AS a regular reader of CAR you most probably know that the Spanish Seat brand is now available in South Africa. Perhaps you’ll also know that Seat is owned by Volkswagen and will, in this country, be distributed through a steadily growing number of dedicated Seat dealerships, backed by Volkswagen. But what you probably don’t know – and Volkswagen SA probably doesn’t want you to know – is that, in Europe, Seats are priced below their Volkswagen equivalents. Not by much… but in Europe the message is clear, Volkswagen is the premium product of the two.
Seat South Africa (or VW South Africa, really) has taken a different route for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Golf and Polo are locally manufactured and therefore not subject to the full import taxes that the Seat León and Ibiza have to face. Secondly, Volkswagen was wary of creating a situation where people buy a Seat instead of a Volkswagen… You see, it is believed that the Volkswagen brand is as big as it possibly can get in South Africa, and yet the market activity is such that there is a very real possibility of selling more cars, but possibly not Volkswagens… So, enter Seat, at higher prices. However, in return for paying more, South Africans are promised cars that are sportier than the equivalent Volkswagen model, and packed with features. Let’s see.
The first Seat (pronounced Sayat) to arrive for testing was the León 2,0 FSI. Styled by Walter da Silva of Alfa 147-fame, the León is a really dramatic looker that turned as many heads as some of the very exotic machinery that often comes our way. In fact, the Da Silva hand is especially evident in two details, namely the elliptical rear tail lights and the hidden rear door handles, both of which also feature on the Alfa 147. But perhaps the León’s most recognisable styling elements are the strong crease that curves down the side of the car, and the almost monovolume shape of the body. Riding on optional 17-inch alloy wheels (16-inchers are standard), the León is a very attractive car and, for some, the head-turning looks alone will make it worth the price premium.
The interior benefits from the Golf 5-based underpinnings in that it has a comparatively long wheelbase and wide tracks. This results in a spacious interior, with the León actually having a larger boot (272 dm³) than the Golf. However, the swoopy lines impact on ultimate load carrying ability – fold the rear seats down and you can fit in 952 dm³ of luggage (compared to the Golf’s 1 008). But rear seat legroom is mighty impressive, being right up there with the best in the class.
After the impressive exterior styling job, the appearance of the facia comes as a big letdown. General fit and finish is good, and the dashboard is mostly a softtouch moulding, but it is not as good as what you’d find in a Golf or Astra. In fact, it probably compares better with vehicles such as the Mazda3 or Ford Focus – in other words, not bad, but not quite what you’d hoped for, especially at this price. The centre hangdown section is characterised by a vast expanse of flat grey plastic, while all the controls are bunched up in the middle. They’re not all clearly marked either, and the radio/CD loader looks like an afterthought, especially as its red display screen doesn’t quite match the rest of the instrumentation. In terms of ergonomics, the design isn’t entirely successful either, because some of the buttons on the hangdown, especially those below the radio display, are too small. Furthermore, the buttons are unmarked and they can only be identified by looking on the screen, but it’s not easy, at a glance, to know which does what.
Directly in front of the driver, however, the news is better, with a smartly designed instrument cluster housing a small central rev counter flanked by deep set speedometer and temperature/ fuel gauges. The steering wheel is adjustable for height and reach, and the driver’s seat can be raised or lowered to fine-tune the driving position. Most of our testers easily found a comfortable man/ machine interface.
The León 2,0 FSI is equipped with, amongst other features; remote audio controls on the height- and reach adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat, ISOFIX rear anchorages, electro-mechanical power steering, 6-speed manual gearbox, automatic headlamps and wipers, tyre pressure monitor, six airbags and a radio/CD player.
You have to pay R10 000 extra for the Sport pack (ESP, EBA, DSR, green tinted windows, 17-inch alloys) and an additional R8 000 if you want the Leather Pack (leather upholstery, heated front seats).
Quite frankly, we don’t regard the Seat’s standard features list as offering anything exceptional. In fact, some of these optional extras, at least, should have been standard.
Under the sexy body hides the platform of the Golf 5. But although the León rides on the same multi-link rear and MacPherson strut front suspension as the Volkswagen, Seat has made a few adjustments. Dubbed the “Agile Chassis concept”, it basically sees Seat engineers fine-tuning every element of the suspension, brakes and steering to make the car as dynamically entertaining as possible.
Our León had the optional Sport Pack, which ads the full complement of electronic driver aids, including ESP with EBD, EDL (electronic differential lock), traction control and a system dubbed DSR (driver steering recommendation). DSR helps keep the vehicle on the correct course when ESP detects oversteer. DSR instructs the system’s electric motor to “turn” the steering wheel in the opposite, i.e. the correct, direction. Don’t be alarmed, however, you are unlikely to notice this “assistance”.
The León 2,0 FSI is, as the model designation would suggest, powered by the Volkswagen group’s 2,0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with stratified fuel injection. The advantage of FSI is, essentially, that during cruising or constant speeds, less fuel will be injected, resulting in a fuel saving. This four-valves-per-cylinder, double overhead-cam engine delivers 110 kW at 6 000 r/min and 200 N.m of torque at 3 500. Power goes to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Our fuel index figure worked out at 9,72 litres/100 km, translating to a calculated tank range of 567 km.
Performance testing yielded no surprises, with the Leon achieving a competitive 0-100 km/h time of 9,93 seconds and a 205 km/h top speed. With its good torque characteristics, the Leon also performed commendably well in our overtaking acceleration runs.
To drive, the León certainly lives up to the promise of a more dynamic, involving experience. The ride is firm and, subjectively at least, the steering feels more direct than the Golf’s. With its lowrev grunt and positive gearshift action, it’s a car that urges the driver on to explore the undoubtedly fine dynamics. To most members of our test team it certainly felt sportier than the calmer, more grown-up Golf. But there is a penalty to pay… the León doesn’t feel as refined as the Golf, and at times it can become quite noisy in the cabin, with tyre roar especially evident.
Test summary
We welcome the addition of Seat to the local market. After all, variety is the spice of life. And the León, with its stunning good looks, certainly makes an interesting alternative for those buyers desiring something to set them apart.
Its promise of offering an entertaining drive has been kept, but this has come at a price – higher levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
On the topic of the standard features list, we must say that we were expecting more. Ultimately, the León doesn’t offer much in the way of luxuries over its rivals.
To put it simply and clearly, the León FSI is not R4 000 better than the Golf FSI. In fact, it’s not better, full stop. Rather more importantly, its high price also means it’s not necessarily a better buy than some of its more affordable rivals.
So, not better then, but different. And for some, that will be enough. But for us, it is a promise only half fulfilled…
