Leon 1.4 TSI vs Leon 1.8 TSI - is it worth paying extra for 40 hp?
The compact Leon has many faces. It is comfortable and practical. It can be fast, but it also does a good job of conserving fuel. The multitude of engine and equipment versions makes it easy to adjust the car to individual preferences. We check whether it is worth paying extra for 40 KM.
The third generation León has settled on the market for good. How does it convince customers? The body of the Spanish compact pleases the eye. The interior is less effective, but it is impossible to complain about its functionality and ergonomics. Under the hood? The range of well-known and popular engines of the Volkswagen group.
To discover all Leon's strengths, you have to look for a winding road and push the gas harder. Compact Seat will not protest. On the contrary. It has one of the best suspension systems in its class and encourages dynamic driving. A dilemma can arise when setting up Leon. Choose the 140 HP 1.4 TSI, or maybe pay extra for the 180 HP 1.8 TSI?
By browsing through the catalogs and tables with technical data, you will discover that both engines generate 250 Nm. In the 1.4 TSI version, the maximum torque is available between 1500-3500 rpm. The 1.8 TSI engine produces 250 Nm in the range of 1250-5000 rpm. Surely, more could be squeezed, but the magnitude of the driving forces had to be matched to the strength of the optional DQ200 dual-clutch transmission, which is capable of handling 250 Nm.
Is the Leon 1.8 TSI noticeably faster than the 1.4 TSI version? The technical data show that it should reach "a hundred" 0,7 seconds earlier. Let's check empirically. For the first few meters, the Leona goes bumper to bumper, accelerating from 0 to 50 km / h in three seconds. Later, the wheels definitely end the fight with insufficient grip. Only the parameters of the engines and the gear gradation are important.
The standard equipment of the León 1.4 TSI and 1.8 TSI are manual MQ250-6F transmissions with identical gear ratios. An option for a more powerful car is the dual-clutch DSG. The presence of seventh gear allowed for tighter gradation of the remaining gears. The tested Leon 1.4 TSI reaches the "hundred" near the ignition cut-off in second gear. In a Leon with DSG, second gear ends at just 80 km / h.
It took 0 seconds for the Leon 100 TSI to sprint from 1.8 to 7,5 km / h. The 1.4 TSI version reached the "hundred" after 8,9 seconds (the manufacturer declares 8,2 seconds). We observed even greater disproportions in the elasticity tests. In fourth gear, the Leon 1.8 TSI accelerates from 60 to 100 km / h in just 4,6 seconds. The car with the 1.4 TSI engine coped with the task in 6,6 seconds.
The noticeably better dynamics does not come at the cost of much higher expenses at petrol stations. In the combined cycle, the Leon 1.4 TSI consumed 7,1 l / 100 km. The 1.8 TSI version demanded 7,8 l / 100km. It should be emphasized that both engines are sensitive to the driving style. During leisurely traveling on the route we will work out less than 6 l / 100 km, and sharp sprints from the traffic lights in the city cycle can translate into 12 l / 100 km.
The third generation of Leon was built on the MQB platform. Its hallmark is high plasticity. Seat engineers made use of it. The appearance of the three-door Leon was improved, among others, by by shortening the wheelbase by 35 mm. The significant technical differences between the presented cars do not end there. Seat, like other brands of the Volkswagen concern in compact models, differentiated the rear suspensions of the Leona. Weaker versions receive a torsion beam that is cheaper to manufacture and service. A multi-link rear suspension is provided for the 180 HP Leon 1.8 TSI, 184 HP 2.0 TDI and the flagship Cupra (260-280 HP).
How does a more sophisticated solution work in practice? Increased reserves of grip ensure more neutral handling during sudden maneuvers and delay the moment of ESP intervention. A direct change from one Leo to another makes it easier to spot differences in the way of filtering inequalities. On more damaged parts of the road, the rear suspension of the weaker Leon vibrates slightly and can knock quietly, which we will not experience in the 1.8 TSI version.
Stronger and 79 kilograms heavier, the Leon 1.8 TSI has larger diameter discs. The front ones gained 24 mm, the rear - 19 mm. Not much, but it translates into sharper reaction after pressing the brake pedal. A modified suspension is also standard on the FR version - lowered by 15 mm and hardened by 20%. In the Polish reality, the second value may be particularly disturbing. Will Leon FR be able to provide reasonable comfort? Even a car with optional 225/40 R18 wheels correctly selects bumps, although we are not going to convince anyone that it is soft and provides a royal driving comfort. The bumps are also felt in the Leon 1.4 TSI. The state of affairs is partly due to the optional 225/45 R17 wheels. It is worth noting that Seat engineers worked hard while tuning the suspension. The third generation León absorbs unevenness much more efficiently and quieter than its predecessor.
In the Style and FR versions, the XDS ensures efficient torque transmission. It is an electronic "differential" which reduces the spinning of the less grippy wheel and increases the force hitting the outer wheel in fast cornering. The Style version, however, does not receive the Seat Drive Profile system, the modes of which affect the engine characteristics, the power of the power steering and the color of the interior lighting (white or red in sports mode). The Seat Drive Profile can also be found in the Leon 1.4 TSI with the FR package. Only the 1.8 TSI variant receives the complete system version, in which the driving modes also influence the sound of the engine.
Speaking of nomenclature and versions, let's explain what the variation FR is. Years ago it was the second most powerful engine version after the Cupra. Currently, the FR is the highest level of equipment - the equivalent of the well-known from the Audi S line or the Volkswagen R-line. The Leon 1.8 TSI is available only in the FR variant, which is an option for the 122 HP and 140 HP 1.4 TSI. The FR version, in addition to the aforementioned drive mode selector and hardened suspension, receives an aerodynamic package, 17-inch wheels, electric folding side mirrors, half-leather seats and a more extensive audio system.
The current promotional campaign allows you to buy Leon SC Style with 140 HP 1.4 TSI for PLN 69. Who would like to enjoy a car with the FR package, must prepare PLN 900. The Leon 72 TSI starts from the FR level, which was valued at PLN 800. By adding a second pair of doors and a DSG box, we will get the amount of PLN 1.8.
The amounts are not low, but in return we get effective cars that give a lot of fun to drive. Is it worth paying at least PLN 8200 for a 1.8 TSI engine? Faced with the necessity of making a choice, we would point to the stronger Leon. The independent rear-wheel suspension performs better than a well-tuned torsion beam, and the more powerful engine handles the car more easily and matches the Leon's sporty character better. The 1.4 TSI version provides good performance, but it feels best at low and medium revs - the engine pressed against the wall gives the impression of being heavier than the 1.8 TSI.
