Just a several months just after the very last Volkswagen Golf MkVII rolled out of the Puebla, Mexico plant—and we located out the new MkVIII product would not be coming Stateside—the fourth-era Seat León has arrived in the Latin-American country. The Seat León and Volkswagen Golf have lengthy shared their architecture, powertrains and interior layout, and this subtle-wanting new technology is no exception. It is based on the new eighth-era Golf that The united states is not going to be receiving (sigh), producing the León the closest we’ll get to the beloved normal-quality German hatchback—both pretty much and figuratively.
Make no blunder, we are happy we are acquiring the MkVIII-based Golfing R and GTI on our shores, but in Mexico, where VW has all not verified the arrival of the Golf VIII, the new León is roaring. Launched on Tuesday night time, when preorders opened up, Seat Mexico declared on its web page the pursuing morning that the 1st units of its hatchback had marketed out.
Par for the León Class
The León is 1 of Seat’s main pillars, producing extra than 2.2 million gross sales around the globe considering the fact that its inception in 1999. Created and designed at Seat’s headquarters in Martorell, Spain, the fourth-technology León is based on the exact same new MQB Evo architecture as the MkVIII Golfing. All over the world, Seat will equip its hatchback with a various range of engines that contains gasoline, diesel, moderate-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and normal gas mills.
In Mexico, prospects will initially get a turbo 1.4-liter four-cylinder that provides 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque—essentially the exact motor that powers the MkVII Golfing (and the relevant four-doorway Jetta sedan) in The us the additional effective 190-hp 2.-liter turbo will be out there towards the finish of the 12 months. An 8-speed automatic is the only transmission available, and like in its VW cousin, the transmission sends torque to the León’s entrance wheels.
Choose a Seat, This Detail Appears to be Great
The updated León adopts Seat’s new innovative layout language that was to start with previewed in the Tarraco—the Spanish Tiguan, which we drove a little above a year back. Its front finish incorporates a even larger hexagonal grille flanked by swoopy headlights with exquisite daytime jogging lights. The hood and entrance fascia integrate solid character strains that give the hatchback a stronger appearance.
The profile has swifter lines that normally stream in the direction of the rear, in which the taillights replicate the identical design as the headlights but are connected by a skinny light strip that runs throughout the hatch. Twin exhausts give the León a sportier presence from the back, and when its condition is comparable to the Golf, the León’s rear lateral window cuts up in the direction of the C-pillar, giving the Spanish product an completely cockier vibe than the relentlessly rectilinear, common-looking Golfing.
Inside of, its clearer to see the VW Team DNA. A floating infotainment display screen sits atop the central air vents and is accessible in two sizes—8.2- or 10.-inches—and each assist Apple CarPlay and Android Car. Borrowing the Golf’s controversial nubby shifter, the León’s heart console is clear and minimalist, with HVAC controls concealed below the infotainment screen. A digital instrument panel is optional, though ambient lights adds character to the cabin. Despite the fact that rear legroom has elevated a little bit as opposed to the outgoing design, cargo room remains the exact same.
Globally, Seat provides distinct styles of protection systems but in Mexico the León arrives with an austere bundle. Neither of the two trims available—Style and FR—will present active security features like its Golf cousin, that means adaptive cruise management, blind place checking, automatic emergency braking, and lane preserve aid are off the desk.
We’re nevertheless unhappy the eighth-era Golf will not touch U.S. soil in its most simple form, and the new Seat León deepens that experience. Rumor has it Mexico will even get the León Sportstourer, the wagon variant, which will make us want to pay a visit to our neighbors to the south ASAP.
