Seat Leon ST

You can buy a Seat Ibiza as a three door, a five-door and an estate, and the Leon has been multiplying along the same lines with the recent arrival of the three-door hatch and now this Sports Tourer estate.
The ST rides on the same wheelbase as the five-door hatch but carries 27cm of extra length aft of the rear axle, boosting its seats-up load space to 587 litres.
Fell the backrests, and that rises to 1470 litres, easily topping the hatch’s volume as well as the space offered by the recently deleted Audi A4-based Exeo ST. So it’s commodious, and convenient too.
The backrests spring forwards when you tug their release levers, and although the seat cushion doesn’t fold to provide a protective bulkhead, the floor is relatively flat. You can also tip the front passenger’s seat’s backrest forward for long loads and the boot is usefully flat-sided space.
Up front, its engine range mirrors that of the five door, a 1.2 turbo of 104bhp, a 138bhp 1.4 turbo and a 178bhp 1.8 providing the petrol choice. Diesels run to a 104bhp 1.6, and a 2.0 litre of either 148bhp or 182bhp.
The Leon’s suite of electronic driver aids is extended with the estate’s debut, radar-governed cruise control, electronically controlled dampers and variable-ratio steering options joining the blind-spot alert, drowsiness monitoring, intelligent braking and main beam assistance previously offered.
With these, the sat-nav, LED lights and a panoramic roof, it’s possible to spec yourself a Seat wagon of considerably more sophistication than the Spanish manufacturer used to offer.
And the weight-efficient architecture of the VW Group’s MQB platform (which is becoming better known than some of the models based opon it) makes the base 1.2 ST the lightest wagon in its segment.
Which is probably just as well, given the scope for packing this car with the kit needed for an ambitious family holiday. Or carrying a small van’s worth of goods, Seat reckoning that this version of the Leon should penetrate deeper into fleets.
The ST is certainly worthy of the steel-eyed consideration of fleet managers. Apart from there being a low-emission, low tax 87g/km 1.6 TDI Ecomotive model, this car provides the same appealing blend of polished basics and value for money that has scored the five door its accolades.
Besides all that space you get (not always intuitive) sat-nav across most of the range and driving dynamics of quiet accomplishment. Most of theLeon range comes with a twist beam rear axle rather than the multi-link hardware of the high-powered models, but it provides a decently compliant ride most of the time and cornering that’s grippy and neat despite some roll.
The standard steering system serves consistent weighting and precision too, though without much real feel. The new variable ratio rack wasn’t available to try, and the lane assist system we’d avoid, its squirming efforts to keep the Leon on the straight and narrow providing a fine impression of a ferret wrestling with your car’s steering gear.
The 2.0 litre TDI diesel is best suited to heavy-duty lugging given the stout torque delivery that comes with both versions. Seat reckons it will be the second best-selling engine in 148bhp form, which provides you with 235lb ft of torque from a fairly low 1750rpm.