Independent Reviews of SEAT New and Used Cars

The Arona, says SEAT, is designed for 'drivers looking for a sense of excitement, distinction and functionality. People who know that age is just a number, not an outlook on life.' In other words, the people who've been busily buying Nissan Jukes and Renault Capturs in considerable numbers over the last five years. The Spanish maker wants in on this lucrative market and this little Crossover looks to have everything necessary to entitle them to a useful slice of sales in this segment. The potential for personalisation will be key to this car's prospects, as will the efficiency made possible by its efficient engines and light, stiff MQB chassis. It's taken some time for the Iberian maker to bring us a Crossover of this kind but we can see quite a few target Arona customers feeling that the wait has been worthwhile.

SEAT's fourth generation Leon has sharpened up its act. Jonathan Crouch reports.

As a full-size MPV with a king-size carrying potential, SEAT's MK2 Alhambra might not be quite of the sporty, stylish persuasion you'd normally expect to associate with this Spanish marque but it has plenty of other virtues. There's proper adult space for seven and seats that fold easily into the floor, plus it can compete on equal terms with the direct large MPV rivals from this period it undercuts, both on price and specification. It's lighter, faster and better-built than the previous MK1 model, plus its more modern engines cost less to run. All attributes that families shopping in this sector may find hard to ignore from a car offering this kind of value proposition. People carriers have come on a long way since the last time you tried one. And if you want proof of that, you'll find it right here.

SEAT's now fourth generation Leon is also offered as an Estate. It might be the best car you'd never heard of. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, estate cars were purely for estate people - those with dogs, photocopiers to cart about and weekend leisure equipment. You wouldn't really consider one if you didn't actually need to. But station wagons like this Leon ST are rather different. Why wouldn't you choose one of these rather than a standard Leon five-door hatch? After all, the ST variant isn't much more expensive, looks just as good, drives just as well and offers a lot more everyday flexibility Like the best of its family hatchback-based competitors, it's also successful in offering nearly all the practicality in a larger estate car with the easy parking and deft manoeuvrability of a much smaller one. Is there really any point in considering a five-seater compact Scenic-shaped People Carrier when a car like this SEAT can be so versatile? What it all boils down to is that, with some great engines, a design that's bang up to date and a shape that doesn't instantly appear as if you've started down the slippery slope to pipe and slippersville, the SEAT Leon ST has a whole lot going for it. If you need an used medium-sized estate from the 2013-2020 period but wouldn't want to be seen dead in one, there is an alternative to a small SUV or MPV. If that's the kind of thing you have in mind, make sure this Spanish contender's also on your wish list. It might surprise you.