In association with MotorEasy
Car of the Year Awards 2024: Best family car for value
There are several types of family car, but here we’re looking at traditional hatchbacks: large enough to be practical, yet compact enough to be easy and enjoyable to drive...
Seat Leon 1.0 TSI 110 SE
With the prices of many new family cars heading up towards the £30k mark or beyond, there aren’t many left that are closer to £20k. The Seat Leon, though, is an exception.
It’s a smart choice if your budget doesn’t allow you to consider a Toyota Corolla, especially if you stick with the Leon’s entry-level 109bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine, which packs plenty of punch and is respectably economical.
In entry-level SE trim, the Leon is cheaper to buy than an equivalent Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf, yet it’s surprisingly well equipped. It also has loads of space inside, plus a big boot, and it’s more fun to drive than most rivals, being agile and grippy even without the firm suspension you get with sporty FR trim.
When the refreshed Skoda Scala arrives, the Leon will face sterner competition, but right now it gives you more metal for your money than any other family car.
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