Leon 1.4 TSI DSG FR
Discussion
Anyone got one of these in the 2014/2015 shape and can say what it's like?
Mainly interested in knowing the real world mpg of one but any pro's and cons also interested.
Trying to decide between a Mazda 3 and the Leon (Also Golf, BMW 1 series, Octavia), on paper the Leon beats it on MPG, car tax band, and acceleration so seems a bit of a no brainer apart from maybe higher price for the Leon.
Thanks.
Mainly interested in knowing the real world mpg of one but any pro's and cons also interested.
Trying to decide between a Mazda 3 and the Leon (Also Golf, BMW 1 series, Octavia), on paper the Leon beats it on MPG, car tax band, and acceleration so seems a bit of a no brainer apart from maybe higher price for the Leon.
Thanks.
I've had a few cars with that engine and the later 1.5 version including the leon. I do most of my driving in and around Milton Keynes which will effect economy for the worst but used to get mid 30s. Wouldn't have any problem recommending the leon though its a decent enough car with plenty of kit for the money.
I had this engine in a leased A3 for 3 years. Liked it so much, when it came to buying a car for the wife, we bought a Leon with the same engine (150 act).
I cant speak for the dsg, as ours is a manual, but it's a great little car with a decent amount of go for its engine size.
My wife uses it for her work, visiting clients in the community, so averages about 38 mpg going from street to street. On motorway runs high 40s is easily achievable and I'm sure I managed about 54 mpg on a motorway trip of around 280 miles.
If it's been looked after previously, you should be on to a winner.
I cant speak for the dsg, as ours is a manual, but it's a great little car with a decent amount of go for its engine size.
My wife uses it for her work, visiting clients in the community, so averages about 38 mpg going from street to street. On motorway runs high 40s is easily achievable and I'm sure I managed about 54 mpg on a motorway trip of around 280 miles.
If it's been looked after previously, you should be on to a winner.
Assuming it's the same 150bhp active cylinder one as the Golf had, I had it in a Golf from 2014 to early this year and did 86k miles, with DSG.
I got a spreadsheet measured 46mpg, but my commute/way I drive was kind to this - but it often got an indicated 50 on a long run.
It was a company car, & would buy one myself if I was in the market for one, but would think long and hard about the DSG - for my 20k+ miles it was good, but around town the gearbox wasn't great, jerky & laggy.
I got a spreadsheet measured 46mpg, but my commute/way I drive was kind to this - but it often got an indicated 50 on a long run.
It was a company car, & would buy one myself if I was in the market for one, but would think long and hard about the DSG - for my 20k+ miles it was good, but around town the gearbox wasn't great, jerky & laggy.
acme said:
Assuming it's the same 150bhp active cylinder one as the Golf had, I had it in a Golf from 2014 to early this year and did 86k miles, with DSG.
I got a spreadsheet measured 46mpg, but my commute/way I drive was kind to this - but it often got an indicated 50 on a long run.
It was a company car, & would buy one myself if I was in the market for one, but would think long and hard about the DSG - for my 20k+ miles it was good, but around town the gearbox wasn't great, jerky & laggy.
Out of interest, how much did you get for the Golf? We are now trying to sell our 2014 ACT Leon, which has done 90k miles with very little interest, so might need to assess the pricing.I got a spreadsheet measured 46mpg, but my commute/way I drive was kind to this - but it often got an indicated 50 on a long run.
It was a company car, & would buy one myself if I was in the market for one, but would think long and hard about the DSG - for my 20k+ miles it was good, but around town the gearbox wasn't great, jerky & laggy.
Back on topic, the Leon has been excellent, pokey and economical while being good and cheap to run. It's also loaded with spec. We've replaced it with an i3 as electric will work for us, but otherwise would definitely have considered another Leon.
I have a July 2018 Leon FR 1.4TSi (150) DSG. So far has averaged 45mpg; which is better than my previous Octavia vRS diesel (170) DSG at 43. Both would average over 50mpg on a motorway.
In the Leon the 7-speed DSG seems a good match to the 1.4 engine. Mine doesn't suffer from jerkiness or hesitation, although the auto-hold can make smooth pull aways difficult.
Both cars suffer from poor ride but the Leon has better road-holding & handling.
In the Leon the 7-speed DSG seems a good match to the 1.4 engine. Mine doesn't suffer from jerkiness or hesitation, although the auto-hold can make smooth pull aways difficult.
Both cars suffer from poor ride but the Leon has better road-holding & handling.
JackReacher said:
Out of interest, how much did you get for the Golf? We are now trying to sell our 2014 ACT Leon, which has done 90k miles with very little interest, so might need to assess the pricing.
Back on topic, the Leon has been excellent, pokey and economical while being good and cheap to run. It's also loaded with spec. We've replaced it with an i3 as electric will work for us, but otherwise would definitely have considered another Leon.
I didn't as it was a company car, but I did see it on AT, I seem to recall about 12k,took a while to sell but did eventually. Best of luck.Back on topic, the Leon has been excellent, pokey and economical while being good and cheap to run. It's also loaded with spec. We've replaced it with an i3 as electric will work for us, but otherwise would definitely have considered another Leon.
CopperBolt said:
Thanks all, my current golf TDi has DSG so Im used to it at least. The leon mpg not quite as high as the figures on autotrader would have you believe then. Urban given as 50 plus. Combined even higher.
Certainly on the 2.0 TDI 150 the gearbox was different, a wet clutch 6 speed, whereas on the 1.4 petrol it was a dry clutch 7 speed. I never heard similar complaints on the diesel, but did read of similar on the 1.4, coming into a roundabout trying to merge with traffic and putting your foot down it's ability to kick down etc made it at times dangerous. All IMO of course, but over 4.5 years/86k miles I did play around with it a lot. When I had a regular 1.4/122bhp as a courtesy car and manual there was none of that.I've owned an A3 with this engine and gearbox since new for nearly 6 years and driven over 40k. It's only 140bhp but I saw 143mph on the autobahn, according to sat nav. With 3 people and a boot rammed full of luggage.
MPG is anywhere from 32 to 49 from a tank depending on where it's driven. For motorway use 45mpg is not hard to achieve. I've had the computer showing over 60mpg for some journeys.
The s-tronic gearbox takes some getting used to compared to torque converters - I find for smooth progress from rest it is best to allow a moment for drive to be taken up by the clutch before using the accelerator.
It used a litre of oil in the first 10k but now hardly seems to use a drop.
It's smooth, quiet and torquey.
Recommended.
MPG is anywhere from 32 to 49 from a tank depending on where it's driven. For motorway use 45mpg is not hard to achieve. I've had the computer showing over 60mpg for some journeys.
The s-tronic gearbox takes some getting used to compared to torque converters - I find for smooth progress from rest it is best to allow a moment for drive to be taken up by the clutch before using the accelerator.
It used a litre of oil in the first 10k but now hardly seems to use a drop.
It's smooth, quiet and torquey.
Recommended.
acme said:
I didn't as it was a company car, but I did see it on AT, I seem to recall about 12k,took a while to sell but did eventually. Best of luck.
Thanks for the info, think I'm going to be lucky to get 6k for the Leon to be honest, but I guess 11k loss over 5 years and 90k miles isn't too bad.JackReacher said:
Thanks for the info, think I'm going to be lucky to get 6k for the Leon to be honest, but I guess 11k loss over 5 years and 90k miles isn't too bad.
Bit surprised it's that low but to be fair I don't know the prices etc. The BiK on the Golf listed it at 25.5k so depreciation would seem greater as I'm sure it'd be worth less than the 12k the dealer had it up for.Overall though a great engine for a daily.
Edited by acme on Thursday 14th November 11:58
I've had my 1.4 Leon for over 5 years now. It's a 2013, so doesn't have ACT, and it's a manual.
Mostly town driving these days, with the occasional long run. Averaging well over 40mpg; motorway journeys 50mpg+.
TBH I think it's one of the best small-capacity engines around: smooth, torquey & low road tax.
Mostly town driving these days, with the occasional long run. Averaging well over 40mpg; motorway journeys 50mpg+.
TBH I think it's one of the best small-capacity engines around: smooth, torquey & low road tax.
BraveSirRobin said:
I've had my 1.4 Leon for over 5 years now. It's a 2013, so doesn't have ACT, and it's a manual.
Mostly town driving these days, with the occasional long run. Averaging well over 40mpg; motorway journeys 50mpg+.
TBH I think it's one of the best small-capacity engines around: smooth, torquey & low road tax.
Even though the ACT seems to kick in at lot, I don't think it makes much difference to economy.Mostly town driving these days, with the occasional long run. Averaging well over 40mpg; motorway journeys 50mpg+.
TBH I think it's one of the best small-capacity engines around: smooth, torquey & low road tax.
LeoSayer said:
Even though the ACT seems to kick in at lot, I don't think it makes much difference to economy.
I could be wrong as it was a couple of years ago, but when I had a non ACT regular MK7 Golf with the 122bhp 1.4 for three weeks the economy was either the same or better on the same 30 mile commute. One thing I do know is that the engine was nowhere near as smooth as the ACT one, though I never did work out the differences, same displacement at 1395cc but a totally different engine I believe.acme said:
I could be wrong as it was a couple of years ago, but when I had a non ACT regular MK7 Golf with the 122bhp 1.4 for three weeks the economy was either the same or better on the same 30 mile commute. One thing I do know is that the engine was nowhere near as smooth as the ACT one, though I never did work out the differences, same displacement at 1395cc but a totally different engine I believe.
I thought the only engine differences were to the cylinder head (for the ACT bit) and size of turbo.I drove a new MK7 Golf and found the 122 1.4 very quiet and smooth.
At best, I think the ACT allows the extra power with a fuel economy penalty.
BraveSirRobin said:
I've had my 1.4 Leon for over 5 years now. It's a 2013, so doesn't have ACT, and it's a manual.
Mostly town driving these days, with the occasional long run. Averaging well over 40mpg; motorway journeys 50mpg+.
TBH I think it's one of the best small-capacity engines around: smooth, torquey & low road tax.
I have a 2015 model (Manual) and also average over 40mpg normally. On a motorway 50+Mostly town driving these days, with the occasional long run. Averaging well over 40mpg; motorway journeys 50mpg+.
TBH I think it's one of the best small-capacity engines around: smooth, torquey & low road tax.
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