SEAT Leon, Kia cee'd or Hyundai i30?

Which is best: SEAT Leon, Kia cee'd or Hyundai i30? I am currently driving a 2012 SEAT Ibiza, but looking to change in 2015. Not sure of the three listed which one offers best value for money. Also whilst I do around 10,000- to 12,000 miles per year it's mostly urban and not stuck in traffic. I can't decide whether or not to go for diesel option as spec seems better in same.

Gerry Holland (Cork)

Oct 2014 Filed under: choosing new car

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Expert answer

Hi Gerry,

You've picked three difficult cars to choose between. Obviously, both the Hyundai and Kia are essentially the same car beneath the skin, and both come with temptingly low prices and long, long warranties. The SEAT's three-year warranty looks a bit brief in comparison, but then you are buying into a car with excellent reliability and high quality, so there's that.

You've also got an odd combination of relatively high mileage, but in an urban location, which suggests that you won't be working up enough speed to generate exhaust heat to keep a diesel particulate filter (DPF) clean. With all that in mind, I think your best best might be a Leon 1.2 TSI petrol. It's a cracking engine, nearly as good as a diesel on fuel economy, but with no nasty surprises waiting in the exhaust. Both the Hyundai and Kia are excellent cars, but both are best experienced as diesels.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe