SEAT Leon ST practicality & boot space

• Hatchback version received five-star Euro NCAP rating
• Comprehensive suite of safety technology on offer
• Much of it is optional, however 

The SEAT Leon Hatchback was given a five-star safety rating by car safety regulators Euro NCAP in 2012, meaning the estate version should offer excellent protection in the event of an accident. Adult occupant protection was rated at 94%, child occupant protection at 92%, pedestrian protection at 70% and level of safety technology at 71%. 

Since 2012 however, an extra suite of optional safety kit has been added to the Leon including: Traffic Jam Assist (where the car will effectively drive itself in low-speed traffic jams), autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, blindspot detection and traffic sign recognition – all of which was added in the 2017 facelift.

This came in addition to exisiting equipment such as lane departure warning, high-beam assist and adaptive cruise control. The Leon ST also boasts seven airbags (two front, two front side, two curtain and one knee) and two Isofix points on the outer rear seats.  

• Good all-round space in both the front and rear
• Plenty of available storage space
• Middle rear seat best suited to children on longer journeys

Up front passenger space is perfectly ample with plenty of legroom and headroom on offer. Hop in the rear seats and it’s much the same story, though just beware that – although it’s an estate – those sat behind very tall front seat passengers may feel the pinch on legroom. The middle rear seat provides enough space for a small child, but adults will find it cramped on anything but short journeys.

According to SEAT, the new Leon ST has 13 additional cubbyholes over the hatchback. That means all-round storage space is plentiful with lots of options for all different items. Up front there’s large door pockets, a capacious armrest and glovebox, plus a useful storage area positioned just below the centre console. 

Rear passengers also benefit from some good-sized door pockets, picnic tables on the back of the front seats and cupholders in the rear armrest.

Roof rails are also standard on all models and available in black on the S trim and silver for SE and FR.

When it comes to luggage space, the SEAT Leon ST is impressive with 587 litres available. With the rear seats folded flat, this expands to 1,470 litres.

The boot has many practical storage options with hooks, compartments and a 12-volt power source available. The rear seats are simple to fold down too, with two simple levers in the boot to pull.

This may be an estate car but it barely feels any more unwieldy than the regular Leon Hatchback. The rear end will stick out a bit if you’ve got a short driveway, however, and bear in mind that parking in small spaces will require a bit of skill – especially if you haven’t specced the optional parking sensors. All-round visibility is nonetheless. 

When it comes to luggage space, the SEAT Leon ST is impressive with 587 litres available. With the rear seats folded flat, this expands to 1,470 litres.

The boot has many practical storage options with hooks, compartments and a 12-volt power source available. The rear seats are simple to fold down too, with two simple levers in the boot to pull.