Friday 17th January 2014

SEAT Leon FR 1.8 TSI: Review

Warm-up act for the forthcoming Cupra gets us in the mood for SEAT's hot hatch rebirth

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Remember when SEAT Leons used to be fast and exciting? The optional Monsoon Grey of our FR test car would seem an appropriate metaphor for the brand's current standing in PH eyes and, indeed, so perfectly matched the colour of the sky during the test period that we'd have lost it in the car park were it not for the LED lights.

LED lights look fancy; FR previews Cupra

Every Monsoon Grey cloud and all that because within this 'warm' FR Leon are hints of what's to come with the Cupra announced just the other week.

Sharing the already ubiquitous MQB platform with others in the group (step up Audi A3, VW Golf, Skoda Octavia et al) SEAT's brand values once again seem tightly squeezed between Skoda's bargain offering and the inoffensively premium VW option. The whole feisty party image is about as vibrant as the Spanish economy but if the FR isn't quite enough to rattle the average PHer's cage is there hope for the Leon yet?

If you've dipped your toe in any other MQB-based cars the Leon will feel very familiar; the doors feeling a bit light (reflecting overall weight savings) and the cabin sober but workmanlike. There are loads of gadgets, the £1,075 Technology Pack comprising LED lights, nav and DAB currently free on FR level cars. FRs also get unique front and rear bumpers and a few little sporty trim items but it has to be said it's pretty low key.

Sensible, good value, etc but we want the Cupra!

It feels very generically MQB too, which isn't a bad thing per se once you've turned off the irksome lane correcting steering and left it to the default twangy assistance. Shifts are light and positive and it rides crisply but comfortably, even on optional 18s. FRs get the fancier multi-link rear suspension too, more basic variants making do with a twist-beam. As previously discussed, the view out is particularly good thanks to the door-mounted mirrors. Competent is a word you'll keep coming back to, which sounds like damning with faint praise but really since when should it be. This is a very good car. If not an especially exciting one.

The 1.8 petrol engine pulls well and sounds rather nice higher in the revs but one suspects the 184hp 2.0 TDI FR will feel subjectively a little more potent, even if the bare performance figures are pretty much identical. The petrol is nearly 50kg lighter like for like though.

Compared with other MQB cars the Leon FR is definitely good value, this 1.8 TFSI's £20,770 base price comparing well against the £24,050 of an equivalently powered A3 Sportback. Looking like an Audi that's been through a Corby trouser press, the Leon's knife-edge lines are sharper and more distinctive too. There's no direct Golf equivalent on the petrols but the diesel FR has the same 184hp 2.0 TDI as the GTD and costs £22,555 against the VW's £26,220 for an equivalent five-door manual.

As such the diesel FR is probably the more compelling package, this petrol appealing but a little tepid by the final reckoning With another 100hp, an active diff nabbed from the fanciest Golf GTI but a pricetag to undercut the same by a significant few grand? That sounds rather more like it. It'll be good to have the Spaniards back in the game.

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SEAT LEON FR 1.8TSI 180PS
Engine: 1,798cc 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 180@4,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 184@1,500rpm
0-62mph: 7.5 sec
Top speed: 140mph
Weight: 1,297kg
MPG: 47.9mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 137g/km
Price: £20,770 (£24,125 as tested)

[underphil]

Power/torque RPM figures look a bit low

[CliveM]

Peak torque at 1000rpm?
Is that unusually low or have I not been paying attention for the last ten years (yes to the latter in any case, obviously)?

[ToothbrushMan]

So you go from 180hp in this then your next step on the petrol ladder is the 265 Cupra some 85hp more.
i come back to my view on the new 265/280 Cupra thread - why cant they have something to spread the power out a bit so you have this at 180 then the semi skimmed Cupra at around 230 or called it an FR+ and then you get the 280 cupra at the top. my point is there is no point to a 265 cupra that I can see.

I dont recall Ford having two Focus RS's at the same time with 15hp difference, Vauxhall having two Astra VXR's at the same time, etc.

Is it just to appear different?

[Krikkit]

CliveM said:

Peak torque at 1000rpm?
Is that unusually low or have I not been paying attention for the last ten years (yes to the latter in any case, obviously)?

Generally these engines are mapped for a flat torque curve - the clever turbo and valve timing tech means masses of torque is available, but is restricted for engine life.

[dukebox9reg]

Krikkit said:

CliveM said:

Peak torque at 1000rpm?
Is that unusually low or have I not been paying attention for the last ten years (yes to the latter in any case, obviously)?

Generally these engines are mapped for a flat torque curve - the clever turbo and valve timing tech means masses of torque is available, but is restricted for engine life.

Think my Mini Cooper S produces its max tq from 1600 and then its as flat as a table for the rest of the rev range tailing just off at the end.

Thats why you tend to get such massive increases in tq on mapping petrol turbo cars nowadays. Mini Cooper S 182bhp/171 lbft maps to (performance tq figures not mine) 230bhp/240lbft. Celtic tuning 222bhp/218 lbft. Vag turbo petrols obviously lend themselves to being played with aswell.

Its why it seems you dont get the old kick in the back of a turbo nowadays. Everything is just flat out of the factory.

Just see this print out (not mind, just something i found a while back)

http://rototest-research.eu/popup/performancegraph...

I think early maps for the 1.8TSI are showing an early increase up to 220bhp/225 lbft. Very similar numbers to the original 1.8T Cupra R of 225bhp/205 lbft

Edited by dukebox9reg on Friday 17th January 15:14

[Dan Trent]

Apologies; typo but only 500rpm out. Peak torque on the 1.8 is @1,500-3,900.

Cheers,

Dan

[Hub]

I think this will be quite a rare sight. People will buy the diesel instead as is the trend at this point in the range, only the smallest petrols and the top of the range Cupra will sell really, and even then not in such great numbers.

[Antj]

so the petrol FR is now no longer on par with Octavia VRS and Golf Gti.

well done SEAT you've managed to kill the FR spec in less than 10 years since its launch back in 2004.

So all thats left now is the Cupra which has lost all ideas of wheres it placed.

SEAT really is dead man walking..............

[chr15b]

We've got one on order for delivery March, some very keen deals with the APR on PCP and the discounts / deposit incentives against say the Golf or A3. Decided the 1.8tsi was a better prospect due to <5k annual miles.

I also have a GTI on order, but I've gone for a pre registered one as the 6+ months lead time on a new one was depressing, did mean I was able to get a few more toys for the same money though.

[underphil]

Dan Trent said:

Apologies; typo but only 500rpm out. Peak torque on the 1.8 is @1,500-3,900.

Cheers,

Dan

Power rpm must be out also, as 180bhp @ 4000 would mean 236lb/ft of torque

[ManOpener]

Interesting, the performance specs are almost identical to my Leon TFSI apart from fuel economy.
Suspect, like the TFSI, this one will go a bit unloved until proper "hot" ones are released due to the diesels ect.

Shame as I think it's a fine-looking thing and that performance is perfectly adequate- nay, actually quite enjoyable- on British roads for a warm hatch. Just hope they ride better than mine does.

[Matthew Clarke]

Girlfriend has just bought a nearly new FR tdi. Drove it the other week and although slightly underwhelming (predominantly because of the engine and steering feel, slightly better in sports mode)it handled very well and you could see the 280bhp Cupra being a very fine car indeed at the price point. And I think that is the key phrase 'at the price point' as they are a bargain compared to other cars in the class. Forget RRP's you can slash 1000's off that because it is a SEAT where as VW's and Audi dealers are not going to want to know about dealing with you to the same degree on a nearly new car.
GF's car with ALL the extras and 2500 miles and 6 months old was picked up for £16800. You cant get a low mileage Mk6 GTD for that kind of money yet alone a MK7 GT/GTD, or A3 Sline variant!

[Matthew Clarke]

Oooo and the new 150bhp 2.0tdi is only £20 a year to tax which I thought was pretty impressive...as well as being 400 pounds cheaper to insure than her old Mk5 Golf GT tdi........

[peter450]

Quite like these new Seat Hatches, styling looks ok, and although the interiors may not be up to Audi/VW they look solid enough and the mechanicals are more or less the same, nice cars

[oldnbold]

Test drove one a few days ago in my search for a new car. Seat realy are the poor relations of VAG. Very disappointed, especially the very cheap feeling interior.

I currently drive a Scirocco, they are night and day in terms of quality. I also looked at Skoda who are now on a par with VW/Audi quality IMHO

[Ecosseven]

I really like the new Leon's. As an everyday car I think they are great. The 1.8 TSI could be seen as a slightly larger alternative to the Fiesta ST. Cars with 3000 miles on the clock are available for less than £16k.

As one of the previous posters said I would have liked to seen a Cupra with 230ish bhp to rival the Octavia VRS and Golf GTI at a cheaper price.

Edited to add - The weight of 1297kg includes the weight of a driver so for a modern car of it's size it's actually not too heavy.

[Edition87]

Might just be me, but it doesnt look very good. Remove the FR badge and it could quite easily be a 1.4 base spec

[chr15b]

Edition87 said:

Might just be me, but it doesnt look very good. Remove the FR badge and it could quite easily be a 1.4 base spec

When you see them sat side by side in the showroom, externally they're much the same apart from badging, the bumpers and wheels. inside the S is very basic, the SE is quite nice and the FR has the sporty touches you'd expect. All very understated though, possibly to leave the Cupra as the sporty-styled of the range.

[va1o]

I've been umming and erring over buying one of these for a little while as an upgrade from my 1.4 TSI. Seems a nice car on paper and drives well enough but just missing a little something which I can't pinpoint. Its a shame the torque figure is so low. I wish they'd offer something between this and the forthcoming Cupra.

Hub said:

I think this will be quite a rare sight. People will buy the diesel instead as is the trend at this point in the range, only the smallest petrols and the top of the range Cupra will sell really, and even then not in such great numbers.

Yes

Agree with this 100%, the used residuals are already looking a bit shaky with nearly new examples been sold at around the same price as the 1.4. Not going to be very popular even though its a perfectly good car.

Edited by va1o on Saturday 18th January 15:23

[decadent]

I was considering either the 1.8Tsi or the 1.4Tsi in a Leon ST but the sales exec said the 1.4 is the better pick; almost as quick, better residuals, better fuel economy, cheaper to buy but it misses out the independent 1.8's rear suspension.

The torque figures and rev range is the same for the 1.8 & 1.4.

It is a shame there isn't a 2.0 petrol version of the the FR, like in the Mk2 & Mk1 where it was actually a match to the Golf Gti. I guess they didn't do it as VAG were worried the Leon would be a better car the Gti. The FR 184 Tdi is certainly winning tests against the Golf Gtd - much cheaper car, interior quality much improved.

The FR is just a spec level these days which is a shame, it used to be performance focused with decent engines just below the Cupra. Wouldn't be surprised if they started offering the 1.2 Tsi in FR spec. Can't blame SEAT for chasing sales though.

Edited by decadent on Sunday 19th January 14:56

Edited by decadent on Sunday 19th January 14:58