Seat Leon e-Hybrid 204: Not the first, it’s the first big!

There is no age for daring! Wait for seat 70^And Anniversary of the Hybrid Experience Experience. Here’s the compact Leon, one of the most famous in the brand’s history, in its plug-in hybrid version. The time is right for this experiment of course, he gently instructs manufacturers to “change the pump” without waiting, but the product has been very carefully developed to position itself, from entry level, at the reference level in the category. More than just a first try, it’s a “maestro” shot the Iberian brand has come to expect here.

Affordable compared to its cousins, dressed in stunning and very elegant, the Leon has “right” in almost every respect, hardly punishable by a sparrow box (the batteries consume 110 liters but you can choose the SportTourer which offers 470 liters) . As always, we can discuss actual electrical autonomy (sold for 63 terminals, we’d rather tell you it’s best to aim for 50…), complain about charging times, but Leon proudly enters the electric dance.

EN… frankly successful

With a classic dashboard, a 10-inch screen and many details in the cabin (steering wheel, gearbox control, etc.), the Leon does not hide his family ties to golf. The two are of course not different (the shape of the air vents, the atmosphere of the lighting, etc.), but no SEAT customer will complain about these similarities, the Wolfsburg bestseller has proven itself over the ages in terms of seriousness and quality. An interesting little note for those not traveling alone, or as a couple, it seems to us that the rear passengers are treated better in the Leon thanks to the slightly longer wheelbase.

At the end of our testing, the somewhat sporty Leon was highlighted, a scientist dear to the brand. Flat steering wheel, elegant dashboard (forces you to scroll through the screen to choose your driving mode …), red-stitched wrapped seats, a very successful interior.

Precision and efficiency

Nothing to report in all-electric mode, short trips into cities and even further afield go smoothly, thanks to enough power and instant torque. For many users (who will not forget to recharge on the way home…), daily autonomy is not an issue.

When it’s time to expand the business, when leaving for the weekend for example, Mixed Mode takes care of preparing the perfect recipe for you. As long as there is juice, the average consumption does not exceed 2 liters per 100 and then rises to 6 liters after that, then you should not worry, on the contrary.

Crumbling, a bit, just for fun, this Leon reminds us that SEAT has always favored driving sensations. Precision steering allows for sharp front end steering in all conditions. Even on the degraded roads we took, we noticed the good level of filtration and comfort that was always maintained. That’s a lot of good points for the first time, isn’t it? At VW galaxy, if you are looking for an efficient rechargeable battery, look no further.