Next alternative car to a Leon?

[Wilkesy]

Just wondering if others are thinking of getting a different car altogether once they’re finished with their mk3 Leon with them not liking the newer shape?

not taking the plunge yet but might be changing either this next December or the year after. Thinking of getting the newer Honda civic 1.5.

you took the plunge already or thinking of it too?

 

[SuperV8]

I have no intention of getting rid of my Leon ST - due to lack of any spare money! BUT as a thought experiment - I personally don't like either the new Leon or Golf!
I really like the new Seat Born and Skoda Enyaq, must me getting middle aged! to like SUV's! not that my ZERO budget can afford either!

 

[Glosphil]

Just wondering if others are thinking of getting a different car altogether once they’re finished with their mk3 Leon with them not liking the newer shape?

not taking the plunge yet but might be changing either this next December or the year after. Thinking of getting the newer Honda civic 1.5.

you took the plunge already or thinking of it too?

 

[Glosphil]

According to the Honda web-site the Civic 1.5 has 182hp (Leon 1.4 FR = 150) but 177lbft torque (FR 184).

 

[Seriously?]

Thinking of getting the newer Honda civic 1.5

New Civic looks pretty good - they even offer a slightly Cupra-esque Bronze Styling Pack.

 

[BigJase88]

According to the Honda web-site the Civic 1.5 has 182hp (Leon 1.4 FR = 150) but 177lbft torque (FR 184).

The 1.5 vtec turbo is rapid.

absolute destroy a 1.4 tsi

the 182 1.5vtec is actually very close to the old 197/198bhp k20 n/a motors that used to be in the old EP3/FN2 civic type r’s, so it certainly has some go!

 

[QTom]

Yeah not a fan of the new Leon either. They don't look bad exactly but they look extremely generic to me; they lost their identity. New Golf isn't great either (particularly the cheap plastic interior).

I'm also put off the Golf (and most new cars) because of the insistence on using capacitive buttons and moving things like climate control into the touch screen. I think I'll be sticking with my Cupra for a good few years.

 

[2Stevo2]

Once the lease is up on my Cupra and even though I love her, I am going to bite the bullet and try and get an Alfa Romeo Giulia.

Love the way it looks, it apparently drives beautifully due to its engine note mated with the ZF gearbox all BMWs use. But it is very costly still. Hopefully over time the price will come down.

 

[Dannnnn]

Passat, Octavia VRS or Superb will be what I go to next.

 

[mdaw1985]

I finish paying for my Leon at the end of the year and looking like the Mrs will take it on and we will sell her 63 plate 1.4 Ibiza toca and then look for something else. The 1.5 t civic is definitely one I'm looking at. I know some don't like it's looks but in the right colours I like it. I just don't have confidence in getting a VW 1.5 TSI after all the problems I have seen and not to mention the cut back on interior quality people have mentioned. Now if I was to be going 2.0 TSI then I'd have no issue getting a Mk7 golf or another MK3 Leon but don't think the Mrs will let me. lol. Too expensive on fuel she would say.

 

[CupraGeezer]

Not planning to change for a few years but, if I was to change, I think I'd be looking for an i30 N.

 

[black_sheep]

If I stay within the VAG stable then the new Octavia VRS is the best looking of the Leon sized platforms; however, the loss of power/4wd from current Cupra would be missed. Interior looks fairly good too.

The VW Areton R Shooting Brake is not too bad looking, but will be £££.

BMW 135i is getting fairly good reviews too.

 

[Jay5959]

If I stay within the VAG stable then the new Octavia VRS is the best looking of the Leon sized platforms; however, the loss of power/4wd from current Cupra would be missed. Interior looks fairly good too.

The VW Areton R Shooting Brake is not too bad looking, but will be £££.

BMW 135i is getting fairly good reviews too.

The new octavia vrs looks like a solid choice. That areton looks rather tasty, but if a golf r starts at £37k, imagine what they’ll be asking for this! The 135i gets rave reviews, but it would be a right pain throwing up everytime you look at it ??

 

[SRGTD]

Not planning to change for a few years but, if I was to change, I think I'd be looking for an i30 N.

I like them, but from I’ve read, real world fuel consumption isn’t particularly good. But then if you’re buying a performance hatch, good mpg probably isn’t the top priority.

 

[GlekkeMatrak]

Got my SC FR new back in 2015, and is still in such amazing shape (both look and feel) that it'll be staying for years to come. However, being a car guy, I'm obviously always on the lookout for potential replacement. Below my list of interrest:

- Mazda 6: spacy, feels well built, and love what they're doing to their ICE. Those N/A SpCCI petrol engines are redefining efficiency.
- Audi A5: wouldn't be buying this one brand new, but rather nearly new, and preferably in Germany, for more choice in petrol range and option list.
- Cupra Formentor: I'm not an SUV (or kinda-SUV)-guy, but this might just change my mind. Looks really good IMHO.
- Cupra Born: for if it would be electric, I'd pick the one that looks the best. Again, MHO.

As you can tell by the list above, it's not all about performance for me. My current SC isn't all about that either, but it's a fun and quick enough car, with still a reasonable amount of comfort.

 

[Speedbird]

I'm actively looking to replace my Leon with a Tiguan 4motion SEL. I do a lot of mountain biking and camping and had a 4wd SUV before. I know my Leon estate has a longer load area than an SUV, but I miss the versatility of an SUV and some of the mountain biking spots I go to need more ground clearance and 4wd to access them. Just haven't found the right Tiguan yet, or a buyer for my Leon. Doesn't help that I've spent £800+ on the Leon since November on new front tyres and cam belt change, so in my head it makes sense to keep it a little longer! Once lockdown ends, I will probably make the change.

 

[KXL]

I went from Mk3 Leon to Mk5 FL Ibiza, to 2018 Volvo V40 T3 (1.5T) and next up 2021 Audi A3 Sport but there are delays due to chip shortages. At the time, A3s had good leasing deals which were around the same as the Leon. However, the only difference is that on the Leon one would be getting at least the 1.5TSI, but on the A3, its only the puny 1.0TFSI MHEV like for like price wise all DSGs. If you're ok with manual, then maybe you can strech to the A3 1.5TFSI.

 

[Mr Pig]

I won't even be considering the current Leon. I don't like the way it looks and they have made stupid decisions that are red flags to me.

I had a look at one in a dealer's months ago. When I saw that they'd put the air-con controls in the touch screen and the switch for the lights was a cheap little touch-pad that was it. They had sacrificed ergonomics and ease of use to save money. Those two things I noticed with a few seconds so I wondered what else they had done that would take longer to find. And if they are happy to cut corners on things you will know about what is being cut where you can't see?

I don't know what I'll buy next, I'll look around at the time, but it won't be a new Leon.

 

[pompeydave]

Problem is every car manufacturer is doing the 'penny pinching ' at the moment. I personally drive a 68 plate Astra 1.6t which has had cuts done to it , newer shape 70 plate even worse . Dashboard has gone down a notch in quality so I'm also leaving a manufacturer partly because it's now French ! From a distance the Leon looks ok but a quick look inside and I'm not keen. I'm looking around now at deals but like most of you totally undecided as to what to get.
Too early for an Ev for me at the moment , I know boris and his cronies want us all in Ev,s in years to come but I won't part with petrol just yet.

 

[CupraGeezer]

Aside from the price, looks and the stupid touchscreen, here are the reasons I won't be replacing my Mk.3 Cupra with a Mk.4 (thanks to @Syphon for the image):-