SEAT Leon SC Review

Those FR emblems we mentioned in the last chapter are not quite what they seem. You see, up until now, these two letters on a SEAT meant that we were facing one of their warm hatches. Now the FR is a trim level, albeit the range-topping, sporty one.

These badges are placed on a body that looks like it’s built of lines that all stretch to a virtual point at the front of the car. We had a hard time focusing on imagining this point though, because our tester grabbed all our attention with the optional full-LED headlights. You can feel Audi’s hand in this segment-exclusive feature for the Leon.

For the Sport Coupe, SEAT has trimmed 35 mm (1.4 inches) off the wheelbase, while also playing with the window line. They also used this when giving the Ibiza the SC treatment, but here the sportiness of the designs shines through more.

At the back, we find a window that’s 19 degrees more tilted than on the five-door Leon. You’ll feel the new angle in person and, even though this is not an actual coupe, your eyes will be pleased.

And the changes are just as deep underneath the Leon’s skin. The sexy triangular shapes that can be found all over the Leon cover the VW Group’s new MQB modular platform.

Despite offering more generous dimensions, the new architecture brings a diet of up to 100 kg (220 lbs). It’s also superior in terms of structural rigidity. Of course, direct comparisons are difficult to make in the case of the Leon SC - we’ll remind you that SEAT never built a three-door Leon before.

Don't let yourself fooled though, you know how these numbers are. Complicated. The weight savings don’t come from the platform alone. The architecture accounts for 40 percent of this, while the engine downsizing comes with a similar figure. The remaining 20 percent is spread throughout the car, with the cabin elements playing an important role here - they’ve even trimmed weight by changing the side airbag design.

Open the bonnet and the air will be just as fresh. You’ll find a turbocharger anyway, so all you have to do is choose your abbreviations. The range of TSI petrols starts with a 1.2, which is offered in 86 and 105 HP forms. Next up, we have the 1.4 TSI, which also comes in two power levels, offering 122 or 140 HP. Both are part of a new engine family, so these aren’t your familiar 1.2 and 1.4 TSI from the past. EA211 is the name.

You may also be familiar with the VW Group’s 1.8-liter turbocharged engine. Nevertheless, it’s the same story here. The Leon gets an all-new EA888 1.8-liter engine delivering 180 HP, for the sake of rounded numbers.

Our tester came with the 140 HP 1.4 TSI, but we didn’t get to play with the DSG seven-speed double-clutch gearbox, so we had to make due with one fewer gear on a manual. In fact, the DSG is only offered for the 1.2 TSI and the 1.8 TSI.

As for the oil-burning side of the range, this starts with a 1.6-liter that comes in a 90, a 105 or a 110 HP form. This is followed by a 2.0-liter TDI, again a new engine family. You can eat this cake in 150 or 184 HP forms. You can have the DSG on any of the 105, 150 and 184 HP engines. Yes, this also means that the most potent Leon you can buy right now is a diesel.

And there’s another trick with the horsepower. Cost-cutting schemes mean that only the more powerful versions in the range come with a multi-link rear suspensions. The others have to make due with a torsion beam. The distinction between the classes is relative, as it differs from market to market. You can always lean under the car and check if you don’t trust the Internet.