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SEAT Leon ST Ecomotive: appreciating its abilities

SEAT Leon ST Ecomotive 800
The SEAT Leon ST Ecomotive is an attractive blend of neat looks, fine practicality and all with low running costs

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14 August 2014

SEAT, Leon, Ecomotive, MPG, figure
Will this Leon’s economy ever go below 50mpg?

This is particularly impressive, seeing that eking out every last MPG on trips is not always my main priority.

One such trip, was a fast, late Sunday night run to Heathrow, where I could have sworn my harder than normal driving would affect the economy. Instead, the 52.8mpg I achieved impressed me so much, I had to take a picture because I simply couldn’t believe it.

A Volkswagen source told me recently, that the economy of the 1.6-litre TDi engine in my SEAT Leon ST, should noticeably increase when I get past 2,000 miles. I hope so, as it would be good to equal or better the 61.3mpg figure achieved on the early Wirral trip.

Overall, I’m still really smitten to be running the SEAT Leon ST, but another months driving has highlighted some niggles with it.

Facts, figures, likes and dislikes

P11D – £21,940

Company car tax – £51 per month for a basic rate tax payer

Official mpg – 85.6mpg

Our average mpg – 50.8mpg over 1,800 miles

Our best mpg – 61.3mpg on a 228 mile trip

We like – Comfortable and refined performer, specification, high-quality interior, impressive economy, low company car tax exposure, bright LED headlights

We don’t like – noisy engine at idle, touch-sensitive sat nav not intuitive, unsettled ride over unmade surfaces

Firstly, there’s the Eco Tips, which are shown in the multi-function display between the instruments. Whilst they may help increase my Leon’s consumption and reduce the SEAT’s emissions, I can only liken them to a know-it-all passenger that I didn’t want. So the owner’s manual has been studied and they’ve been turned off – for good probably.

Then there’s the SEAT’s optional sat-nav, which I still feel isn’t the easiest to use, plus the screen is a bit on the small side.

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Finally, although I appreciate the lower, stiffer suspension of this SEAT Leon ST when the roads allow, when they don’t I find the ride borders on the unsettling.

The recent hot weather has also highlighted an intermittent brittle plastic sound from the gearshift, which I shall have to get looked at if it gets worse.

But overall, I’m still very fond of the SEAT Leon ST and hope that more miles will equal an increase in the MPG.

Read more about SEAT Leon

Check out our review of the sporty Leon Cupra 280 here

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