Hot hatches are back, but is the Golf GTI a little too estate-agent for your liking? Don't fancy looking like a late-night mini-cabber in an Octavia vRS? The Seat Leon FR might well tickle your fancy.
Powered by the same 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged FSI engine that lives in the Golf and the Octavia, the Leon FR is capable of a 0-62mph time of 7.3seconds and a top speed of 142mph. This is on a par with the vRS and marginally slower than the GTI (6.9seconds 0-62mph), but in the real world, you'd be hard-pushed to notice the difference.
Looks-wise, the Leon FR couldn't be more different from its conservative cousins. Wearing lurid yellow paint, the Leon certainly stands out from the crowd (other less eye-searing shades are also available). This, coupled with a deep front bumper and a purely cosmetic rear diffuser, distinguishes the FR from lesser Leons.
17" alloys are standard-fit, although some lairier 18s cost just 350 and would funk up the exterior even further - at the expense of a harsher ride, of course, but sometimes looking good is all that matters. Some silver mirror caps, a twin exhaust and a handful of FR badges complete the look.
Inside, things are suitably sported up with a leather-clad steering wheel, bottom-hugging sports seats and a "unique" (large, tasteless, uncomfortable) FR gearstick - but the cabin lacks the overall pizzazz of the exterior. The headlining and windscreen pillars are covered in a light grey fabric; in something like the hooligan Astra VXR, they're black, creating a dark and moody feel to the cabin. The Leon just feels like a souped-up family hatch, rather than an on-the-edge tarmac animal, at least when you first step inside.
The underwhelming feeling does pass once you venture out onto the roads, however. The engine delivers plenty of punch from low down in the rev range, with the maximum 206lb/ft of torque available from 1800-5000rpm. There's no noticeable torque-steer when gunning it from standstill, and the steering provides a good indication as to what's happening under the front wheels.
Throwing the Leon FR into a corner reveals a remarkably agile chassis. Whereas the Golf GTI can sometimes feel a little lardy around the twisty bits, the Leon feels much more sprightly - which is impressive, considering its size and 1415kg weight. There's a hint of body roll, but not enough to throw you out of your seat around a tight roundabout, and the ride is firm, but comfortable. It doesn't crash over bumps and crumbling tarmac like fast Seats of old.
One aspect that does sully the overall driving experience, though, is the feel from the throttle pedal - or the complete lack of it. It's all too easy to find yourself with your right foot flat to the floor as there's very little resistance through the pedal; it's a case of all or nothing, rather than easily modulating a controlled delivery of power.
The brakes are strong, scrubbing all that speed without any drama and the six-speed manual gearbox (DSG isn't available) has a decent movement to it - although the gearknob makes for an awkward grip at times. Seat would be wise to ditch this monstrosity and replace it with something less cumbersome.
Although the Leon FR breaks my cardinal rule that states that hot hatches must only ever have three doors, I may just let it off. The Leon may have five doors, but the way the rear door handles are hidden within the rear window glass is just inspired. They make you want to open the rear doors just for the hell of it, and once you do, you see that there's plenty of space available for those in the back, if you take those things into consideration. This is something which can't be said for the cramped Astra VXR.
All in, the FR lacks the edge of proper hot hatch hooligans like the aforementioned Astra and the chav's favourite, the Focus ST (in orange, of course). That's intentional though, as Seat has the 240bhp Cupra version sitting in the wings ready to knock the gruesome twosome from their perch as leaders of the hot hatch clan.
For now, the Leon FR provides plenty of thrills for not a lot of bills. 16,995 is the list price: nearly 4000 cheaper than a 5dr Golf GTI, and even 500 cheaper than the Skoda Octavia vRS. Factor in the improved looks of the Leon, and its lower insurance grouping (Leon: 14E, Octavia: 15E, Golf: 17E) and you can't really go wrong. This may not be quite the case once the Leon Cupra arrives next year, but for the moment, the FR is an appealing all-round proposition, right here, right now.
source:http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/feature.jsp?id=2994
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