Let’s cut to the quick on this one. If someone is prepping an early Christmas list for Her.ie, the car has jumped straight to the top. Fair warning.
For a glorious two weeks we’ve been in the driving seat of the most powerful SEAT Leon FR on the market. (Normally we get to borrow them for one week, but so impressed were we that we skipped the calls asking for it back. Our bad.)
First, the numbers:
Leon entry price: €19,185
Leon 2.0TDI 184hp Fr St/SP: €28,930
Capacity: 1968cc
Tax Band: A3
Co2 Emissions: 109g/kmThis is a gorgeous car, if you’re of the superficial variety and initially judge on looks alone (slowly raises hand). We’ve been on the road in more ‘stop you in your tracks’ cars, but this is the kind if sleek sexiness you won’t get tired of.
The 2.0L TDI 184hp engine is only available in the FR spec, which is a little sportier than the normal Leon in its detailing.
So what’s FR, you ask? Well you might not have, but we did. It stands for Formula Racing, which should be a good indication that you’re in for a very nice ride… and you didn’t even have to make small talk or go for dinner first.
This is a powerful engine. The car is quick to react and quick to speed up. We’ll admit to an entirely unglamorous succession of cut-outs in the first five minutes of driving, but show this car a little love and a smooth touch and you’ll get it back tenfold. You could build up some serious speed in this car too. We were capped at 120kmph for some motorway driving, but we’d give anything to take this car to a controlled track environment and see just how far we could push that speedometer. (Top speeds are 228kmph, by the way).
Don’t let the 184hp scare you though, once you get used to it you’ll never want to go back. If you remain unconvinced, take comfort in the fact that you can choose from five different diesel engines or from four different petrol engines in the new Leon.
Pricewise, the Leon 2.0TDI 184hp Fr comes in at €28.930, marking almost 50 per cent of an increase on the cost of the Leon range entry price. It’s the difference between a perfectly nice car and a dream machine though; once you drive, you’ll make the necessary justifications.
As for the cost of driving… fuel consumption comes in at just 4.3L/100km. We set out with a full tank from Dublin to Clare and returned the following day, hitting home without dipping below the halfway mark.
This car screams young, energetic, professional to us. If you have to spend any notable time on the road, this car will make for a perfect second home/office. It’s comfortable, it’s cool and there is ample room for all your lifestyle accompaniments.
We haven’t got a single negative comment. Dear Santa/Lotto… we deserve this. Please?
For more about the SEAT Leon FR 184hp and the entire range, check out SEAT.ie.
