Car Reviews > SEAT > Leon FR > SEAT Leon FR Car Review
TThe newest spicy diesel hatchback has arrived – but what is the verdict?
SEAT has found that when it comes to cars, one truism is that sports sells. Hence, the widening of the company’s FR performance sub-brand with the introduction of two new models, as well as the spicing up of the already existing range of vehicles.
One in every four Leon’s now carries the sporty FR badge, and that number is only set to increase with the news that the line-up has actually been separated into FR and FR+. Those who select the FR will have the option of being able to choose either the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, capable of a bhp rating of 123, or the 2.0 TDI diesel engine, with a bhp rating of 138, while those who opt for the FR+ will be able to choose between either a 2.0 TSI engine with a bhp rating of 208 or the 2.0 TSL with 168 bhp. Of the bunch, the 138 bhp model is likely to be the biggest seller.
The Leon might be getting on a bit nowadays, but there is little doubt that it still remains a strikingly different option to the VW Golf of the Ford Focus. The existing good looks are built on in the FR range with the addition of a much deeper front grille, subtle FR badges, twin chrome exhausts, and much more aggressive bumpers, with cool LED taillights, contrasting silver door mirrors, and 17-inch alloy wheels completing the overall effect.
An equally sporty revamp has been given to the interior of the vehicle, with a large central rev counter, more gripping sports seats, and a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel adding to the appeal in terms of performance and style.
The primary controls all feel very precise and extremely well built, probably due to them originating with the VW Group, and there is a surprising amount of space as well. On the downside however, the plastics that have been used for the centre console are not the best.
The FR is a warm rather than full blown hot hatchback, with just 138 bhp at the driver’s disposal and yet it still does not come across as being a slouch, serving up no less than 320 Nm of torque and feeling altogether faster than the supposedly official 0-62 miles per hour time of 9.5 seconds, with a lot of punch available when it comes to overtaking other vehicles on the road.
Those who decide to go for this particular model rather than one of the more powerful Leon vehicles will receive their reward at the pumps, with the FR offering a fuel economy rating of as much as 60 miles per gallon. CO2 emissions of just 125g per kilometre also means that road tax costs £20 less per annum than the version capable of 168 bhp.
The refined and smooth diesel engine proves to be capable of pulling well in any gear, although the crisp 6-speed manual gearbox does need a considerable amount of work in order to keep the momentum going, and the FR is rather better for motorway cruising than it is for blasting down back roads.
All in all this is a stylish, capable, yet essentially unremarkable hatchback.
by Autoweb
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