New Leon or Honda Civic as company car?

[loonymoon]

My partner is getting to choose a new company car (lucky him!). He's whittled the list down to two main contenders. The New Leon 2.0 TDi stylance (or possibly FR if he can get it down to around £16,000) or the new Honda Civic 2.2CDTi. (In the background he has a Ford focus 1.8 TDI and a Vauxhall Astra diesel).

Both main cars he's chosen for their very high spec (he wants cruise control etc) and perceived build quality. He was initially considering an Ibiza but I think he's swayed towards the Leon as he does a LOT of driving (80 miles a day plus occasional long distance business mileage).

Does anyone have any thoughts as to how the new Leon might cope as a company car? Any faults or problems to be aware of (I know it's early days). Given that he has no previous experience of SEAT's apart from my Mk4 Ibiza comparisons with previous models won't be helpful to him! Thoughts on the Civic are also welcome although i know it's the wrong forum for this.

He's planning to test drive both cars at the weekend. At the moment I think he's slightly more in preference of the Honda as he likes the battlestar galactica looks and he likes the way the dash etc is laid out - but ultimately it will come down to driving experience!

Cheers for your thoughts!

 

[AR-CoolC]

I have a Leon 1.9TDI Stylance as a company car, 40000 miles per year, so 20000 so far this year, no problems other than silly niggles that have all been sorted by the dealer at service time.

Actually the new Civic was also a car I would have been looking at , but wasn't released at the time I was looking.

I really think it will come down to which one he preferes at test drive time, but not having driven the new Civic, I can't make comparisons myself.

My work colleague has the Altea in 2.0TDI form and is mrore than happy (apart from some numpty driving into the side of it and clearing off). There are quite a few new Leons appearing in the company car park at the moment, but I haven't found out who they belong to, to see how they like theirs, so they are certainly popular among the company car drivers here.

 

[THE BIG GAS MAN]

Hi, I have the 2.0 tdi sport as a company car and drive 200miles a day. I would recommend the Leon, it is well comfy and returns about 50mpg at 70/75 on the motorway with cruise on. Not had any problems with the car, had it in for a creaking steering rack but that was a cmmon fault with early models across the vw range.

 

[si-mate]

I hate the looks of the civic so would definately go for the Leon. I see 5 Civics for every new Leon so if he wants something different from everyone else thenb the Leon has it.

 

[loonymoon]

Well He's now driven both cars... and chosen the Civic...

Not to say that the Leon wasn't a close second, because it was, but I went with him in the Honda and I would have chosen it too as the new shape civic has the most incredible diesel engine. Without being told I probably wouldn't have even realised it was a diesel it was sooo quiet and refined. Unfortunately he said it did make the Leon sound like a bag of nails in comparison even though the Leon wasn't really that bad - just a little noisier when driven round town.

Remember the "Hate somethng/change something" Honda ad that annoyingly got stuck in your head? Well the engine in the civic the 2.2 I-CDTi unit was the engine in question. Despite a 0-60 of 8.6 seconds it has a much lower CO2 output (135) than the Leon 2.0 stylance (which is good for the company car tax payer!). We followed a new Civic diesel today for at least 1/2 hour and did not see a single puff of smoke, even under harsh acceleration. The Civic left my partners company Vectra petrol 2.0 litre SRI (don't laugh too much) for dust - mind you the Leon would as well!

the only other real gripe he had with the Leon was the "hardness" of the interior plastic. The Honda's interior finish was superior. However in most other respects the cars were pretty equal in performance, handling etc. I personlly like the looks of the Leon better as the Civic is a bit too "blakes 7" for me but I do think that the Civic has the better engine. But then again the Civic is nearly a grand dearer - so the Leon represents excellent value for money and I think either car would have done him fine just a shame the Leon doesn't have the I-CDTi Honda engine!

 

[loadswine]

Love the Blakes seven comment!
The Honda diesel is supposed to be an ace power unit, wonder how that remaps?
Prefer the looks of the Leon myself.

 

[GrayT]

No discrace to come second to the Civic. It is indeed a cracking unit.