| Week at the Wheel | SEAT Leon FR TDI DSG |

Inside & Out:

It may be based on the Golf but the SEAT Leon certainly got the looks in the Volkswagen Group family. The feline styling and sculpted sides make it vastly more attractive than virtually anything from the VW camp and the deep blue paintwork and gloss black wheels on the car you see in our pictures make it look truly tasty.

The cabin is well built and contains plenty of hard-wearing VW Group switchgear, but the fit and finish isn't quite up to Golf standards. You sit low in the clingy sports seats and FR logos on the bottom of the steering wheel, the gear knob and on the speedometer serve as a reminder that this Leon is warmer than usual, as does the red stitching on the steering wheel and the gear gaiter.

The interior could do with a little more drama though, and the mock aluminium piece of silver plastic on the bottom of the steering wheel is rather cheap and tacky.

Engine & Transmission:

The 168bhp turbodiesel engine delivers its power very abruptly and never feels short of poke. The engine hesitates at very low revs before the turbocharger kicks in and unleashes the 258lb.ft of torque, but after 1,500rpm or so it's free revving and very responsive. Expect 62mph in eight seconds dead (0.2 seconds faster than the standard manual car) and 133mph flat out.

The six-speed DSG gearbox suits the Leon's torquey engine well. Skoda and SEAT in particular seem very keen on fitting seven-speed DSG gearboxes to their TSFI petrol-engined models, but they often don't seem to need seven cogs and the transmissions can be fussy as a result.

In that respect, the Leon is a breath of fresh air, as it makes do with only six gears and the gearbox is much more settled. It's smooth and easygoing under normal conditions, but shifts gears effectively and quickly when driven fast.

Ride & Handling:

Meaty, responsive steering and a pliant ride are hallmarks of the Leon in any guise and there's no change here. The firmer set-up can be a bit of a bone shaker over rough surfaces, which is where pricier rivals like the Volkswagen Golf GTD outshine the Leon with their adaptive suspension. Either way, the SEAT is not short of grip, nor is it anything but easy to drive fast.

The brakes are extremely efficient and, if anything, a little too sharply modulated. They're great if you need to stop in a hurry, but a little too intense at low speed. You get used to this quickly enough and learn to ease the pedal accordingly.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

This is where the Leon makes the most sense, as it starts at almost £4,000 cheaper than the Volkswagen Golf GTD - which is nearly identical beneath the skin. Granted, you're looking at an extra £1,250 for the DSG 'box, but that's still loads cheaper than the Golf and there's always the manual option, which is perfectly good.

Fuel economy of 50.4mpg for a car with the Leon's performance is a blessing and you can expect 53.3mpg with the manual. The MPV-like proportions make it very practical too and there's more than enough standard kit like cruise and climate control, rear parking sensors and those tasty alloys.

Overall:

There's little not to like about the Leon FR TDI. It might not be the most raucous of performance cars, but it's certainly one of the easiest to live with. A handsome exterior, fun but frugal diesel engine and top practicality make it a fine all-round package.

The pricing is pretty attractive too, and if you need a sensible car yet long for something that can be entertaining when you feel the need, there's not much that can better the Leon FR.