for those in the middle seat is restricted.

Will it fit in my garage?

Despite its spacious interior, the Leon isn’t much larger than its main rivals. In fact, it’s shorter than the Ford Focus and Hyundai i30 (and a little bit narrower than the latter), meaning garages designed for ‘average sized cars’ shouldn’t have any trouble accommodating the Leon. If things do get super-tight however, electrically folding mirrors are fitted as standard on FR models upwards.  The thick C-pillars (behind the rear doors) could hamper visibility when reversing, so we’d recommend speccing the SE Dynamic trim or upwards in order to get the standard-fit front and rear parking sensors.  

Will my luggage fit in the Leon?

The Leon offers a respectable amount of luggage space at 380 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,210 with them folded down. This compares well against rivals such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, although lags behind Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot 308. You’ll also want to keep the high loading lip in mind, too, as this could make trickier to lift heavy items in. Meanwhile, the rear seats fold in a basic 60:40 split, lying almost flat when pushed down.

2019 SEAT Leon boot capacity

How safe is the Leon?

  • Five-star safety rating in 2012
  • Range of optional safety kit added in 2017
  • Cruise control standard across the range

SEAT Leon safety levels are good – Euro NCAP awarded it five stars in 2012, boosting its appeal to safety-conscious drivers and fleets. Be aware, however, that the crash safety body regularly tightens up its tests, so it’s likely that a five-star car in 2017 performs better than a five-star car from 2012 with the same overall score. In fact, the Leon’s safety has been reviewed every year since, and was still valid as of March 2018. In January 2019 the rating had expired, but that doesn’t mean the car is unsafe – far from it. 

Standard safety kit includes stability control with tyre pressure monitoring, driver and front passenger airbags as well as front, side and curtain airbags. There’s also a driver’s knee airbag, alarm and remote central locking. From 2017 you could also add Traffic Jam Assist, Pedestrian Protection System, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Detection, and parking assist.

Euro NCAP crash test video

Euro NCAP rating

Overall NCAP safety rating 5 out of 5
Year tested: 2012
What is Euro NCAP?
Adult Occupant: 94%
Child Occupant: 92%
Vulnerable Road User: 70%
Safety Assist: 71%

Equipment and options

Each trim level will have different equipment offerings.
Basic equipment (14)
  • 3x3 point rear seat belts
  • ABS
  • Alarm
  • Body coloured bumpers
  • Driver`s airbag
  • Front electric windows
  • Height adjustable drivers seat
  • Isofix child seat anchor points
  • PAS
  • Remote locking
  • Service indicator
  • Side airbags
  • Steering wheel rake adjustment
  • Steering wheel reach adjustment
Standard Equipment
Optional Equipment
Cupra Standard Equipment (13)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Space saver spare wheel
  • Traction control
Cupra Optional Equipment (7)
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Folding rear seats
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated seats
  • Parking sensors
  • Partial leather seat trim
  • Sports seats
Cupra Lux Standard Equipment (19)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Electric driver`s seat
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated mirrors
  • Heated seats
  • Leather seat trim
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Space saver spare wheel
  • Sports seats
  • Traction control
Cupra Lux Optional Equipment
  • n/a
Cupra R Standard Equipment (17)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Electric mirrors
  • Front fog lights
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated mirrors
  • Heated seats
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Parking sensors
  • Partial leather seat trim
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Sports seats
  • Traction control
Cupra R Optional Equipment (4)
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Folding rear seats
  • Space saver spare wheel
FR Standard Equipment (10)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Folding rear seats
  • Lumbar support
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Traction control
FR Optional Equipment (7)
  • Electric mirrors
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Metallic Paint
  • Parking sensors
  • Sat Nav
  • Sports seats
FR Black Standard Equipment (12)
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Traction control
FR Black Optional Equipment
  • n/a
FR Black Edition Standard Equipment (13)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated mirrors
  • Heated seats
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Sports seats
FR Black Edition Optional Equipment
  • n/a
FR Sport Standard Equipment (17)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated mirrors
  • Heated seats
  • Leather seat trim
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Sports seats
  • Traction control
FR Sport Optional Equipment
  • n/a
FR Technology Standard Equipment (13)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Parking sensors
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Traction control
FR Technology Optional Equipment (3)
  • Folding rear seats
  • Front fog lights
  • Metallic Paint
S Standard Equipment (6)
  • Air conditioning
  • Audio remote
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Electric mirrors
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Traction control
S Optional Equipment (7)
  • Alloy wheels
  • CD
  • Folding rear seats
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Steel wheels
SDZ Standard Equipment (16)
  • Air conditioning
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Traction control
SDZ Optional Equipment
  • n/a
SE Standard Equipment (13)
  • Air conditioning
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Traction control
SE Optional Equipment (3)
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Sat Nav
SE Dynamic Standard Equipment (14)
  • Air conditioning
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Traction control
SE Dynamic Optional Equipment (2)
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
SE Dynamic Technology Standard Equipment (13)
  • Air conditioning
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Traction control
SE Dynamic Technology Optional Equipment (4)
  • Folding rear seats
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Parking sensors
SE Technology Standard Equipment (14)
  • Air conditioning
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Traction control
SE Technology Optional Equipment (1)
  • Metallic Paint
SEZ Standard Equipment (15)
  • Air conditioning
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Front fog lights
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Traction control
SEZ Optional Equipment
  • n/a
Xcellence Standard Equipment (16)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated mirrors
  • Heated seats
  • Leather seat trim
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Sports seats
  • Traction control
Xcellence Optional Equipment
  • n/a
Xcellence Lux Standard Equipment (16)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated mirrors
  • Heated seats
  • Leather seat trim
  • Lumbar support
  • Metallic Paint
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Sports seats
  • Traction control
Xcellence Lux Optional Equipment
  • n/a
Xcellence Technology Standard Equipment (12)
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • CD
  • Cruise control
  • Electric mirrors
  • Heated mirrors
  • Lumbar support
  • Parking sensors
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Sat Nav
  • Traction control
Xcellence Technology Optional Equipment (5)
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Headlight washers
  • Heated seats
  • Leather seat trim
  • Metallic Paint

Dimensions

Length 4236mm - 4324mm
Width 1816mm
Height 1435mm - 1459mm
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