Seat Leon Fr Manual 2013
The fastest and most powerful model in the new Leon line-up. But, as you’ve probably worked out from the name of the car, the most potent Leon in the initial new third-generation range – the FR 2.0 TDI – gets its go from the black pump. We’ve got used to the idea of front-drive diesel hot hatches with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTD and Skoda Octavia vRS, and indeed the previous Leon FR TDI, but none have ever really set the heart racing in the way a high-revving petrol hot hatch does, as pleasing as the blend of performance and economy can be. The new Leon FR 2.0 TDI, on paper, boasts a set of numbers and spec that could change that. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit with 181bhp and 280lb ft (13bhp and 22lb ft more than a Golf GTD Mk6), which gives the diesel FR a 0-62mph time of 7.5sec and a 142mph top speed. The 0-62mph performance is a match for the most potent petrol Leon in the launch line-up, the 178bhp 1.8 TSI, but top speed is up 2mph on that car.
And that performance comes not at the expense of economy: the oil-burning Leon hot hatch can return a claimed 65.7mpg on the combined cycle and has CO2 emissions of 112g/km. A very polished performer indeed. In a straight-line, it really is rapid and there’s so much traction and such a wide torque band that you’ll often forget you’re in a diesel at all. There is, however, the usual gruff diesel tone at start-up, but that’s where the stereotypes end. When you floor it in a current 2.0 TDI VW Group model, you’ll be greeted with a great slug of torque just below 2000rpm but it’ll soon drop off around 3000rpm and not sound particularly pleasant any higher up the rev range.
Not so in the FR TDI. That's because, first, FR Leons come with a selectable driving system with four modes – Normal, Eco, Sport and the customisable Individual – that alter parameters such as throttle response and steering feel, but also a speaker that alters the engine note being played into the cabin. Select Sport and really go for it and you’ll be met with a noise not dissimilar to a.
It might be a bit of a dirty trick, but it works; you can enjoy the performance without your sense of sound reminding you you’re ‘only’ in a diesel the whole time. Also, that drop off comes much higher in the rev range, at just over 4000rpm, where you’ll probably want to have changed into a higher gear through the slick six-speed manual gearbox (no DSG option on this engine, you might pleased to hear) just to keep the feeling of slick, linear progress going. Where the engine falls down as a performance hatch tool is when you’re really going for it on a twisty section; should you drop below 1750rpm and that great big slug of maximum torque that greets you all the way to 3500rpm not be available, then you’ll find momentum can quickly be lost and you’ll be swapping quickly for a lower gear. But, as a performance hatch in most other areas, the new Leon FR 2.0 TDI delivers.
The FR Leons ride 15mm lower than normal models and they get MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension with stiffer springs and shock absorbers. The result is a firm ride but not in the same way the old Leon’s ride was too firm; that car felt like it had been firmed up to be uncomfortable just to fit in within with Seat’s brand strategy of the time of being considered 'sporty' whatever the engine or situation. This Leon FR 2.0 TDI is firm but still smooth and comfortable; it feels a more than able motorway companion and its rebound damping serves to inspire confidence that this is a car that can handle being pushed, rather than one that’s trying to be sporty just to fulfil the promises of some market literature. When you do get on the twisties, there’s little body roll and a real reluctance to understeer should you stay within its boundaries, although we’re reluctant to pass a full judgement as the test condition on the roads around Malaga could be described as rather soggy at best. Still, the conditions didn’t detract us from noticing just how nicely weighted and direct the new Leon’s steering is, and how vast an improvement in quality the interior is in looks and feel over the old model. And, although you have to drive one of the lighter petrol models to feel the full benefit, the lower weight of the new Leon, coupled with a longer wheelbase and wider tracks, gives the ultimate feeling of a car that’s more agile and more stable than before.
This top of the range Leon, with the most potent engine and most desirable trim for now, is well priced. For exactly the same money, you can have a new Golf Mk7 with the same engine but with 33bhp less, mated to a six-speed DSG instead of six-speed manual. The CO2 emissions of that Golf, at 119g/km, are also not as low as the Leon's.
So, for the same money as a well-equipped Golf, you can have a Leon with all the bells and whistles on, better economy, lower CO2, more power and better performance, and a manual gearbox. The Leon may not have that famed Golf badge but it’s as good as a Golf underneath. And to this tester’s eyes, looks much more distinctive than its sibling from Wolfsburg.
And if you don’t want to pay out on the range-topper, it's worth bearing in mind the Seat Leon beats the new VW Golf on price or and/equipment at all levels. As for whether Seat has created an out and out diesel hot hatch, we’d say it’s come as close as anyone before it in cracking that particular genre. Sure, it still can’t quite match the involvement of a high-revving petrol hot hatch, but thanks to a mighty engine, an impressive chassis and some clever electronics, it’s the best hot front-drive diesel model we’ve ever seen. Praise indeed, but the new Leon is good enough to deserve it. Still thinking about that Golf? Seat Leon FR 2.0 TDI Price: £22,375; 0-62mph: 7.5sec; Top speed: 142mph; Economy: 65.7mpg; CO2: 112g.km; Kerb weight: 1345kg; Engine: 1968cc, 4cyl, turbodiesel; Power: 181bhp at 4000rpm; Torque: 280lb ft at 1750-3000rpm; Gearbox: 6spd manual.
With VW products being nothing more than a face lift of their previous versions and Audi's derivative styling, this car really is a breath of fresh air from the VAG group. What makes it even more attractive is that this time, dynamically they also seem have got it right too. Personally I like the fact it uses a good old fashioned six speed gearbox and IMO this is the best interior design I have seen in a main stream car in a while. I am impressed by the review on this car and I hope that others are too. May be it is SEAT's time after years in the wilderness?
Typos1 wrote: Wait for the twin turbo version, when VW finally releases it (BMW and Fiat released theirs in 2006!) I was thinking the same thing myself. In that sense I also wondered about the reference to the Leon being the most impressive diesel hot hatch to date; after all my twin-turbo 1 Series is no bigger, is a hatch and is significantly more powerful and quicker than this Leon, but then I noticed a reference to front-wheel drive near the end of the report.
Seat Leon Fr 2017
Glad that this Leon sounds like a return to form for Seat (I enjoyed owning a 2000 Leon Cupra) but although it costs more the 125d still looks like the ultimate diesel hot-hatch to me. A 120d would probably be a better comparison for this model, but this is 'only' the FR so maybe there is a hotter Cupra version to come.
Introduction This is the third generation SEAT Leon. It builds on the reputation of of the previous two generations, by being good value for money and fun to drive, but has a higher quality interior and more attention to detail.
Seat Leon
It shares up to half of its underpinnings with the and and as a result uses a wide range of Volkswagen's latest petrol and diesel engines. The Leon is available with the now familiar four-cylinder TDI and TSI units all featuring direct injection and turbocharging. The version powered by a 1.6 TDI diesel with 105PS is the cleanest model in the range (for the time being) and thanks to a start/stop system and brake energy regeneration it averages a claimed 74.3mpg with CO2 emissions at 99g/km meaning zero VED. Out on the road, it's good to drive with sporty handling and good agility with the Leon FR getting a new SEAT Drive Profile which lets you vary the characteristics of the steering, throttle response and the engine sound via a sound actuator in the exhaust. Other new system include a drowsiness detection feature, Full Beam Assistant, which switches automatically between full and dipped beam and the ‘Heading Control’ lane-keeping assistant, which makes slight corrections to the steering to prevent the driver from crossing over lane markings. SEAT has made big improvements inside, an area which has often been the focus of complaints on previous.
The fit, finish and attention to detail as good as a Volkswagen Golf and better than many other cars in this sector. It's simple and unfussy and comes with a new 'Easy Connect' operating system, which controls the entertainment and communication function via a touch-sensitive screen.