SEAT's new Leon hatchback will go on sale in Ireland next week, on the 8th of June. Prices for petrol models will start from €23,910 and PCP finance repayments will start from €239 per month.
Diesel, petrol, and mild-hybrid versions at first
If you want a diesel Leon, that'll be €26,040 or €269 per month. SEAT is also running a €9.99 per month inclusive three-year service plan and a 2.9 per cent finance interest offer alongside the introduction of the new Leon.
The new Leon will come with engine choices encompassing conventional petrol and diesel versions, as well as - for the first time in a SEAT model - an eTSI mild-hybrid option. The two petrol engine available are the 110hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo TSI and the 150hp 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo TSI. You can have a 2.0-litre diesel in either 115hp or 150hp forms, and the eTSI mild hybrid is based on the 150hp 1.5 TSI petrol.
Standard equipment across the range includes 16-inch alloy wheels, and an eight-inch media system and SEAT Connect. Standard safety items include adaptive cruise control, high-beam assistant, and fatigue detection.
More space inside
Upgrade to Xcellence or FR trims and you get 17-inch alloy wheels on the Xcellence or 18-inch alloy wheels on the FR, a full digital cockpit, full LED lights, full-width rear lights, wrap-around interior lighting, a connectivity box and much more.
Thanks to using the updated Volkswagen Group MQB platform, the new Leon is some 86mm longer than the old model and has a wheelbase that's 50mm longer, boosting interior space.
That standard eight-inch touchscreen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as permanent internet connection, and the ability to customise your screen with downloaded apps. The built-in SIM card that enables all of that also gives you access to an emergency call function, in case the worst should happen. There's also the SEAT Connect smartphone app, which allows you to remotely access vehicle info and functions.
Clever LED headlights
Those LED lights are pretty clever in and of themselves. They use four diodes per headlight and offer 550 lumens of illumination. In the Xcellence and FR trims, the Leon uses full LED dynamic headlights, with up to 900 lumens and 11 light-emitting diodes per module as standard, which provides illumination with greater intensity and accuracy without dazzling other vehicles.
Niall Phillips, Brand Director at SEAT Ireland commented, "We are very excited to welcome the all-new Seat Leon to Ireland. The Leon is a firm favourite among Irish customers and we are confident that they will love the fourth generation even more. The new Leon brings a new level of technology, design and safety to this segment with one of the lowest CO2 measures in its class. The launch of this new Leon marks another innovative moment in the overall evolution of SEAT. It's great to be able to offer our customers even more variety of high-quality vehicles".