Highlights of the article:
Driving performance
‘The Leon is a joyful thing to drive. It changes direction eagerly, grips hard and stays neatly balanced through fast corners, never feeling unruly or unpredictable.’
Infotainment
‘Its software is completely different, and we much prefer it. The unconventional menus seem a tad confusing at first, but within 15 minutes they make sense, and the screen is more responsive to inputs than the Golf’s.’
Interior space/comfort
‘Front space is fine in all three; rear seat space is where the real differences are. The Focus and Leon have plenty left over; even if you’re tall and sitting behind someone who has slid their seat back, your knees will have loads of clearance.’
‘The Focus and Leon are also far more accommodating when you need to carry a third adult in the back; anyone sitting in the middle rear seat of the Golf will really struggle for leg room.’
‘Both the Focus and Leon have above-average-sized boots for the family car class, taking six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf with room left over.’
Costs
‘Unsurprisingly, the more powerful Leon wasn’t as thrifty but still managed a respectable 44.9mpg, which makes the 44.1mpg achieved by the Focus look a bit mediocre.’