View Full Version : First Review of the New Leon in Diesel Car
In the August edition of Diesel Car is their "first review" of the New Leon. It would be true to say that they aren't too impressed. As Altea owners we might be happy ?. Some of the criticism on the controls you could levy on the Altea and Toledo.
Their view was that it followed in the Golf V footsteps but build quality wasn't so good. They liked the TDI 2.0 engine which is good:). They said the seating was low which they regarded as good, I'd regard that as bad myself if one wants to avoid backache. Something that the Altea excels in, comfy seating.
So when a new Leon races past I'll be thinking, you got the inferior car:).
mister.c.
08-07-2005, 21:40
In the August edition of Diesel Car is their "first review" of the New Leon. It would be true to say that they aren't too impressed. As Altea owners we might be happy ?. Some of the criticism on the controls you could levy on the Altea and Toledo.
Their view was that it followed in the Golf V footsteps but build quality wasn't so good. They liked the TDI 2.0 engine which is good:). They said the seating was low which they regarded as good, I'd regard that as bad myself if one wants to avoid backache. Something that the Altea excels in, comfy seating.
So when a new Leon races past I'll be thinking, you got the inferior car:).
So the bait is laid....wonder if there is any takers ....
Well I do see that there are some positive reviews reported on the New Leon bit of this site, but for Diesel Car to be negative is saying something. Saying that they gave the Altea a very positive "first review" last year, but never touched it again. Altea being a minority interest car;).
I was interested to see whether they would react positively to the New Leon as they did the Altea, but no. I'm wondering whether having a standard shape / "Auto Emocion", which is what we now know all Seats to be going to have, may be deemed by some as boring. There was an element of this in this review where the comment went that the 156 door handle continues into the new Seat range.
What we do know is that the New Toledo isn't selling well..... I don't think people will take sides on this until the guys get their hands on the New Leon. But perhaps the New Leon may just become a minority interest like the Altea..... saying that the Altea is sufficiently pricey to be that.
dloureiro
13-07-2005, 09:58
Me, me, me, can I take the bait? Leon inferior, I don't think so! OK, kidding aside, not sure why you would be thinking it is an inferior car. The Leon build quality is bad? Oh and the Altea's is really good in comparison? I think that the reviewer is not being consistent. For a decent review of dynamics and putting it through its paces, see the post I added on the new Leon forum of a Spanish website and someone was kind enough to add a link of it translated. Let's just say that they rate the car.
BTW. I'm currently happy with my current car but if I had to buy a car, the race between a Leon and an Altea would be a close run thing.
I was only reporting what diesel car said. Reading all of the mag at the weekend I see that it is under new control so perhaps their reviews have gone down hill, but it's clear that what they fault the new Leon on, they would fault the Altea on and they don't have an Altea on their fleet. They gave the Altea a positive "first review" but have never mentioned it again. Also if you read Saturdays Telegraph someone wanted to buy a 5 seater MPV, Honest John [think it was that section] listed every 5 seater MPV except the Altea. Seems to me that Seat's are minority cars, not complaining. God it's the first car I've had where there haven't been hundreds on the road driving past.
I see you are abroad, motoring Telegraph is here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml;jsessionid=BTLOVR3I5KYJ3QFIQMFSM5OAVCBQ0JVC?view=HOME&grid=PM1&menuId=-1&menuItemId=-1&_requestid=22981
[it's free] Honest John is always an interesting read.