SEAT Leon Sportstourer FR 1.5 eTSI review

SUV fever. Across much of Europe, the estate car segment has been losing ground. SUVs have taken its place, drawing almost all the attention from private buyers and businesses looking for greater space and versatility.

Portugal, despite its longstanding affection for estate cars, has been no exception. It is against this backdrop that SEAT has introduced the Leon Sportstourer. In this new generation, it arrives with its credentials substantially strengthened.

SEAT Leon Sportstourer: who is it for?

People shopping for an estate car are no longer motivated solely by the need for extra room or by its styling. In both of these areas, SUVs will generally offer more without placing an excessive burden on the wallet.

Those are not the areas in which the SEAT Leon Sportstourer, which I had for a week, makes its strongest case. Although, visually, the pictures speak for themselves:

This is the FR 1.5 eTSI version, making it one of the most powerful and dynamic models in the Leon Sportstourer line-up. Its handling is beyond reproach and it is aimed at people who enjoy driving - which makes it a shame that the ESP cannot be fully switched off.

Anyone choosing an estate car such as this does so because they like to drive. The balance of handling and comfort achieved by this new-generation SEAT Leon Sportstourer FR 1.5 eTSI is beyond the reach of the overwhelming majority of SUVs. Meanwhile, for only €1,340 more, it provides greater space and comfort than the SEAT Leon 5-door.

Rear-seat passengers will also be pleasantly surprised. The SEAT Leon Sportstourer offers plenty of room. Yet the greatest reward undoubtedly goes to the person behind the wheel.

Driving the Leon Sportstourer FR

The Leon Sportstourer FR 1.5 eTSI is at its best on the open road. It is not simply an estate car for taking the children to school or going to the supermarket for the monthly shop. It offers rather more than that.

It is an excellent companion on a twisting road, without exacting too great a physical toll by the end of the day. That said, the SEAT Leon Sportstourer FR 1.5 eTSI is not the most comfortable estate car in its segment, nor does it claim to be.

Handling and suspension response

It is not uncomfortable - far from it - but its greater emphasis on dynamics is apparent when compared, for example, with the Skoda Octavia Estate, with which it shares its platform.

This focus can be felt in the steering response, which is very direct and decisive, as well as in the way the suspension reacts over rougher surfaces. Not even the DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) system can completely remove this characteristic.

The 1.5 eTSI 150 PS engine

Then there is the 1.5 eTSI 150 PS engine, codenamed EA211, one of the VW Group's “crown jewels”. It features a variable-geometry turbocharger, cylinder deactivation, a 48 V mild-hybrid system and a few further secrets. You can discover those secrets in greater detail by following this link.

Select Sport mode in the SEAT Drive Profile and this engine responds without hesitation. It pulls strongly from low revs and finds an excellent partner in the DSG-7 gearbox, allowing its full potential to be explored. After all, it delivers 150 PS and 250 Nm.

The 0–100 km/h sprint takes 8.7 seconds and top speed is 221 km/h.

While performance is clearly a strong point, fuel consumption is too. Over these test days, without being especially gentle with the accelerator, I achieved an average of 7.5 litres/100 km. It is not a record-breaking figure, but it is appropriate given what this Spanish estate car has to offer.