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SEAT is owned by Volkswagen, but these days, one might argue that their cars are better than Wolfsburg's finest.
If there's one thing car enthusiasts in North America seem to love, it's cars that aren't available for purchase on the continent. Every overseas country has one or more pieces of forbidden fruit, but sometimes, they are entire brands. One such example is SEAT.
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Starting out in the 1950s and seeing its first success with the 600, a rebadged version of the Fiat model of the same name, SEAT eventually became a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. One of their best-selling models is the Leon, and with its new fourth generation, it's looking better than ever.
Like a lot of new VW Group products, the new Leon sits atop the new MQB Evo platform. This platform also underpins the new Mk8 Golf, the Škoda Octavia, and the Cupra Formentor performance SUV. Each brand has taken a different approach to design, and the Leon definitely stands out.
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It's a bit of a cliché to say that the Leon has Spanish flair, but it really does. The roofline is much more sloped than the Golf, and the styling itself is much sharper, especially on the top-of-the-line XCELLENCE model. The rear light bar is especially distinctive, and it does a little dance when you unlock the doors at night. It's more evolutionary compared to the previous generation, but it's certainly a looker.
It might seem a bit alien that SEAT is still offering a conventional hatchback in a world dominated by crossovers, so it's even more alien that SEAT offers a wagon version of the Leon as well. But, they do, and it's yet another station wagon that North America can't have.
This is not surprising, as in Europe, where the Leon is primarily sold, wagons are still very popular. The Leon ST, as it's known, benefits from a significantly larger cargo area than the hatch (617 liters/21.7 cu ft), as well as more room in the back seats for passengers due to a slightly longer wheelbase. It's very cool that SEAT offers a wagon version, and you can even get the spiced-up Cupra model as a wagon as well.
The new Leon, like all MQB Evo vehicles, benefits from the latest generation of VW Group 4-cylinder engines. They bear the Evo moniker, and they feature all sorts of new technology to save fuel and reduce emissions. The biggest news is that you can have mild-hybrid tech.
The range starts with a 1.0-liter three-pot turbo with 110 HP, paired to a mandatory 6-speed manual. The three-cylinder doesn't have MHEV tech as standard, but all the other engines do. Also available is a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline unit with either 130 HP or 150 HP, as well as a 2.0-liter diesel with 115 or 150 HP. A plug-in hybrid with 204 HP is also available, as well as a unit that can run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
While it may not be quite as fun as some competitors, the Leon is a reassuringly good car to drive. Volkswagen certainly knows how to set up their compact car platforms, and it's no different here.
Again, if you want serious fun, the Cupra is your best bet. But even then, it's grippy, has a good turn-in, and it's surprisingly comfortable on longer journeys. There is a little bit of noise entry into the cabin, but it's not intrusive or unbearable. Overall, the Leon is one of the most competent cars in its class on the road.
If you were to climb inside an older Leon model, the interior wouldn't be as good as its VW counterpart. The materials were always slightly cheaper, and even though SEAT experimented with the designs, the Golf just felt like a nicer overall package.
Nowadays, it's a different story. The latest Leon has upped the game drastically in terms of interior quality, and it's overall a much nicer place to be. Higher specifications receive wraparound ambient lighting, and the interior is overall very minimalist. The only demerit is the fiddly touch-sensitive climate controls. It's a lot of interior for less than $30,000.
Being based on the MQB Evo platform, the new Leon is prepared to take the latest generation of technology and innovations. The higher-up trim levels get a digital dash as standard, along with an 8-inch or 10-inch infotainment display right in the center.
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While the system could be more responsive, it's colorful, crisp, and easy to use, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard (and wireless). Gesture controls are also present, as well as a smartphone app that can show you and allow you to adjust various parameters like the HVAC. A Beats Audio sound system and Park Assist are also available, and the raft of safety features allowed the new Leon to earn a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating.
Did you know that during the time of the first generation Leon, SEAT gave it a 2.8-liter VR6 engine and AWD? Those days are way past us now, so the latest generation of Cupra Leon will have to do. Yes, it's officially the Cupra Leon, not the SEAT Leon Cupra.
Confusing name aside, this is essentially SEAT's version of the VW Golf GTI. The standard ICE-only version has a 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine with 300 HP. That's more than the mechanically related Golf GTI and Octavia RS. In fact, it's approaching Golf R territory. 0-60 is around 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 155 MPH. There's also a Cupra Leon eHybrid, which develops 245 HP from a 1.4-liter turbo four-electric motor combo.
One of the main reasons why family hatchbacks are so big in Europe is that they offer family car practicality with the dimensions, costs, and drivability of a compact car. It's no different here, and despite the rakish roof, the Leon is a very practical family hatch.
The trunk capacity with the rear seats up is a healthy 380 liters (13.4 cu ft), and there's a removable cargo cover as well. Rear seat room is pretty ample, especially in the wagon version, and ISOFIX child anchor points are standard across the range.
As it turns out, SEAT is actually quite good at putting together a solid race car. In the 2000s, a diesel-powered Mk2 Leon won a race at the British Touring Car Championship. With the Mk4 Leon, SEAT has two race car heroes ready to tackle the track.
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The regular Cupra Leon Competicion uses a 340 hp turbocharged 4-cylinder, sending power to the front wheels via a 6-speed sequential transmission. Alcon lightweight suspension is also present, and a lot of the components are 3D-printed. Meanwhile, the Cupra e-Racer, as the name implies, is fully electric. It puts out a colossal 680 HP, allowing for a 0-60 time of around 3 seconds.
The SEAT Leon has always been in the shadow of the VW Golf. While the two have always been closely related, everyone saw the Leon as the forgotten child. It was good, but not so good that it was worth choosing over a Golf. The story is different nowadays.
The Mk8 Golf starts at €27,510 in Germany, or £23,300 in the UK. Sure, a lot of people will go for the Golf, due to the brand recognition, but the truth is, the Leon is better value. The base Leon undercuts the base Golf by around € 7,000 in Germany, which isn't exactly pocket change. Even when you pile on all the equipment you could ever need, you can still get a Leon for less than € 30,000, which is seriously impressive.
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Marko has been part of the HotCars team since July 2020. He started out writing for various sites on a variety of topics. He prefers weird, unusual cars to luxobarges and sports cars.