Seat Leon X-Perience Review

Seat will launch a compact sports utility vehicle next year but for those who want something more discreet but still able to tackle muddy fields and tracks there is the new Leon X-Perience.

Based on the spacious ST Tourer estate version of the Leon it is resolutely front-wheel drive until they start to slip or slide when up to 50% of the power can be sent to the rear wheels via a Haldex clutch to improve traction.

Boot space is not harmed by the all-wheel drive system. Only 2-litre turbo-diesel engines are available. 

The X-Perience range begins with the 2-litre TDI 150 six-speed manual.

The four-cylinder turbo diesel engine develops maximum power of 148bhp at 3,500rpm and maximum torque of 250 lbs ft at 1,750rpm. Acceleration to 62mph takes 8.7 seconds and top speed is 129mph.

The top of the range 2-litre TDI 184 actually produces 181bhp at 4,000rpm and 280 lbs ft of torque from 1,750rpm.

Driving via a dual-clutch DSG transmission, the car sprints to 62mph in 7.1 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 139mph.

Both engine variants deliver the familiar punchy performance but there are quieter engines around. Mid-range performance for safe overtaking is impressive and easily accessible despite the estimated 120kg extra weight of the all-wheel drive system and the body kit additions.

At times the DSG gearbox was hesitant getting away at roundabouts or traffic lights and occasionally hung on to lower gears longer than you would if driving it manually.

A driver profile system lets you select sport mode which makes the steering heavier and the accelerator response sharper.

The manual has a smooth gear change so it is hard to justify the more powerful model unless you really need automatic transmission.

Making a car ride higher never improves its handling agility through corners, and neither does increasing weight (the all-wheel drive system), but the X-Perience doesn't feel much different to a standard Sport Tourer.

Body lean can build up more through bends taken at speed and the unladen test cars‘floated’ over higher speed undulations on the road but never sufficiently to cause concern.

There’s more front end dip under braking and rear squat during acceleration, but despite presumably softer suspension settings the low speed ride was harder and less smooth than other Sport Tourer estates, especially over road repairs at an angle to the direction of travel.

If you are sensitive about such things at times I thought it approached uncomfortable.

We tried the car off-road on forestry tracks with reasonably steep ascents and descents but little mud. Under slippery conditions, or if heavily loaded, up to half the engine torque is sent to the rear wheels where the force is distributed to the left or right hand wheel according to grip.

Feel for the road from the electro-hydraulic power assisted steering is pretty good starting off light but getting heavier as speed and cornering forces increase.

Memory tells me the X-Perience isn’t as quiet and smooth on A-roads and motorways as the standard car.

Engine and wind noise is a little worse, probably because of the bigger air vents at the front of the car, but the mud and snow type tyres are louder over most surfaces.

Mid-corner ridges and ruts catch out the stiffer suspension with thumps and bumps which are felt more in the back seats than the front.

The ride settles down more at motorway cruising speeds.

The interior of the Leon X-Perience is very similar to the Leon ST with simple, good quality materials, but some changes to colours and Alcantara trim with orange stitching give the cabin more personality.

We found the front seats offered good support but a colleague with an old motorcycle injury found the clutch action a little difficult and much preferred the DSG automatic with its paddles behind the steering wheel for when you want to change gear manually.

You don’t sit as high as in a SUV but there is still a good view out.

The SE Technology model at £26,370 is expected to be the best seller and comes with LED lights, 18in alloy wheels, satellite navigation and those good front sports seats

Driver profile lets you select sport mode to increase the weight of the steering and speed up the response of the accelerator. On models with automatic transmission dynamic chassis control lets you adjust the suspension damping for a smoother or firmer ride.

Other features available include a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control and a 6.5in colour touch screen.

Load capacity is 587 litres but increases to 1,470 litres with the rear seat backrests folded. You just need to pull a lever but the seat backs don’t go completely flat.

Some variants can accommodate extra-long loads up to 2.5 metres by folding forward the passenger seat backrest. Standard features include bag hooks and a double load floor.

Seat says the 181bhp X-Perience can tow up to 1,600kg with a braked trailer and the manual 148bhp car up to 2,000kg, which could put the car on the shopping list for those wanting to tow a horsebox or a caravan.

Surprisingly a tow-bar fitting is an extra cost option.

Loading is easy with a big tailgate and wide opening rear doors but you will need a protective cover to save the interior from the indignities of surfboards and the like. The long list of options includes an exterior bicycle carrier.

The Leon easily seats four but if you want to get three in the back someone will have to cope with the tall central transmission tunnel which restricts foot space.

When it comes to ownership costs it is worth realizing the Skoda Octavia Scout is mechanically identical, has a bigger boot and costs £2,000 less.

Of course, if you don’t really need occasional four-wheel drive for slippery conditions you could pay even less. The top of the range automatic is £28,870.

As you would expect of a VW Group products the Seat’s fuel economy and exhaust emissions are both very good.

Both versions achieve the same 57.6mpg and 129g/km in the official laboratory tests. Real world experience suggests 42 to 45mpg depending on load, traffic conditions and driving style.

CO2 emissions of 129g/km put the Leon X-Perience in road tax band D so there is no annual road tax to pay.

The Seat Leon X-Perience feels well built for a varied outdoor life and shares a lot of parts with the Volkswagen Golf which should bode well.

Bodywork and suspension seems to stand up well to everyday driving though potholes and the speed bumps have been known to cause damage to bushes and wheels, especially wider ones.

I am not a fan of DSG gearboxes for a variety of reasons, some of them from a reliability point of view and would go for the manual gearbox. The transmission can be affected by software (and updates) and sometimes hesitate when trying to nip out of a junction or on to a roundabout.

Software glitches have also been cited in connection with some starting problems.

The Seat dealer network still needs improving.

Most faults on Leons have been electrical or to do with the braking system. If buying a car with 40,000+ miles covered make sure the engine camshaft and associated tensioners etc have been changed.

All wheel drive is likely to reduce the chances of an accident on slippery roads unless the driver thinks he or she is a future Sebastian Loeb but with less talent.

The Leon ST scored the maximum five stars when it was assessed by independent crash test organization Euro NCAP.

The car’s seven airbag complement includes one for the driver’s knees.

Adult protection scored 94% and child occupant protection 92% beating its rivals at the time. It matched the Volkswagen Golf Estate for adult protection and scored higher than either the Ford Focus estate or the Vauxhall Astra estate.

Electronic safety kit includes anti-lock and braking proportion systems and skid avoidance stability systems.

To keep drivers and families safe the Leon can be fitted with safety features including lane keeping assistance, automatic front braking assistance if the driver doesn’t see another car, post collision braking to reduce further impacts and driver tiredness warning.

The car comes with remote central locking, engine immobiliser and anti-theft alarm.