The new SEAT Leon!
The new SEAT Leon!

SEAT has taken the covers off the all-new SEAT Leon, which we can expect to see in Ireland in May.

The SEAT Leon has always been one of the most important vehicles in the brand’s line-up. Since the first Leon was sold in Ireland in 2000, over 13,300 SEAT Leon’s have been sold in Ireland.

Now in its fourth-generation, the 2020 SEAT Leon has been designed, developed and produced in Barcelona, Spain, at the brand’s Martorell facilities.

The Leon sits on the Volkswagen Group MQB Evo platform and the new car will be lower, longer and more aerodynamic. There’s a new range of lighting technologies outside and inside of the vehicle. Full LED headlights on some models will include the brand’s signature design and dynamic indicators will feature also. The new Leon’s side mirrors include integrated LED indicators and some models will have welcome lights that greet the driver and passengers projecting the word “Hola!” onto the ground!

There’s a new interior with a more sleek and minimalist look. According to SEAT, everything in the cabin has been designed to be ergonomically precise for more comfort for everyone inside the vehicle. There will be a central 8.25″ or 10” infotainment screen with gesture recognition. The SEAT Digital Cockpit adds a high-resolution 10.25” instrument cluster for the driver.

The interior of the new Leon
The interior of the new Leon

The 5-door SEAT Leon has a boot capacity of 380 litres (identical to the previous generation), while the Sportstourer offers 617 litres of boot capacity, 30 litres more than the previous generation.

The new generation Leon will be offered with petrol (TSI), diesel (TDI),  mild-hybrid (eTSI) and plug-in hybrid (eHybrid) units. Petrol engines are all direct-injection, turbocharged units and provide power outputs between 110PS and 190PS. The 1.0-litre TSI will be offered in the Leon for the first time, while more powerful 1.5 and 2.0-litre petrol units will also be available.

There will be three diesels, all 2.0-litre TDI units with outputs of 115PS and 150PS.

48V mild hybrid technology (eTSI) will feature for the first time in the Leon (1.0 TSI 110PS and 1.5 TSI 150PS, both offered exclusively with the DSG transmission). A plug-in hybrid using a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine electric motor, 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack and six-speed DSG transmission will have 204PS and an electric only range of up to 60km (WLTP).

In Ireland the 2020 SEAT Leon will be offered in six trim levels: SE, SE Plus, Xcellence, Xcellence Plus, FR, and FR Plus. Pricing will be confirmed closer to launch.

The new Leon follows the successful launch in 2019 of the SEAT Tarraco family SUV.

Speaking about the new Leon, Niall Phillips, Brand Director at SEAT Ireland, said:

“The Leon is a firm favourite amongst Irish customers and we are confident that they will love the fourth-generation Leon even more. This model will bring a new level of technology, design and safety to this segment and we are excited to see the all-new Leon on Irish roads from May onwards. The Leon is hugely important to the brand, not only because it represents SEAT’s core DNA and values, but it will open up the brand to an even wider audience with the introduction of the mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.”

The new Leon is on the way to Ireland this May
The new Leon is on the way to Ireland this May