What's the news?

SEAT has announced pricing for the all-new Leon five-door hatchback. The Golf's Iberian cousin will cost from £15,670 for a 1.2-litre TSI engine in S trim rising to £22,635 for an FR model with 2.0-litre TDI engine and DSG gearbox. Order books have already opened with first deliveries in March.

Exterior

The new Leon is built on the same modular MQB platform as the Mark 7 Volkswagen Golf but features a look inspired by the IBE, IBX and IBL concept cars of recent years. Shorter - but with a longer wheelbase - than the outgoing model the new Leon is the first car to wear SEAT's new badge and will boast full LED headlights, a feature that SEAT says makes it unique in class.

Interior

At launch three trim levels - S, SE and FR - will be available. All Leons will come equipped with air conditioning, twin halogen headlamps with electric adjustment, an MP3-compatible six-speaker CD player, Bluetooth and a colour touchscreen interface.

In addition, every new Leon comes with seven airbags, anti-lock braking, traction control, electronic stability control with emergency brake assist, active front head restraints, ISOFIX with Top Tether anchorage and remote central locking.

Mid-spec SE versions add luxuries such as a leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, chrome dashboard detailing, front fog lights with cornering function, cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels, SEAT's XDS electronic differential lock system and hill hold control.

Sporty FR derivatives add 17-inch alloy wheels, redesigned front and rear bumpers, twin chrome exhaust pipes, dark tinted windows, front sports seats, a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, LED tail lights and sports suspension.

Leon buyers can choose from a comprehensive options list, including 18-inch alloy wheels, full leather upholstery, satellite navigation, SEAT Sound System (including a boot-mounted sub-woofer), rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers and light sensing headlamps.

Mechanicals

Five engine options - three petrol and two diesel - will be available from launch. All feature stop-start and energy recovery systems to boost their green credentials. The real 'greeny' though will be the 105hp 1.6 TDI model that can return 74.3mpg and 99g/km, while at the other end of the scale the 184hp 2.0-litre TDI variant offers 65.7mpg, with 112g/km CO₂ and a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds.

On the petrol front 1.2-, 1.4- and 1.8-litre TSI engines are available with power ranging from the sedate 105hp to the brisk 180hp of the 1.8 - the only engine in the line-up that exceeds 120g/km. All engines options are available with either a manual (six-speed for most of the range other than the 1.6 TDI fitted with a five-speed) or a seven-speed DSG automatic.

Anything else?

A three-door coupé version of the Leon is expected to be unveiled at next year's Geneva Motor Show with a ST estate model to follow sometime in 2013 also.