The new 2020 SEAT Leon (MK4) has been unveiled at an event by SEAT on the 28th January. We have all the details of the new car, the new design language, and the advanced technology featuring in the car.
SEAT state is their biggest design step in the Leon’s history. After SEAT has dropped a number of teasers for the car, we now get to see SEAT’s vision for their biggest selling model from 2020 and beyond.
We can see elements from other more recent SEAT models, the Tarraco’s front grill and the rear light, and boot shape from the CUPRA Formentor.
SEAT has moved away from the sharp edges of the previous generation Leon for a slightly softer look.
The headlights, one of the distinctive elements of the MK3 (the first in its segment to have full LED lighting) have been narrowed, like on the Tarraco giving the car’s “eyes” a slightly more aggressive look.
Highlights
- STRONG DESIGN EVOLUTION: A new exterior and interior design language gives it greater presence, which enhances its overall proportions
- LIGHTING THE WAY: Full LED headlamps, coast-to-coast rear lamps and wraparound ambient lights emphasise the evolution and technology within
- FUTURE-PROOF: Based on the MQB (Modular Quer Baukasten) Evo platform, the next-generation Leon is the most forward-thinking product ever made by SEAT: it’s fully connected to the cloud, with state-of-the-art driving assistance systems and hybrid technology from launch
- THE SAFEST SEAT: New active and passive technologies include Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control and Emergency Assist 3.0, while the inherently-strong safety cell provides optimum protection in the event of a collision
- ADVANCED POWERTRAINS: A range of efficient powertrains available from launch: gasoline (TSI); diesel (TDI); mild-hybrid (eTSI); and plug-in hybrid (eHybrid)
- ALWAYS CONNECTED: In-car connectivity with Full Link including wireless Apple CarPlay and cloud-based functions and services enables drivers to access their digital lives on the move
- SEAT CONNECT: New smartphone app keeps you in touch with your vehicle when you’re on the move
- MORE PRACTICAL: Increased wheelbase (+50mm) and overall length of the five-door (+86mm) and Estate (+93mm) add extra occupant and luggage capacity
- PACKAGING MASTERCLASS: More headroom for passengers despite lower roofline
- SUCCESS STORY: SEAT Leon has sold more than 2.2 million units globally (252,416 in the UK) since 1999 across three generations, each proving more popular than the last
- SEAT easymove: Six trim levels – SE, SE Dynamic, FR, FR Sport, Xcellence, Xcellence Lux – each with its own unique equipment, customers only need to choose their trim, engine and colour
- CREATED IN BARCELONA: The all-new SEAT Leon is designed, developed and built in Martorell, Barcelona
- AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER: Fourth-generation SEAT Leon available to pre-order now at www.seat.co.uk/new-leon
“The SEAT Leon has been improving generation after generation being able to conquer new customers. In 2019, the Leon was the best-selling car for SEAT with more than 150,900 vehicles delivered, as well as being the best-selling car in Spain during the past five years,” said SEAT’s Executive Vice-president for Sales and marketing and CUPRA CEO, Wayne Griffiths. “We have now created the best Leon ever. The new Leon has been designed keeping the “created in Barcelona” spirit and at the same time being the safest, most connected and with the widest range of engines the brand has ever seen. We believe we have all the ingredients to make of the new Leon a great choice not only for private customers but also for corporate fleets.”
The Leon is what SEAT are calling their first fully connected vehicle. featuring Full Link offers seamless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay connections.
Through the SEAT CONNECT App, owners can access their vehicle’s data remotely and manage the battery charging and control the electronic air conditioning (Plug-in Hybrid models only).
The all-new SEAT Leon also features Car2X connectivity – a cloud-based technology that enables drivers to receive an advanced warning on the status of upcoming traffic lights or an incident on a motorway further up the road, or whether traffic lights are about to turn from green to red, with traffic information appearing in real-time on-screen.
Design
“Although the all-new SEAT Leon is an evolution in our design language, it still presents itself as a bolder vehicle than the previous generation, and keeps hold of the brand’s DNA and the representative attributes of a Leon,” said Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Director of Design at SEAT. “The exterior mixes the car’s key characteristics of confidence, elegance and sportiness.”
Exterior
This generation of the SEAT Leon has changed proportions over the outgoing MK3 model. It is based on the advanced MQB (Modular Quer Baukasten) Evo platform, to increase the new Leon’s wheelbase, which translates to 49mm extra legroom for rear occupants (now 1,799mm), and length for both the five-door and the Estate.
| Five-door | All-new SEAT Leon | Previous-generation | Delta |
| Overall length (mm) | 4,368 | 4,282 | +86 |
| Overall width (mm) | 1,800 | 1,816 | -16 |
| Overall height (mm) | 1,456 | 1,459 | -3 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,686 | 2,636 | +50 |
| Headroom row 1 (mm) | 1,045 | 1,042 | +3 |
| Headroom row 2 (mm) | 969 | 970 | -1 |
| Boot space (l) | 380 | 380 | – |
| Estate | All-new SEAT Leon | Previous-generation | Delta |
| Overall length (mm) | 4,642 | 4,549 | +93 |
| Overall width (mm) | 1,800 | 1,816 | -16 |
| Overall height (mm) | 1,448 | 1,451 | -3 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,686 | 2,636 | +50 |
| Headroom row 1 (mm) | 1,043 | 1,042 | +1 |
| Headroom row 2 (mm) | 977 | 972 | +5 |
| Boot space (l) | 617 | 587 | +30 |
The bonnet is slightly longer than the outgoing model. The A-pillars have been moved rearwards, to further elongate the proportions of the front of the vehicle, and are more upright improving visibility.
Interior
The cabin has been ergonomically designed to increase comfort, with everything within decluttered, reducing the number of physical buttons to a minimum, with a focus on the main infotainment screen, which includes gesture recognition.
At the heart of the Leon’s interior is the SEAT Digital Cockpit, which brings together a high-resolution 10.25-inch configurable driver instrument cluster and 10-inch infotainment system.
Interior light is an important feature of the all-new Leon. It includes a wraparound dashboard light that covers its entire width and continues through the doors. This light also acts to provide blind spot detection.
The five-door Leon has a boot capacity of 380 litres (identical to the previous generation), while the Estate provides 617 litres of storage, 30 litres more than the previous model.
Models
The all-new SEAT Leon comes with six individual trims – SE, SE Dynamic, FR, FR Sport, Xcellence or Xcellence Lux.
Seven colours are available on Leon: two solid (Candy White and Pure Red) and five metallic (Nevada White, Midnight Black, Desire Red, Mystery Blue and Magnetic Grey).
All vehicles in the range (SE) benefit from ‘Kessy Go’ keyless start, 2 x USB points in the front, LED headlight technology with automatic high beam, electric and heated side mirrors, electronic parking brake, an eight-inch infotainment system, cloth upholstery, leather steering wheel and gear stick, and SEAT Connect technology as standard. The vehicle rides on 16-inch alloy wheels.
SE Dynamic upgrades the infotainment to the SEAT Digital Cockpit with Navi, complete with 10-inch infotainment screen and 10.25-inch digital driver binnacle, Park Assist (front and rear sensors), tinted rear side windows, as well as larger Dynamic 17-inch alloy wheels.
The sportier FR trim level adds a host of additional elements both inside and out, on top of the SE Dynamic trim.
Sporty front and rear bumpers, Dynamic 17-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust pipes and a unique suspension set-up (15mm lower ride height than other trims) ensure FR models stand out from the crowd visually and aurally.
Inside the cabin, FR includes upholstery stitching that matches the exterior colour, a leather multifunction steering wheel, three-zone air conditioning, wireless charging tray in the front and two additional USB points in the rear.
The FR trim also brings full-LED technology to the rear of the vehicle including the coast-to-coast light and LED dynamic indicators (front and rear), and illuminated front and rear aluminium door plates.
FR Sport is also available*, adding further technology. Customers benefit from a Winter Pack, a selection of features ideal for cold mornings: heated front seats, heated steering wheel and heated windscreen washers. A unique black interior roof lining, microsuede cloth upholstery, the wraparound ambient lighting technology and exclusive Performance 18-inch Machined alloy wheels complete the look.
Xcellence trim* level brings a different aesthetic, with the exterior adding unique bumpers, a hot-stamped Diamond grille, chrome-framed side windows and Dynamic 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the key surfaces are finished in microsuede cloth and include the wraparound ambient lighting technology, while the driver benefits from Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control technology as well as the Winter Pack.
Xcellence Lux* adds leather upholstery and Performance 18-inch Machined alloy wheels to help it stand out from the crowd.
All models come with a range of safety technologies as standard: six airbags, seatbelt reminders, Electronic Stability Control and Tyre Pressure Warning System.
Customers can option an electric panoramic sunroof and either a fixed or electric towing hook on all trims.
Lighting
The all-new SEAT Leon uses the latest in lighting technology both in the cabin and around the exterior of the vehicle to accentuate its dynamic styling and bring focus to the overall design.
The full LED technology used in the headlights makes even the darkest road visible to the driver and incorporates SEAT’s distinctive daytime running light signature to mark it out as one of the family.
The cold white light colour of the LEDs provide an unmatched luminosity of up to 900 lumens, (the standard LEDS provide up to 550 lumens) thanks to the 22 LEDs per module, and integrate all the critical functions: dipped beam, high beam and daytime running lights. The vehicle’s side mirrors also include integrated LED indicators.
Connectivity
The world is more digitalised than ever before and the all-new SEAT Leon has been future-proofed – developed as the brand’s first fully connected car, it will keep the driver and its occupants connected to the car and the outside world like never before.
At the heart of the Leon’s infotainment system is the SEAT Digital Cockpit, which brings together a high-resolution 10.25-inch fully-customisable driver instrument cluster and infotainment system. The standard media system features an 8.25-inch screen with smartphone audio compatibility. The larger 10-inch screen Navi system (SE Dynamic upwards) offers Online Connectivity, 3D connected navigation, Retina display capability and natural voice control as well as gesture recognition to simplify user interaction.
In the all-new Leon, a new voice recognition system enables a natural understanding of language in order to allow the user to interact with the infotainment system using natural commands, making corrections and referencing previous commands. It is also possible to download and integrate smart services, which will connect with your account and means you will always stay in touch with your smart appliances.
With the Full Link system, customers are able to seamlessly connect their smartphones and access their digital lives no matter what device they use – either wireless Apple CarPlay (based on Bluetooth or WLAN) or Android Auto using a cabled connection.
The Full Link system is the gateway to connectivity, allowing users to connect their mobile devices to the vehicle’s infotainment system and access to get directions (via Apple Maps), make calls with access to your full contact list, send and receive messages, and listen to your music playlists. Full Link can be accessed via the infotainment system or the multifunction steering wheel.
Leon is also now available with wireless phone charging within the lower centre console, to ensure your (compatible) device remains charged ready for the next part of your journey.
Online Connectivity via the embedded SIM (eSIM) means that the all-new SEAT Leon will never lose its connection to the digital world and allows users access to the latest infotainment apps, as well as be able to offer new digital products and services throughout its lifetime.
The built-in eSIM delivers the eCall service, which directly contacts emergency services should an incident occur, adding yet another level of safety to the vehicle. If an eCall is triggered, vital data is sent to the emergency services also, including position (based on GPS data), engine type, and number of passengers, making it easier for them to assist.
Online Connectivity also allows some infotainment functions to use real-time information from the cloud, enhancing the traditional navigation system. Real-time traffic information will re-route the navigation if there is an incident ahead, as well as informing the driver of the location, opening times and current prices of both car parks and fuel stations. For those who don’t want to be limited to the radio they listen to, new Leon adds online radio into the cabin, allowing the customer to listen to any online radio station they choose, even if it’s from a different country.
The all-new SEAT Leon also features Car2X connectivity – a cloud-based technology that enables drivers to receive an advanced warning on the status of upcoming traffic lights or an incident on a motorway further up the road, with traffic information appearing in real-time on screen.
The next level of connectivity is being made available to Leon customers with the introduction of the SEAT Connect app.
From the SEAT Connect app, users can remotely access driving data of previous journeys and remaining range, parking position, lock and unlock the doors, set up speed alerts so you can be warned if someone using your vehicles is driving too fast, be alerted if your vehicle has been stolen, or activate the horn and turn signals to find the car more easily in a crowded car park.
In Plug-in Hybrid variants, the driver can review and manage the charging process via the e-Manager, prepare the cabin for a journey by controlling the electronic air conditioning, as well as manage departure times all from the smartphone app.
Engines
The all-new SEAT Leon has a range of powertrains that now also includes electrified variants to boost efficiency. The new-generation car is available in petrol (TSI), diesel (TDI), mild-hybrid (eTSI) and plug-in hybrid (eHybrid) units.
The engines can be mated to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG (direct shift gearbox) transmission.
Models that use the DSG automatic transmission now benefit from shift-by-wire technology. The system is designed so that the gear selector is no longer mechanically connected to the gearbox, instead using electronic signals to indicate a shift.
In FR and FR Sport models, in addition to the driving mode presets – Eco, Normal and Sport – drivers can use a sliding scale of changes to adapt the all-new SEAT Leon to their exact requirements.
Petrol (TSI)
The new Leon’s petrol engines are all direct-injection, turbocharged units and provide power outputs between 110PS and 190PS.
For the first time, Leon is available with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder 110PS TSI engine and six-speed manual.
Also available, as a 130PS and 150PS output, is the larger 1.5-litre TSI four-cylinder unit – mated to a six-speed manual – which enhances performance without impacting efficiency.
Both engines use a Miller-cycle combustion process and variable geometry turbocharger to ensure performance and efficiency , as does the integrated Active Cylinder Management. The Miller-cycle optimises valvetrain control with early closure of the inlets which, combined with a higher compression rate and turbocharging, better control the air-fuel mixture and improve fuel efficiency by up to 10 per cent.
A 190PS 2.0-litre TSI unit linked to the dual-clutch seven-speed DSG transmission is also available.
Diesel (TDI)
The all-new SEAT Leon benefits from two diesel powertrain options, both 2.0 litre TDI units.
Both the five-door and Estate variants are available with either outputs of 115PS or 150PS and a six-speed manual transmission.
The diesel engine introduces a new Selective Catalytic Reduction system that includes dual AdBlue injectors to significantly reduce NOx emissions compared to previous generation diesel engines. The result is a range of diesel engines that meet the strict requirement of the latest emissions standards.
Mild Hybrid (eTSI)
The all-new SEAT Leon can also be specified with mild hybrid technology (eTSI), further enhancing efficiency. The system, which is available with the 1.0 TSI 110PS and the 1.5 litre TSI 150PS petrol units, mates 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to the combustion engine.
The technology uses a 48V starter-generator and lithium-ion battery enabling the vehicle to coast (no pedal input from the driver) with the engine switched off (while retaining all key electric functions, such as power steering), harvest energy under deceleration and provide electrical torque assistance during acceleration.
Plug-in Hybrid (eHybrid)
SEAT will also expand its line-up of electrified vehicles with a plug-in hybrid electric version of the Leon. A 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine electric motor, 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack and six-speed DSG transmission combine to produce 150kW/204PS of power and is recharged via a 3.6kW AC inlet. New Leon can be fully charged from 0% in less than 3.5 hours.
The plug-in hybrid version also allows users to driver Leon via electric power only, emitting no emissions and giving a usable range of 60km (38 miles) – perfect for cities where air quality regulations are stricter.
The plug-in hybrid version will be offered on both the five-door and Estate models.
Safety
The all-new SEAT Leon is the safest vehicle the brand has ever developed; designed to see more of its surroundings and react to obstacles on the road or sudden movements by other drivers thanks to the integration of a suite of updated and completely new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
“The all-new SEAT Leon has been designed and developed to be the most innovative product the brand ever made – besides its online connectivity it also offers state-of-the-art driving assistance systems. It inspires passion and awakens something inside people when they look at it, you just have to watch and let the vehicle convey its essence,” said Axel Andorff, Executive Vice-president for Research and Development at SEAT. “It is all about touching and feeling the new Leon.”
The new ADAS technologies continually sense the environment to offer the optimum protection no matter what scenario occurs when you’re behind the wheel.
The all-new SEAT Leon brings together predictive Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Emergency Assist 3.0 to protect the vehicle and its occupants while driving or stationary.
Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses feeds from GPS data delivered from the navigation system and input from the front-mounted camera and Traffic Sign Recognition, allowing it to proactively amend the cruise speed depending on the road layout ahead – bends, roundabouts, junctions, changes in speed limits and built-up areas. This reduces the requirement for driver input and mitigates against sudden speed changes and manoeuvres.
To maintain
safety and meet legal requirements, the driver must continually monitor the
system and their surroundings, keeping at least one hand on the steering wheel.
If the vehicle senses that the driver has taken both hands off the wheel for more
than 15 seconds, they will receive audible and visual warnings. A braking jolt
can be given. If the driver continues to fail to respond, the Emergency Assist 3.0
system can bring the Leon to a complete stop.
The all-new Leon enters production in January 2020.
* FR Sport, Xcellence and Xcellence Lux will be available to order in Q2 2020
Complete engine and transmission line-up
| Manual | DSG Auto | |
| 1.0-litre 3-cylinder TSI 110PS | X | |
| 1.0-litre 3-cylinder eTSI 110PS (MHEV) | X | |
| 1.5-litre 4-cylinder TSI 130PS | X | |
| 1.5-litre 4-cylinder TSI 150PS | X | |
| 1.5-litre 4-cylinder eTSI 150PS (MHEV) | X | |
| 2.0-litre 4-cylinderTSI 190PS | X | |
| 2.0-litre 4-cylinder TDI 115PS | X | |
| 2.0-litre 4-cylinder TDI 150PS | X | |
| 1.4-litre eHybrid TSI 204PS PHEV | X |
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