SEAT is hoping its newest lifestyle estate will have X-appeal.
On the back of booming registrations last year, the Spanish car-maker has just introduced the Leon X-Perience.
This is not only a 587 to 1470 litres touring estate but it comes with four-wheel-drive and taller suspension, ideal for wintry roads or a spot of light off-roading for active owners and it will pull, depending on engine, either 1600 or 2000 litres trailer.
It comes with a choice of either 150 or 184PS 2.0 diesel engines, six-speed manual or DSG automatic six speed transmission at £24,385, £26,370 and £28,870 in two trim levels but with a number of tailored option packs as well and insurance groups 19E, 20E and 23E respectively.
SEAT can trace back its estate models over 63 years so it’s well acquainted with this type of car and this century sold the Cordoba Vario, Exeo ST and Ibiza ST models before bringing out the Leon X-Perience for a new range of customers. It also points the way towards next year’s SEAT SUV.
It also comes after SEAT lifted UK sales by 18% in 2014 to 53,512 and is now on course for seven consecutive years of growth and at a time when they intend to increase the dealer network from the 124 it is now.
With X-Perience there are two trim levels, SE and SE Technology and they share all-wheel-drive transmission but the upper model also comes with a sophisticated info-tainment pack and sports seats among the improvements. Options include a big sunroof, full leather pack, upgraded entertainment and navigation as well as enhanced comfort features such as heated seats and adaptive cruise control.
X-Perience is expected to account for 8% of Leon ST sales at approximately 2,200 and the 2.0 TDI 150PS SE Technology is thought to be the most popular choice ordered.
The newcomer is just over 4.5M long, stands a shade under 1.49M high and is a whisker over 1.81M wide and it has a double floor in the boot and a 12v socket to charge a compressor.
A through-hatch means long items can be carried in some instances and you can drop the rear seat backs from the luggage area and it has standard roof rails to take a box or other equipment.
Back seats can be dropped from inside the rear quarter panels when the fifth door is open but they do not completely lie flat.
The fifth generation Haldex transmission is an intelligent solution to getting more grip when you need it without the driver having to make a decision, instantly switching from 100% front wheel drive to 50/ 50 transfer front to back as sensors detect where grip is more useful to have. In the X-Perience, the cruise control is now radar fed to keep a safe distance from a vehicle infront and the top model with multi-mode drive profile now alters damping to cope with various loads in the estate.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The SEAT X-Perience SE Technology with manual transmission is going to be the best seller and over tarmac and forest roads it never gave us a moment’s concern about its grip or handling.
The long top ratio helps economy and lower emissions but it meant that it sometimes needed down-changes to keep up momentum over a hilly test route through the Forest of Dean.
That meant we averaged a modest 40.1mpg on the larger wheels and tyres and the ride was biased towards firmness with a noticeable amount of tyre roar coming into the cabin as well.
The more powerful 184PS version with its six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission was much smoother and you were not aware of the engine working so hard to make progress.
It was lively, responsive but also much quieter and easier to drive as a result and would be my personal choice from the range, particularly if I was regularly covering a lot of ground.
But the price paid for this additional refinement was a fuel consumption of 34.8mpg, which is again high for a diesel, albeit with a sporty character.
Nevertheless, the arrival of the SEAT X-Perience is a factor we must consider against other performers.
