SEAT Leon SC (2013 – 2018) Review
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SEAT Leon SC (2013 – 2018) At A Glance
Shorter and sharper looking version of Leon. Impressive combination of ride and handling. Good value for money.
Pitched as a coupe so not quite as spacious as the five-door Leon. High boot lip makes loading awkward.
This is the third generation of the Leon, although it's the first time the model has become a three door. Last time around, the Leon’s ‘hidden’ rear door handles led SEAT to believe the five-door was 'coupe-like' enough to not bother doing a three-door.
Today's five-door and three-door Leon models are quite distinct. Instead of simply removing the rear doors, SEAT has changed the styling for the SC in a subtle but real way. The roofline is lower and the so-called blisters above the rear wheel arches are more pronounced, for a wider, sharper look.
With that in mind it’s to SEAT’s credit that, unlike some other manufacturers, it has resisted the urge to add the coupe premium that makes the less practical version of a car the more expensive one. You’ll pay a few hundred pounds less for a Leon SC than you will an equivalent five-door, meaning one of the most stylish three-door hatchbacks around is also great value.
Based on the Volkswagen Golf platform, as are the Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia, the Leon SC is the most sharply styled of all the Volkswagen Group hatchbacks, while its interior quality runs the Golf very close. It’s the best to drive of all four of them too, certainly on a pound-for-pound basis.
And despite being cheaper than the Golf model-for-model (or as closely as you could compare the two) there’s a huge range stretching from the 110PS 1.2-litre petrol to the 2.0-litre turbo Cupra model with 290PS. There are many petrol and diesel engines in between, of course, although there’s no hybrid petrol-electric version of the Leon.
In a move designed to represent the upshift in quality, style and technology of the latest Leon, it was launched as the first production car available with full-LED headlights. Optional, but the company shrewdly bundled them from the start with SEAT’s very impressive touchscreen multimedia system in a reasonably priced Technology Pack to encourage their appearance in as many cars as possible. It’s a wise option to tick, or to look out for if buying used.
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Real MPG average for a SEAT Leon SC (2013 – 2018)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
81%
Real MPG
29–67 mpg
MPGs submitted
106
Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.
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On the inside of an SEAT Leon SC (2013 – 2018)
- Boot space is 380–1150 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
Dimensions | |
---|---|
Length | 4228–4246 mm |
Width | 1810–4246 mm |
Height | 1431–1446 mm |
Wheelbase | 2599–2601 mm |
Call it a coupe or a three-door hatchback, but either way the Leon SC is a very stylish, very good value and well considered car, inside and out. The SC is 35mm shorter at the wheelbase than the five-door Leon, which means legroom is a down a little, this is still very suitable for family motoring.
The boot is the same size as the five-door model and although the missing rear doors will probably preclude those with very small children, there’s only very marginal loss of headroom front and back.
The only criticism of the load space is the same that you could level at the five-door Leon – that while it’s relatively big on capacity for a family hatch, the loading lip is really high. That means you’re dropping bags down into the space (or stooping down to retrieve them), and it makes loading bulkier or heavier items more awkward.
Total boot space with the rear bench folded down (60/40 split as standard) is 1150 litres, which is 60 litres less than the five-door’s, although another slightly awkward feature is that the rear seat backs don’t fold quite flush with the boot floor.
Everything about the SEAT Leon SC is pretty much identical to the five-door from the side pillars forward, which applies inside and out. That means you’re sitting behind a dashboard that’s mostly great quality, and certainly miles ahead of anything SEAT has ever done before, with the possible exception of the Exeo – though that, you may know, was in fact a re-badged Audi A4, so it doesn’t really count.
The beauty of the SC cabin is simplicity. All the dashtop stuff is squishy and quality, so although there’s cost cutting at the lower levels, the switchgear is solid and clear. The cabin’s party piece is the upgraded touchscreen that’s a highly recommended option. It cleverly features a movement sensor that adds functions to the screen when it senses a hand approaching, so it's uncluttered most of the time. It’s as simple to operate as a decent mobile phone plus it comes with Apple CarPlay or Android Link.
Oddment space is okay in the cabin too, with decent sized door pockets, a sizeable box inside the centre armrest and a reasonable glove box. It’s certainly a cabin more accommodating to the detritus of life than, say, the Volkswagen Scirocco.
Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a SEAT Leon SC (2013 – 2018)
Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.Driving SEAT Leon SC (2013 – 2018)
- Engines range from 1.2 TSI 105 to 2.0 TDI 184 DSG
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 29–67 mpg
With a fantastically low and adjustable driving position, a sharp turn-in and a real sense of what's happening beneath the wheels during cornering, the Leon SC is a joy to drive.
Some might criticise the steering for being over-light, but then again, that’s part of what makes the car feel so relaxing most of the time. That and the ride quality, which has all the nuance you'd expect of something developed from Volkswagen's multi-brand, multi-national engineering department.
Whereas the preceding Leon was a sledgehammer in its approach to sportiness – it simply had a rock hard ride – this generation’s Leon glides nicely over most surfaces, yet boasts impressive body control.
The technically minded might bemoan the more simplistic rear suspension setup of lower powered Leon SC models, which don’t get the full multi-link treatment, but honestly, you’d have to be either a) cornering unnecessarily fast, or b) The Stig's pedantic cousin to notice.
The Leon SC is available with outputs ranging from 110PS to 290PS, so there’s variation in the way the chassis is setup and, therefore, in the driving experience. The fundamentals are spot on, though. You’ll get near enough as much satisfaction in a basic 1.2-litre TSI Leon SC as you will a Cupra 290.
All the engines are lessons in smoothness and noise suppression, with the possible exception of the slightly chattering 1.6-litre diesel, but even then it’s no big deal when the engine is under light load. The same goes for the 2.0 TDI that you’re most likely to pick, which is available with either 150PS or 184PS, the latter genuinely rapid at low revs, owing to 380Nm torque at just 1750rpm. It’s a catwalk Golf GTD, basically.
Although fuel economy or company car tax implications might point you towards a diesel, the best Leon SC models are petrol powered. Even the 1.2-litre TSI base point is good, with a fizzy character that suits the Leon SC’s fundamental sense of dynamism.
But the 150PS 1.4-litre TSI is the sweet spot. It’s quick (0-62mph in 7.9 seconds), yet because of features like cylinder shutdown, which sends fuel to just two of the four-cylinders at gentle pace, its official economy rating exceeds 60mpg. You can occasionally feel a mild judder when the cylinders are reactivating, but it’s not too often or irritating.
All engines are available with a DSG automatic gearbox (six- or seven-speed depending on engine), which is as win-win here as it is when it’s called S tronic and in an Audi. Quick to shift, smooth and beneficial to fuel economy, it enhances the Leon SC rather than stifling it, regardless of engine.
Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
---|---|---|---|
1.2 TSI 105 | 58 mpg | 10.0 s | 114 g/km |
1.2 TSI 105 DSG | 58 mpg | 10.0 s | 112 g/km |
1.2 TSI 110 | 58 mpg | 9.7–9.8 s | 114 g/km |
1.2 TSI 110 DSG | 58 mpg | 9.8 s | 112 g/km |
1.4 EcoTSI | 58 mpg | - | 114 g/km |
1.4 EcoTSI 150 | 58 mpg | 7.9 s | 110–117 g/km |
1.4 EcoTSI 150 DSG | 58 mpg | 7.9 s | 109–118 g/km |
1.4 EcoTSI DSG | 58 mpg | - | 115 g/km |
1.4 TSI 125 | 54 mpg | 8.9–9.1 s | 120 g/km |
1.4 TSI 140 | 53 mpg | 8.1 s | 119 g/km |
1.6 TDI 105 | 74 mpg | 10.6 s | 99 g/km |
1.6 TDI 105 DSG | 72 mpg | 10.6 s | 102 g/km |
1.6 TDI 110 | 71 mpg | 10.4 s | 99 g/km |
1.6 TDI 110 DSG | 72 mpg | 10.4 s | 99 g/km |
1.6 TDI 110 Ecomotive | 86 mpg | 10.4 s | 87 g/km |
1.8 TSI | 47 mpg | 7.4 s | 137–138 g/km |
1.8 TSI DSG | 49 mpg | 7.1 s | 132–134 g/km |
2.0 TDI 150 | 64–69 mpg | 8.3 s | 106–115 g/km |
2.0 TDI 150 DSG | 63–64 mpg | 8.3 s | 102–117 g/km |
2.0 TDI 184 | 63 mpg | 7.4 s | 112–118 g/km |
2.0 TDI 184 DSG | 60–61 mpg | 7.4 s | 119–120 g/km |
SEAT Leon SC (2013 – 2018) Models and Specs
Dimensions | |
---|---|
Length | 4228–4246 mm |
Width | 1810–4246 mm |
Height | 1431–1446 mm |
Wheelbase | 2599–2601 mm |
Miscellaneous | |
---|---|
Kerb Weight | 1189–1370 kg |
Boot Space | 380–1150 L |
Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
Servicing | 12500–20000 miles |
Spare Wheel | |||
---|---|---|---|
Standard | Tyre-repair kit | ||
Alternative | Space-saving spare wheel |
Costs | |
---|---|
List Price | £15,550–£27,340 |
Insurance Groups | 12–26 |
Road Tax Bands | A–E |
Official MPG | 47.1–85.6 mpg |
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
---|---|
Adult | - |
Child | - |
Pedestrian | - |
Overall | 5 |
On sale until July 2019
On sale until September 2017
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
Sport Coupe 2.0 TDI 150 FR Technology DSG 3dr | £24,070 | 62.8 mpg | 8.3 s |
Sport Coupe 2.0 TDI 150 FR Titanium Technology DSG 3dr | £25,470 | 62.8 mpg | 8.3 s |
On sale until April 2017
On sale until July 2015
Coupe | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
S 1.2 TSI 110 3dr | £15,815 | 57.6 mpg | 9.7 s |
S 1.6 TDI 105 3dr | £17,515 | 74.3 mpg | 10.6 s |
SE 1.4 TSI 125 3dr | £17,535 | 54.3 mpg | 9.1 s |
SE 1.6 TDI 105 3dr | £18,635 | 74.3 mpg | 10.6 s |
SE 1.6 TDI DSG Auto 105 3dr | £19,885 | 72.4 mpg | 10.6 s |
SE 1.6 TDI Ecomotive 110 3dr | £19,625 | 85.6 mpg | 10.4 s |
SE 2.0 TDI 150 3dr | £19,985 | 68.9 mpg | 8.3 s |
SE 2.0 TDI DSG 150 3dr Auto | £21,235 | 64.2 mpg | 8.3 s |
On sale until June 2014
Coupe | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
FR 1.4 TSI 140 3dr | £19,265 | 53.3 mpg | 8.1 s |
S 1.2 TSI 105 3dr | £15,550 | 57.6 mpg | 10.0 s |
SE 1.2 TSI 105 3dr | £16,670 | 57.6 mpg | 10.0 s |
SE 1.2 TSI DSG 105 3dr Auto | £17,920 | 57.6 mpg | 10.0 s |
SE 1.4 TSI 140 3dr | £17,720 | 53.3 mpg | 8.1 s |
Good
- Great chassis that’s comfortable but rewards quicker driving.
- Very sharp styling but without being fussy or overbearing.
- Plenty of kit, and FR models especially have a good price/equipment balance.
- Strong, wide-ranging engine choice with a few corkers - like the 1.4-litre TSI.
- Full-LED headlights and one of the best multimedia systems on the market.
- Spacious cabin and a big boot.
- Near enough Golf quality but significantly cheaper.
Bad
- Doesn’t have quite the refinement of a Volkswagen Golf.
- Some of the lower level plastics feel cheap.
- Boot is big by volume but loading is awkward because the floor is set low.
- 1.6-litre TDI engine is a little noisy.
- Less powerful models have less sophisticated rear suspension.
- Cupra 290 model arguably too discrete for a £30,000-plus hot hatch.
What to watch out for
11-1-2013: Warranty on DSG 7 speed dry clutch DQ200 gearbox extended to 5 years or 150,000 kilometres in Russia and China.
5-9-2019: Problem reported with DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG in 2014 SEAT Leon FR 1.8TSI 180. Error notice on and off: "ERROR: WORKSHOP! ONLY LEAVE VEHICLE IN POSITION P." Owner also notices that sometimes the car automatically switches to the Sports Mode gears while driving, or, more rarely, starts with the Sports Mode directly. With a scanner, he picked up error code: 617752- Selector lever Park position Lock switch. He thinks there is a Technical Service Bulletin for the 617752 error (recommendation to replace gear selector/ shifter assembly?). But online forums have different suggestions.
Recalls
4-11-2015: EA288 1.8 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI engines recalled in USA because the rear camshaft lobe is prone to unexpectedly shear off from the shaft. The failure causes reduced engine power and loss of vacuum pump power, cutting vacuum supply to the brake booster and eventually resulting in increased braking effort."A reduction in engine power and/or increased need for braking effort after vacuum reserve has been depleted while driving can increase the risk of a crash," a statement cautions. The campaign affects approximately 92,000 vehicles including the 2015-2016 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen, Jetta and Passat. In notifying the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, VAG stated that the root cause of the camshaft failures has not been fully understood. The company is still continuing an in-depth failure analysis and development of a repair solution, however a fix may not be ready until the end of the first quarter of 2016.
Model History
- March 2013: Leon SC makes its debut
- June 2013: SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI announced
- October 2013: SEAT opened order books for Leon Ecomotive T
- January 2016
March 2013
Leon SC makes its debut
Redesigned from the A-pillars back, the Leon SC is much more than simply a three-door version of the five-door Leon hatchback. With a more steeply raked rear screen, a lower roofline, broad rear shoulders including sharp blisters over the wheel arches, and a new profile for the rear three-quarter windows, the Leon SC truly has the look of a true coupé.
However, it remains practical, with the same 380-litre boot capacity as the five-door Leon and decent front- and rear headroom. As with the five-door version, the new Leon SC is built at Martorell (Barcelona) using VAG's MQB front subframe. Compared to the five-door version, the Leon SC has a 35mm shorter wheelbase.
The use of advanced materials in production makes the Leon SC the lightest vehicle in its class - it is 110 kg lighter than the second-generation Leon, and 20 kg lighter than the five-door new Leon - providing improved handling and efficiency.
Like the five-door version, the Leon SC is equipped with engines ranging from 105 PS to 184 PS; from launch the Leon SC will feature the same engine and trim range as the five-door, including the 1.6 TDI 105 PS with just 99 g/km CO2, and later in the year, the rapid-yet-frugal 2.0 TDI 184 PS FR. Engine range includes 140PS 1.4TSI with cylinder cut-off for economy. This engine is 1,395cc, develops 140PS at 4,500-6,000rpm and 250Nm torque from 1,500-3,500rpm.
UK deliveries of new Leon SC from July 2013, with order books open in April 2013. Starting at £15,370, the full price list of the Leon SC is as follows:
|
|
Model |
PS |
CO2 |
VED |
Avg. |
OTR |
|
1.2 |
TSI |
105 |
114 |
C |
57.6 |
£15,370 |
|
1.6 |
TDI |
105 |
99 |
A |
74.3 |
£17,070 |
SE |
1.2 |
TSI |
105 |
114 |
C |
57.6 |
£16,490 |
SE |
1.2 |
TSI DSG |
105 |
112 |
C |
58.9 |
£17,740 |
SE |
1.4 |
TSI |
140 |
119 |
C |
54.3 |
£17,540 |
SE |
1.6 |
TDI |
105 |
99 |
A |
74.3 |
£18,190 |
SE |
1.6 |
TDI DSG |
105 |
102 |
B |
72.4 |
£19,440 |
SE |
2.0 |
TDI |
150 |
106 |
B |
68.9 |
£19,540 |
SE |
2.0 |
TDI DSG |
150 |
117 |
C |
64.2 |
£20,790 |
FR |
1.4 |
TSI |
140 |
119 |
C |
54.3 |
£19,085 |
FR |
1.8 |
TSI |
180 |
137 |
E |
47.1 |
£20,290 |
FR |
1.8 |
TSI DSG |
180 |
132 |
E |
49.6 |
£21,540 |
FR |
2.0 |
TDI |
150 |
106 |
B |
68.9 |
£21,085 |
FR |
2.0 |
TDI DSG |
150 |
117 |
C |
64.2 |
£22,335 |
June 2013
SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI announced
Combining 184PS, 380Nm torque and a claimed 67.3mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 109 g/km. The 2.0-litre TDI engine features direct injection and EcomotiveStart/Stop Technology as standard. Six-speed manual gearbox only, the Leon FR 2.0 TDI 184 PS costs from just £22,075.
All Leon FRs includes LED tail lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, FR-specific front- and rear bumpers, dark tinted windows, twin chrome exhaust pipes, sports suspension (lowered by 15 mm from standard), dual-zone climate control, front sports seats, SEAT Easy Connect media system including full colour touch screen interface, Bluetooth audio streaming and eight speakers, and SEAT Drive Profile. By altering the throttle management, steering feel and gearbox settings (in DSG-equipped cars) between three modes, SEAT Drive Profile allows significant alteration of the feel of the driving experience.
Priced at £22,075 for the three-door SC, and £22,375 for the five-door version, first customer deliveries of the SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI 184 PS are expected during September 2013.
October 2013
SEAT opened order books for Leon Ecomotive T
he Leon Ecomotive is available in all three body styles (SC, five-door and ST) and is priced from £19,360 RRP OTR for the 3-door Leon SC Ecomotive, but all three versions return the same 85.6 mpg combined fuel consumption in the EC lab tests. The 87g/km CO2 figure puts the car into VED Band A, so the tax disc costs nothing.
Power comes from a 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox whose ratios are spaced for optimum efficiency; the transmission is a fundamental difference between the Leon Ecomotive and the standard Leon 1.6 TDI, which itself emits a very modest 99g/km, equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Other changes over the standard Leon 1.6 TDI include a higher engine output, up from 105PS to 110PS, and the fitment of low rolling resistance tyres. To improve aerodynamic performance there's a body package comprising rear and side spoilers, and the suspension is lowered by 15 mm, while the radiator grille is unique to the Ecomotive. These changes help the Leon Ecomotive travel 11.3 miles further per gallon of fuel than the standard Leon 1.6 TDI, according to their respective combined consumption ratings.
The Leon Ecomotive comes as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights with cornering function, cruise control, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, air conditioning, electric windows all around (aside from SC versions), Bluetooth hands-free phone system, SEAT Easy Connect multimedia system, and a front armrest/storage box; the Leon Ecomotive is based on SE specification.
First deliveries of the Leon Ecomotive from January 2014, priced at £19,360 for the SC, £19,660 for the five-door and £20,485 for the ST.
January 2016
CO2 emission changes for SEAT Leon SC
SE 1.6 TDI 99g/km and 74.3mpg (revised to 102g/km and 70.6mpg, VED +£20, BIK +1%)
SE 1.6 TDI Auto 99g/km and 74.3mpg (revised to 101g/km and 72.4mpg, VED +£20, BIK +1%)
FR 1.4 EcoTSI 110g/km and 60.1mpg (revised to 114g/km and 57.6mpg, VED +£10, BIK +1%)
FR 1.4 EcoTSI Auto 109g/km and 60.1mpg (revised to 115g/km and 57.6mpg, VED +£10, BIK +2%)
FR 1.8 EcoTSI Auto 129g/km and 49.6mpg (revised to 134g/km and 48.7mpg, VED +£20, BIK +1%)
FR 2.0 TDI 150 108g/km and 67.3mpg (revised to 112g/km and 64.2mpg, VED +£10, BIK +1%)
FR 2.0 TDI 184 113g/km and 65.7mpg (revised to 118g/km and 62.8mpg, VED +£0, BIK +1%)