If you've never heard of the brand Seat, we don't blame you. The brand isn't technically new to Singapore, but the last time Seat cars were sold in Singapore, Finding Nemo was showing in theatres and Michael Schumacher was still racing in Formula One. Yes, 2003 was a long time ago.
Seat is a Spanish carmaker founded in 1950, and was eventually purchased by the Volkswagen Group in 1986. All of its models are named after locations in Spain (Leon is located in the northwest). And the name 'Seat' is pronounced 'se-art', not 'se-et'.
What is this Leon supposed to be?
The Leon is the brand's hatchback offering - think Volkswagen Golf, and you can't really go wrong. After all, this model is based on the Golf, and shares the same MQB platform.
Styling-wise, this third generation model is sleek-looking, with sharp lines running across the car's body. Compared to the iconic but rather conservative-looking Golf, the Leon is certainly more distinctive, accentuated by its pointy door mirrors. It hunkers down onto the tarmac, and is a looker from any angle.
Seat is a Spanish carmaker founded in 1950, and was eventually purchased by the Volkswagen Group in 1986. All of its models are named after locations in Spain (Leon is located in the northwest). And the name 'Seat' is pronounced 'se-art', not 'se-et'.
What is this Leon supposed to be?
The Leon is the brand's hatchback offering - think Volkswagen Golf, and you can't really go wrong. After all, this model is based on the Golf, and shares the same MQB platform.
Styling-wise, this third generation model is sleek-looking, with sharp lines running across the car's body. Compared to the iconic but rather conservative-looking Golf, the Leon is certainly more distinctive, accentuated by its pointy door mirrors. It hunkers down onto the tarmac, and is a looker from any angle.
How about inside the car?
Again, comparing this with the Golf is inevitable. Step inside and the VW underpinnings immediately hit you - the knobs and buttons are the same, the air-con controls identical, and the dashboard is immediately reminiscent of Audi.
It's comfortable, spacious and well-put together. It's a pity the choice of materials - fabric seats and hard plastics - means that the overall finish is slightly less polished and sophisticated compared to its German counterpart.
Again, comparing this with the Golf is inevitable. Step inside and the VW underpinnings immediately hit you - the knobs and buttons are the same, the air-con controls identical, and the dashboard is immediately reminiscent of Audi.
It's comfortable, spacious and well-put together. It's a pity the choice of materials - fabric seats and hard plastics - means that the overall finish is slightly less polished and sophisticated compared to its German counterpart.
What you do get are a whole host of equipment as standard. These include Automatic Post-Collision Braking, Hill Hold, two-zone climate control air-conditioning, six airbags - pretty comprehensive for what is a base-spec car.
The infotainment system is a bit of a headscratcher though. While it's functionally extensive and easy to oprerate via a 5.0-inch touchscreen, the dated interface isn't pleasant on the eyes.
In terms of practicality, the Leon is comparable to the Golf in terms boot space (380 litres). One gripe we have is that the boot floor is very low relative to the boot lid, so loading bulky objects might be a little bit more challenging.
So, powertrain then. More VW goodness?
Most definitely. The Seat lineup of cars shares the same engine family as Volkswagen. This 1.2-litre engine is smooth and quite powerful. The turbo only really kicks in at 2,500rpm, but once it does, the car pulls nicely.
On the road, it's comfortable, pliant and easy to drive. Compared to the Golf, the ride is on the firmer side. It feels sharper and sportier on the road, but it is never uncomfortable. On the move, it's also surprisingly quiet. It's only once you break 100km/h that road noise starts becoming an issue.
The infotainment system is a bit of a headscratcher though. While it's functionally extensive and easy to oprerate via a 5.0-inch touchscreen, the dated interface isn't pleasant on the eyes.
In terms of practicality, the Leon is comparable to the Golf in terms boot space (380 litres). One gripe we have is that the boot floor is very low relative to the boot lid, so loading bulky objects might be a little bit more challenging.
So, powertrain then. More VW goodness?
Most definitely. The Seat lineup of cars shares the same engine family as Volkswagen. This 1.2-litre engine is smooth and quite powerful. The turbo only really kicks in at 2,500rpm, but once it does, the car pulls nicely.
On the road, it's comfortable, pliant and easy to drive. Compared to the Golf, the ride is on the firmer side. It feels sharper and sportier on the road, but it is never uncomfortable. On the move, it's also surprisingly quiet. It's only once you break 100km/h that road noise starts becoming an issue.
It is also quite a nimble little car, capable of going quickly through corners. Handling is all-around goodness, and the Leon definitely feels more spritely and alive than its German counterpart.
The seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is also seamless. And because the car has been set up for efficiency, the gear ratios are quite short - you're up to seventh gear once you hit 60km/h. This means that the car managed to return a pretty good fuel economy figure - 15.6km/L to be exact.
I suppose this is ultimately a rebadged Golf?
It's easy to think that, and honestly, that's not far off from the truth. But the Leon is more than just a rebadged Golf, and targets a slightly different market. As a whole, the Seat brand is targeting the more lifestyle-conscious, out-and-about driver. It's the same thing with the Leon. It's less utilitarian than the Golf, with a sharper driving experience that will appeal to those who want a practical hatchback with livelier styling and driving over the VW.
This is Seat's attempt to outdo the Golf, offering drivers in the market for a sporty European hatchback an alternative choice. And it's quite a job well done because it's hard to call the Leon any worse than the segment leader Golf, which in itself is quite an achievement.
The seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is also seamless. And because the car has been set up for efficiency, the gear ratios are quite short - you're up to seventh gear once you hit 60km/h. This means that the car managed to return a pretty good fuel economy figure - 15.6km/L to be exact.
I suppose this is ultimately a rebadged Golf?
It's easy to think that, and honestly, that's not far off from the truth. But the Leon is more than just a rebadged Golf, and targets a slightly different market. As a whole, the Seat brand is targeting the more lifestyle-conscious, out-and-about driver. It's the same thing with the Leon. It's less utilitarian than the Golf, with a sharper driving experience that will appeal to those who want a practical hatchback with livelier styling and driving over the VW.
This is Seat's attempt to outdo the Golf, offering drivers in the market for a sporty European hatchback an alternative choice. And it's quite a job well done because it's hard to call the Leon any worse than the segment leader Golf, which in itself is quite an achievement.
