New Leon boosting sales figures for Seat
The industry has been predicting big things for SEAT and the new Leon has helped the company smash sales figures in the past year.
With 45,312 cars registered, SEAT sold 6,514 more cars in 2013 than it did in 2012 – its previous best ever year.
That's a 16.8 per cent improvement and is SEAT's fifth consecutive annual sales rise, giving the company a 2 per cent UK market share.
The success is underpinned by the third generation Leon achieving the model's best sales ever, with 14,302 in 2013 and the news comes in the same week that Leon was named "2013 best family car" by CarBuyer magazine.
The SC is the first ever three-door Leon, following on from last year's relaunch of the revamped five-door, and will be joined early this year by an estate.
It's fashionable these days to brand three door cars as coupes and it's fair to say that the Spaniards have achieved that with the stylish SC FR 1.4TSi on test.
In fact this Leon is completely new with a lower roof and stylish tailgate enhancing the profile and despite being 35mm shorter than it's five-door sister there's ample room inside for four.
It's difficult to fault the car with a good balance of performance and economy linked to sportiness and comfort, emphasising just why the younger driver is being attracted to the SEAT brand.
Generating 140ps it'll get you from a standstill to 62mph in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 131mph while able to keep CO2 emissions down to an impressive 119g/km level. On top of that the test model averaged 54.3mpg.
Being built on the same platform as the Golf means you get good handling and plenty of grip with the FR benefitting from SEAT's Drive Profile Selector – giving a choice of throttle and steering response depending whether you select eco, normal or sport options.
All this is controlled through a neat touch screen system which is the centrepiece of the fascia which is the most disappointing aspect of this newcomer. SEAT have gone for the minimalistic approach and it looks boring.
The Leon has generous specification from base level. Every Leon SC comes with air conditioning, sports-shaped front seats, steering wheel mounted audio controls, seven airbags, remote central locking, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.
SE trim adds, among other things, 16inch alloy wheels, front fog lights with cornering function, cruise control, leather steering wheel and gear knob, XDS electronic differential lock, and hill hold control.
Top-of-the range Leon models come wearing SEAT's iconic FR badge, and only the more powerful engines in the line-up qualify. All FR cars get 17-inch alloy wheels, LED rear lights, dual-zone climate control, dark tinted rear windows, and FR-specific front- and rear bumpers.
The Leon also comes with full-LED headlights, which are optional on SE and FR cars providing a powerful light beam that's closer to natural daylight than any other sort of headlamp – a really attractive addition.
SEAT has one of the youngest customer profiles in the business, with an average age of just 38, and the Leon SC so it's little wonder this model is resonating with the company's typical buyers.
By Graham Breeze
