SEAT Leon SC range
What are they?
Which SCs did we try?
- The 2.0 TDI FR 184PS – the alpha male. 6-speed manual gearbox, the most powerful, and up to 62mph in 7.5 seconds
- The 1.8 TSI FR 180PS DSG – the quickest SC. Another alpha male but with added intellect in the form of the awesome DSG auto box
- The 2.0 TDI FR 150PS DSG – in theory, the best company car compromise between performance and economy
SEAT has been richly crowned with laurels since the launch of the new SEAT Leon.
But it is not resting on them.
On the same day as the company announced that it will launch the SEAT Leon ST (short for Sports Tourer, but estate to you and me – click here for more) later this year, the motoring hacks were gathered in Gloucestershire to drive the SEAT Leon SC – the new Sports Coupe version.
Coupes, particularly those that are cut-down versions of a conventional 4 or 5-door, have always sat rather uncomfortably in a company car portfolio – to me at least.
So often they are pretty much the same as the regular hatch or saloon, maybe with some bodywork trinkets to show willing, but with 2 doors missing, and less room in the back. What’s the point?
SEAT assures us the SC isn’t one of these, being shorter, lower, lighter and therefore quicker, more agile, and generally sportier than the regular hatchback.
So could the SC convert the coupe cynic?
SEAT had provided a veritable fleet of SCs covering everything from the modest 1.2 TSI and finishing, at least in terms of horses, with the macho 184PS 2.0 litre TDI. Many were in sporty FR trim.
Spoilt for choice. Where to start?
Well, if you’re going to have a coupe, it had better be a quick one. If you’re going to get a quick one, surely the quicker the better. But this is business car territory, so we started with the quickest diesel – the 2.0 litre TDI FR 184PS, to give it the full title.
After that, there were two other performance SCs waiting to be tried. One was the ‘safe bet’ – the 2.0 TDI 150PS diesel in the same FR trim.
The other was the 1.8 TSI 180PS – petrol of course – and also in FR trim.
It proved to be an intriguing comparison.
