SEAT Leon takes on the Ford Focus and Nissan Pulsar in road test
Auto Express pitched SEAT’s Leon against two big rivals in its latest road test: the revamped Ford Focus and the all-new Nissan Pulsar. Not only did Leon prove the winner on price (£17,235), 0-60mph acceleration (10.1 seconds) and fuel economy (41mpg), it also won over the Auto Express team “with its quality, sporty styling and performance.”
Style: “Its sleek edges are more appealing than the fussy looks of the Focus and Pulsar… there’s a distinctive bodyline along the sides of the car, while the rounded rear end looks taut and compact compared to the rears of both competitors here.”
Driving: “At the test track, the Leon proved to be faster… This performance was helped by the positive shift of the six-speed gearbox, while the Leon’s chassis feels alert and reacts positively to your inputs.”
Running costs: “Fuel economy of 41mpg on test is reasonable, while 114g/km CO2 emissions and that low price make it by far the most cost-effective company car choice here… Private buyers will also appreciate the SEAT’s best-on-test residual prediction of 45.6 per cent.”
Practicality: “Space in the back is good, while rear seat passengers benefit from air vents on SE models – something neither rival has here.”
The result
“The Leon has seen off two more challengers to retain its crown as king of the compact hatchbacks. While the Focus comes close to its combination of style, quality, everyday performance and usability, the SEAT has the upper hand thanks to its great-value price….”
Leon takes a perfect five stars, while the Focus and Pulsar pick up four stars each. You can read the full report in this week’s Auto Express (5 November).
Models compared in Auto Express road test
- Nissan Pulsar 1.2 Acenta
- SEAT Leon 1.2 TSI SE
- Ford Focus 1.0T Zetec