New lease car - Leon 1.4 (140)TSI FR or A3 1.4 TSI (140) SE

[Terzo123]

Pretty much as per the title.

The wife is due a new lease car through her work in the next few months. Her work is cutting back on the vehicles available for lease and we don't have much of a choice, but we've narrowed it down to either a Seat Leon 1.4 Tsi FR or an Audi A3 1.4 Tsi SE.

The Seat appears to be the more "sporty" choice given its an FR, but the wife likes the idea of an Audi.

Does anyone have any experience of either that could help us make an informed choice?

Cheers

Terzo123

[Actus Reus]

Audi's the nicer place to sit by a fair margin - so that's what I'd get. How do the specs stack up?

[Terzo123]

You get slightly more as standard in the Leon and they are currently doing a deal on a Tech pack which gets you Nav, and DAB Stereo for very little extra, although most reviews have the Audi as being the better place to sit.


http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/seat/leon-hatch...

[JackReacher]

I would go for the Leon, more kit and better looking in my opinion. Is the A3 engine definitely the 1.4 COD engine and not the 122bhp one? We had both a Leon and A3 sportback as hire cars recently (both diesels) but I found the Leon more fun to drive handling wise, and I much preferred the touchscreen in the Leon to the MMI in the A3.

The Leon interior is not as good as the Audi, but it's still pretty good and a step up from previous Leon. We will change our A1 for one soon and the drop in interior quality isn't a concern.

[SteBrown91]

Leon has more kit and better handling, but interior is a bit cheap and the 1.4 tsi is not the ACT version (yet)
The A3 is a nicer place to sit, but a bit boring and has less kit. However it will probably be better on co2 as it comes with th ACT TSi engine (if that matters)

[Terzo123]

It's a personal lease, although there is a company contribution and she doesn't do too many miles, less than 10k Pa, so the difference between the ACT and standard FSi engine shouldn't make much of a difference.

[Actus Reus]

Leon may well be a sportier drive, but which is more comfortable for the day-to-day stuff? It's a tight call I admit, but I'm in favour of the Audi myself.

[decadent]

I like SEATs but I would favour the Audi myself. If it was between a Golf and a Leon I'd say the Leon, but the Audi "feels" more premium and has the ACT tech in its favour imo.

[Terzo123]

Well, I'm just back from my local Seat dealership, and have to say I was quite impressed with the Leon.

The standard sport seats in the Fr seem nice, and for not much extra you can get alacantara inserts. The Tech pack is currently a no cost option which gives you Nav, LED lights, DAB radio.

I'm not sure about the standard FR 17 inch wheels, all the Leons the dealer had in stock had the upgraded 18 inch wheels.

My wife is going to speak to her lease manager and see what effect any of these options will have in the price. I would be pissed off if I had to pay extra for a no cost option like the tech pack.

I still need to go and visit my local Audi dealer and have a look at the A3, but it will have to be really good if i were to choose it over the Leon.

[Actus Reus]

Tech pack would likely be reflected as free on the lease - would be cheap anyway as nav is good come resale. Wheels on the other hand sting you on a lease usually.

Both are good cars - I just like the Audi interior more, but would be very happy with either. Both in white I think. Enjoy the choosing - it's the best part.

[va1o]

Aud interior is much nicer and it gains the cylinder deactivation technology which slightly improves mpg and co2. The Leon isn't bad though and certainly with the free Tech Pack and optional 18in alloys its quite a nice car. Both are very capable and pretty much best in class. The new 1.4 TSI is a really excellent engine and very pleasant to drive.

Would a Golf GT TSI be in reach? Kind of gives you the best of both worlds with the sportiness of the SEAT combined with Audi quality.

[Terzo123]

I'd looked at the Golf 1.4 TSI but for some reason the lease deals were no where near as good and it was for the 122 ps version.

The 140 BHP GT was well out of budget, it's about 5k more than the Seat and we're limit to cars of a budget under 21k otr

Edited by Terzo123 on Tuesday 1st April 19:13

[LeoSayer]

Check out the seats in the Audi SE before committing. I find them really flat and not supportive at all.

[va1o]

LeoSayer said:

Check out the seats in the Audi SE before committing. I find them really flat and not supportive at all.

Agreed we found the same with the A1 SE. They are still good quality but not that supportive. My old Leon was the opposite, gripped you very well with chunky side bolsters but fabric quality not amazing.

[Terzo123]

Thought I'd update this thread.

The wife has just recently placed an order for an A3 Sportback SE with the 1.4 TSI 150BHP ACT engine.

No optional extras, but she preferred the badge over the extra's she would have got in the Leon.

Either way it should be better than the Qashqai we currently lease.

[va1o]

Sounds like a good choice to me, you'll definitely appreciate the A3 interior over the Leon's. The 150PS 1.4 is new for the 2015MY replacing the 140PS.