Seat Leon 2.0 FSI Stylance Sport-Up 2
Test Drive

Seat Leon 2.0 FSI Stylance Sport-Up 2

The name of this car is really "rude" associated with a lion, and the local dealer also brought a real lion to the stage at the presentation of the first generation Leon. But somewhere in Spain is the city of Leon, which is not only a village, but also historically very important, and as we know, Sits borrowed place names from Spain for the names of his models for a long time. And after all, there should be a Peugeot on the left, right?

If Leon were an animal, it would be a bull. It is true that bulls feel at home on all continents, but they are supposedly nowhere more famous than in Spain. And if Leon has an association in the animal kingdom, then this is undoubtedly a bull.

In recent years, Seat has offered its cars to athletes; since they rely without exception on Volkswagen mechanics, they are separate from their design cousins, and it is the design that should be considered sporty. Walter De Silva, famous for his Alfas (also 147!), Conveyed his vision to Situ and Leon, handsome and aggressive in appearance, is a perfect example of De Silva's taste. Or watch a sports car every day. Judge for yourself: do you think the Leon is more like the Golf (the mechanics of which are hidden behind the body) or the Alfa 147? But forget about the similarities.

Leon does not hide the fact that he would like to appeal to people with a free, modern taste and a desire to privatize a sports car. If only this were taken into account when buying, Leon is certainly one of the most suitable cars. Nice to take care of him. Rear door camouflage (hidden hook!) - um, where have we seen this before? – only confirms that he wants to give the impression of a coupe, and the long roof, on the other hand, promises that there is still more space in the rear seats than one would expect from a classic coupe. In short: it promises a lot.

The first generation Leon was unfairly ignored, and almost certainly because of its appearance; he was too different. Now this problem is solved, and everyone who would like to have golf because of its reputation (which, of course, primarily refers to its mechanics), but do not want to own it because of its image or simply because of its overly conservative appearance, have (again) a great second chance. Leon is a dynamic car with traditionally good mechanics. Golf in sports disguise. The VAG Group does not say too loudly that this is a "Golf", but they like to say that it has good mechanics. But this is also true.

The recipe is called "platform" again. One platform, several cars, all different. There are already too many to list this technique here, so let's stick with the fact that the mechanics belong to Golf. The statement remains valid as long as you look superficially. Then you get involved in a conversation with the "tuners", that is, with those engineers who took care of minor fixes (chassis tuning and the like), and in the end you get their opinion that this is a completely different car.

The truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle. Since there are so many competitors in this class alone, it is difficult to say sovereignly and decisively from behind the wheel: Leon drives like a golf. Well, even if it were true, there would be nothing wrong with it, but still this tiny tweak is to blame for the fact that the driving feel is very good and - sporty. This means that you have a very good transmission, that the accelerator pedal is in excellent condition (at the bottom is clamped and tilted slightly to the right so as not to strain the joints of the right leg), that the brake pedal is still too tight in relation to the gas (Golf!) Have a clutch pedal with long travel (also Golf) that the steering wheel is great for traction and the steering gear gives very good feedback (although it has electric power) and is very direct and precise.

It seems the time has come again for good gasoline engines. At least this two-liter FSI (direct fuel injection) gives this feeling: under load of body weight, it does not lend itself easily, there is enough torque for an easy (as well as fast) start, and its performance increases continuously and is stable with engine speed. As with engines, we were told decades ago that they must have a very good sporty character.

A large chunk of that is the six gears of a well-designed gearbox, all of which ensure that such a motorized Leon is city-friendly, easy-going outside, and highway independent. Anyone who wants more from the engine should let it breathe, that is, keep the gear up to higher revs. He loves to pedal to the switch (7000 rpm), and if the sporty sound is to be believed, no, even the highest revs are superfluous here. Vice versa!

At Seat, they made a good choice: looks and usability, at least when it comes to bikes, go hand in hand. The rims fit perfectly with the bodywork and holes in it, while the low 17-inch tires create a sporty look - because they emphasize the character of the steering wheel and because they emphasize the sporty style of the chassis.

So talking to this mechanic can also become very enjoyable: drive it between corners, don't drop the engine rpm below 4500 per minute, and focus on turning the steering wheel. The feel it gives, the feel of the chassis and the road, the sound of the engine, the very good performance of the engine and the excellent timing of the gear ratios make the Leon an excellent partner when cornering. This is where the difference compared to the Golf is most noticeable.

The mechanics show only two features that do not fully correspond to the above: the movements of the gear lever are not as sporty as the sporty nature of the engine and chassis, and if you often indulge in the pleasures offered by the mechanics, the fuel consumption will be less. do not be shy. Even 15 liters per 100 kilometers will be required to quench the engine's thirst. And even if you are more careful with gas, a little less than 10 liters per 100 km will not be enough. For economical people who are more or less only at gas stations, such a Leon is definitely not suitable.

The Sport Up 2 equipment package also suits Leon well. Among other things, it has very good seats that do not load the sides when entering or exiting, but at the same time they hold the body very well in turns. The seats look perfect and are shaped so that the body does not establish excessive fatigue after a long ride. Some may be concerned about the amount of chassis and seat stiffness, which can be distracting on imperfectly smooth roads at high speeds, as the body can sense vibrations well. With a healthy spine and proper sitting, this is almost not felt, but for the more sensitive, we still recommend choosing softer seats.

But if you choose the way your test Leon is equipped, you'll also love the understated sporty look of the interior. A washed-out black color prevails here, only the upholstery of the seats and doors is softly combined with a bright red thread. The plastic on the dashboard is mostly soft to the touch and with a pleasant surface finish, only in the central part (audio system, air conditioning) there is something that does not give the impression of quality.

The most important controls - the steering wheel and gear lever - are wrapped in leather, so they feel comfortable to hold in your hand, and we don't comment on their appearance. The sensors behind the ring are nice and transparent, which irritates the “traditional”: the temperature and time data outside, despite the rather large screen, is part of the on-board computer, which means that you can only control one of these data at a time. .

Thanks to the safety package, the front wipers stand out - not because of efficiency, as they do a great job at top speed, but because of the effort the designers have put into the design. Their basic layout (vertically along the A-pillars) is nothing to worry about, but the fact that the windshield is flatter than its sister Altea (and Toledo) seems logical; that they are not in the extreme Leon position under the struts is incomprehensible – at least in terms of aerodynamics.

The body is completely invisible, according to Seat, but also from the front seats there are additional triangular windows between the front door and the windshield, which contribute to better visibility around the car, but at the same time (like the rear, also triangular, plastic and with the recess due to the hidden doorknob) is part of Leon's signature side image.

From the spaciousness of the cabin, it's nice to know that the Leon delivers what you'd expect from a vehicle in its class. Highlighted by the possibility of a long distance from the driver's seat to the dashboard (tall drivers!) And good knee room for rear passengers, but the trunk is less pleasing. Basically, it is decently large and three times smaller, but only the back of the bench remains to go down, and even then there is a significant step, and the back remains at a noticeable angle.

If you're buying a seat at the back of the house, then Altea is already a better choice, and Toledo in general. In fact, there aren't many bins up front either, though it's true that space doesn't run out quickly, especially with the extra bins under the front seats. Only the one in front of the front passenger could be bigger, lighter and cooler. There’s no elbow support between the seats either, but we didn’t miss it, and as for the elbows, the front seat belt buckles also protrude awkwardly above the seat here.

If we are small, we lacked a warning light for an open tailgate, otherwise the test Leon was very well equipped (including cruise control, steering wheel controls, folding outside mirrors, two 12V sockets) and with several elements (optional tinted rear windows, mp3 player and the already mentioned Sport Up package 2) are still modernized. There are a few unfulfilled wishes left, but most of them have an answer from Seat.

Of course, you can think of the Leon with other, cheaper and less powerful (and also more fuel-efficient) engines, but with its claimed sportiness, it's the kind of mechanical package, including this engine, that seems to pair best with each other. Such driving leaves no doubt; a lion, a bull or something else - the overall impression is, no doubt, very sporty. The nice thing is that it meets the needs of the family.

Vinko Kernc

Photo: Aleš Pavletič.

Seat Leon 2.0 FSI Stylance Sport-Up 2

Basic data

Sales: Porsche Slovenia
Base model price: 19.445,84 €
Test model cost: 20.747,79 €
Power:110kW (150


KM)
Acceleration (0-100 km / h): 9,5 with
Maximum speed: 210 km / h
Mixed flow ECE: 12,3l / 100km
Guarantee: 2 Years Unlimited General Warranty, 12 Years Anti-Rust Warranty, Mobile Warranty
Oil change every 30.000 km
Systematic review 30.000 km

Cost (up to 100.000 km or five years)

Regular services, works, materials: 113,71 €
Fuel: 13.688,91 €
Tires (1) 1.842,76 €
Loss of value (within 5 years): 13.353,36 €
Compulsory insurance: 3.434,32 €
CASCO INSURANCE (+ B, K), AO, AO +2.595,56


(
Calculate the cost of auto insurance
Buy up € 3.556,33 0,36 (km cost: XNUMX


€)

Technical information

engine: 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - gasoline direct injection - mounted transversely in front - bore and stroke 82,5 × 92,8 mm - displacement 1984 cm3 - compression ratio 11,5: 1 - maximum power 110 kW ( 150 hp) at 6000 / min - average piston speed at maximum power 18,6 m / s - specific power 55,4 kW / l (75,4 hp / l) - maximum torque 200 Nm at 3500 rpm - 2 camshafts in the head (timing belt) - 4 valves per cylinder.
Energy transfer: engine-driven front wheels - 6-speed manual transmission - gear ratio I. 3,778 2,267; II. 1,650 hours; III. 1,269 hours; IV. 1,034 hours; V. 0,865; VI. 3,600; rear 3,938 - differential 7 - rims 17J × 225 - tires 45/17 R 1,91 W, rolling range 1000 m - speed in VI. gears at 33,7 rpm XNUMX km / h.
Capacity: top speed 210 km / h - acceleration 0-100 km / h 8,8 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 11,1 / 6,1 / 7,9 l / 100 km
Transportation and suspension: limousine - 5 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single suspension, leaf springs, triangular cross rails, stabilizer - rear single suspension, four cross rails, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer - front disc brakes (forced cooling, rear) ( forced cooling), mechanical parking brake on the rear wheels (lever between seats) - rack and pinion steering wheel, power steering, 3,0 turns between extreme points.
Mass: empty vehicle 1260 kg - permissible total weight 1830 kg - permissible trailer weight with brake 1400 kg, without brake 650 kg - permissible roof load 75 kg.
External dimensions: vehicle width 1768 mm - front track 1533 mm - rear track 1517 mm - ground clearance 10,7 m.
Inner dimensions: front width 1480 mm, rear 1460 mm - front seat length 520 mm, rear seat 450 mm - handlebar diameter 370 mm - fuel tank 55 l.
Box: Trunk volume measured with AM standard set of 5 Samsonite suitcases (278,5 L total): 1 backpack (20 L); 1 × aviation suitcase (36 l); 2 × suitcase (68,5 l)

Our measurements

T = 18 ° C / p = 1010 mbar / rel. Owner: 50% / Tires: Bridgestone Potenza RE 050 / Gauge reading: 1157 km km
Acceleration 0-100km:9,5s
402m from the city: 16,9 years (


136 km / h)
1000m from the city: 30,7 years (


171 km / h)
Flexibility 50-90km / h: 8,2 / 10,6s
Flexibility 80-120km / h: 10,8 / 14,0s
Maximum speed: 210km / h


(WE.)
Minimum consumption: 9,8l / 100km
Maximum consumption: 14,9l / 100km
test consumption: 12,3 l / 100km
Braking distance at 130 km / h: 64,5m
Braking distance at 100 km / h: 38,6m
AM table: 40m
Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear59dB
Noise at 50 km / h in 4rd gear58dB
Noise at 50 km / h in 5rd gear57dB
Noise at 50 km / h in 6rd gear56dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 3rd gear64dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 4rd gear62dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 5rd gear61dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 6rd gear61dB
Noise at 130 km / h in 4rd gear69dB
Noise at 130 km / h in 5rd gear68dB
Noise at 130 km / h in 6rd gear67dB
Test errors: unmistakable

Overall rating (333/420)

  • The third Seat on the same platform completed the proposal on the other side - it emphasizes sportiness the most, but is less convincing in terms of usability. However, it can meet family requirements.

  • Exterior (15/15)

    The absolute first place is difficult to award, but Leon is probably currently one of the top three most beautiful cars in its class.

  • Interior (107/140)

    The coupé trend affects roominess, albeit marginally. Very good on all counts.

  • Engine, transmission (36


    / 40)

    A great engine that suits him very well, and perfectly calculated gear ratios. The gearbox is slightly jammed.

  • Driving performance (80


    / 95)

    Excellent ride and position on the road, only a high brake pedal slightly interferes - especially when braking quickly in critical situations.

  • Performance (24/35)

    In terms of flexibility, the turbo diesel is noticeably better, but it accelerates well and provides a sporty ride at higher engine speeds.

  • Security (25/45)

    The safety package is almost complete, at least in this class, only bi-xenon headlights with tracking are missing.

  • Economy

    Most of all, he is outraged by fuel consumption, but this is a very good package for the money. Good warranty conditions.

We praise and reproach

exterior appearance

engine

steering wheel, steering wheel

gas pedal

interior materials

production

high brake pedal, long clutch pedal travel

high front seat belt buckle

poor trunk enlargement

small box in front of the passenger

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