Ten Second Review

SEAT's Leon has proven popular with buyers who want a stylish, well-built and practical sports hatch. Based on the existing S and SE specifications, the Copa models adds a generous slug of extra equipment but tacks nothing to the asking price. Where's the catch? We're still looking.

Background

SEAT's Leon occupies a very specific niche. It's the go-to vehicle for those who recognise that it's the same as a Volkswagen Golf or an Audi A3 under the skin but who also understand the same is true of a Skoda Octavia and can't yet resolve their hangups over the Skoda badge. Sating an appetite for value for money at the SEAT tapas table has seen big sales for the Leon and the latest Copa models are designed to reinforce the Spanish marque's reputation for value and fun. SEAT maintains that you don't need to be young to enjoy their cars; merely young of outlook and the Leon's rather extrovert lines underscore that appeal. Although it wasn't universally well received when launched in 2005, the shape has aged very well and sales have picked up, helped in no small part by a 2009 facelift that saw a redesign of the lights and front bumper, improved trim materials and an enlarged rear windscreen to improve visibility.

Driving Experience

Copa buyers choose between a 105PS 1.6-litre turbodiesel and a 1.2-litre petrol unit offering the same power output. In most circumstances I'd recommend the diesel but the 1.2-litre is a very special engine. Yes, it sounds distinctly undergunned but this engine is turbocharged in a way that offers plenty of low-down urge, its peak torque arriving at just 1,550rpm, or barely above tickover. It's quite a riot to drive, even with the relatively weighty Leon body attached to it and it'll make 60mph in just 10.6 seconds. You'll rarely feel as if you need more engine. It feels a good deal livelier than the common rail diesel engine, which nevertheless turns in a decent set of figures, getting to 60mph in 10.9 seconds and topping out at 115mph. Its power delivery is a good deal more linear than the old 'lag and lunge' Volkswagen Audi Group engines you may have tried in the past. Body control is excellent and the manual box is positive and direct. The overservoed brakes take quite a bit of getting used to if you want to drive at low speeds without hanging your passengers off their seatbelts but after a couple of days you'll have the measure of them. Just watch out if you throw the keys to a friend. Both models have a slightly soft front end but the payoff from this is front end traction that rarely worries the traction control system in the dry.

Design and Build

Apart from the badging, there aren't any clues to the Copa's identity from outside. It looks much like a standard Leon S or SE. In other words handsome, but a little under-wheeled compared to the racy Cupra models that adorn many of SEAT's billboard ads. Walter de'Silva's styling direction has worn extremely well and the Leon is one of the few cars that looks better now than when it was first launched. Half of that is down to a few nips and tucks in 2009 and the rest is down to a shape that was initially ahead of the market's expectation. There's a decent amount of room inside although the interior plastics are old school hard. SEAT interiors were once almost indistinguishable from Volkswagen and Audi but in a bid to protect the group's bottom line, the cabin materials started to offer more in the way of variability in quality between the marques at about the time the Leon was launched. Since then, most agree the pendulum has swung back a little with SEAT interiors now looking quite a bit plusher. Sit in a Leon after, say, a Vauxhall Astra and it will feel distinctly dated. The luggage bay is a decent size, although the high and narrow aperture that you'll need to post things through could be friendlier.

Market and Model

It's hard to argue with the Copa's value proposition. The Copa S model builds on the decent specification of the Leon S, adding dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, front seat height and lumbar adjustment, cruise control and some bespoke Copa upholstery. Plump for the Copa SE and this features rear parking sensors, light and rain sensors, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, that custom Copa fabric and SEAT's Media System. The media system is almost worth springing the extra for alone. It bundles up not only a very slick touch screen satellite navigation technology with 3D mapping but also dynamic route guidance, an SD card slot for MP3 playback, DAB radio tuner and Bluetooth audio streaming connectivity SEAT. Given that SEAT is offering this little lot at exactly the same list prices as the Leon S and SE models respectively, the canny among you will have figured out that there may well be some decent discounts offered on non-Copa models. Either way, you're set for a very good deal, with prices opening at £16,180 for the 1.2 TSI Copa S. The diesel also adds the option of the DSG twin-clutch gearbox.

Cost of Ownership

Neither engine is exactly a fuel hog, the 1.2 TSI averaging a figure of 52.3mpg, but you'll need to drive it in a fairly un-SEAT fashion to match that. By contrast, the diesel version's combined fuel economy figure is 67.3mpg. Emissions are similarly impressive, with the petrol car managing 124g/km and the diesel 109g/km. Combine decent reliability, strong equipment levels, a respectable badge, plenty of space and low, low running costs and you have a recipe for strong residual values and the Leon clings onto its value reasonably well. Get in quick and you could qualify for a £1,000 discount. Even if you miss that, SEAT is offering two year zero per cent finance deals.

If you’re looking for a new SEAT Leon 1.2 Tsi S Copa 5Dr [6 Speed] Petrol Hatchback for sale, you’ve come to the right place. At Bristol Street Motors we don’t just have the best SEAT Leon 1.2 Tsi S Copa 5Dr [6 Speed] Petrol Hatchback deals, we also offer friendly advice and help with all your enquiries to ensure your buying experience is a happy experience.

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