Seat Leon FR 2.0 TSI 2009 Pictures 
Playground Banter
Weighing up which hot hatch to buy reminds me of the trading cards you get in the playground. It’s all a bit fickle and juvenile but who really grows out of the need for competition and a stage to brag. Owning a face-lifted SEAT Leon 2.0-litre FR gives you just that.
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Just like dating a ‘fitty’ or donning the latest football kit gives rise to an Alfa Male struggle, so does driving a flashy hot hatch – only this time the contenders are more contrived. VW Golf GTi owners may be snide when trying to put you down in front of a group of girls; calling you cheap or a wannabe. Ford Focus ST-2 owners on the other hand may use figures to try and belittle your manhood but the cruxt of the matter is all three of them could hold claim to being the ‘best’ for different reasons.
The GTi’s major selling point is quality and precision whereas the ST-2 is all about raw performance, a loud exhaust and equally loud styling. The FR though, it could be argued is cooler than the GTi but still puts hairs on your chest when you floor it. In our opinion it’s in a clever position – you don’t have to spend all the cash you’ve saved up on it but it has all the impact to rouse an audience. It also assumes much of the Golf’s credibility due to family ties but has a completely unique identity. To a certain extend it is true that you get what you pay for and the GTi’s interior is noticeably more plush but still as you can see in the pictures there’s some nice styling touches in the FR.
The grip however and the seemingly uninterrupted stream of power seems very good value for money. Seat’s new electronic limited-slip differential mirrors the GTI in its ability to brake whichever driven wheel is losing traction and provides the torque to the wheel with grip. The system called XDS works in conjunction with ESP which all Leon’s now have and gives you that added bit of control when weather or road conditions let you down. We experienced both a bit of spray and grit on B-roads and the car didn’t even flinch – at least we didn’t feel it and that in our books is even better. Given the optional automatic DSG gearbox and 208bhp at our fingertips (196bhp in the previous model) we were eager to make use of some uninterrupted fun time and like all good hot hatches should it does turn you in to a bit of a show-off. The forces as they hit the pit of your stomach make you believe you are wearing a red leotard and blue tights but just like all super heroes things are all very controlled and civilised. The power in the Focus ST-2 on the other hand is more in-yer-face and exhilarating and yes as ‘boy racer’ as the bucket-style seats are in the Ford they do make the whole experience much more intense and authentic. However the Seat does have more panache and as long as you don’t go for some wild paint job you can get away with driving it to a grown-up place of work and disembark in the guise of Clark Kent.
Also in-keeping with having to live with it on a day to day basis are the alterations to the suspension. Surprisingly the springs are now 20 per cent softer and the anti-roll bar has also reduced its stiffness by 15%. That doesn’t mean you’re pregnant wife won’t be cursing you when you take her in to the labour ward (it’s no Bentley) but ordinarily it’s bareable. The 7mm reduction in ride height is also a plus especially when you get out on the rural roads and can meander your way down a scenic valley route with only yourself for company. The generous spread of torque (207lb ft from 1,700rpm right up to 5,200rpm) makes overtaking anyone who threatens to spoil your view a breeze and back in town the DSG automatic takes any effort out of stop-start traffic. In fact you could get very lazy and complacent if not for the annoyingly thick A-pillars which force you to triple-check when you pull out of a junction or change lanes on a motorway. The brakes also take some getting used to, they are extremely sensitive and effective which is great but will initially make you feel like a learner driver when you pull out of the showroom (unless someone has kindly pre-warned you).
Not many 17-year-old drivers will be fortunate enough to own a Leon FR however but the styling of it ensures it’s on all of their wish lists. The face-lifted version is difficult to distinguish from the previous model but then not a lot needed changing. The lights, grille and a smaller Seat badge are about the lot. On the inside there’s also a new steering wheel and an up-dated dash with a more high-tech five-inch touch screen.
Are all the tweaks enough to make us want to buy one though? Yes, we’d be quite happy driving it on a regular basis. We could overlook the visibility issues and the mediocre dash and the lack of bucket seats because the Seat pigeon-holes as middle of the road but cool rather than a hooligan or someone with little sense of adventure. Reputation and ego aside though, its engine has an incredible amount of what you want when you want it and you know it will always play ball around corners. It’s reasonable to buy and to run and unlike our playground days we don’t have to share and we don’t all have to agree.
FOR: Reasonable cost, availability of power, improved economy and street-cred
AGAINST: A-pillars are too thick, the interior doesn’t look as racy or as special as it could
VERDICT: This is a well calculated and well marketed offering; it defines more or less everything a hot hatch should be. If it’s not wild enough for you though, wait for the Cupra.
Seat Leon FR TSI Spec:
Engine: 2.0-litre
Maximum Power: 208bhp
Maximum Torque: 207 lb ft
0-62mph: 7.8 seconds
Top Speed: 145mph
Combined economy: 37.7 mpg
C02: 174 g/km
Price: £20,890
CAR MAKE & MODEL
Seat Leon FR 2.0 TSI 2009 Pictures
CAR REF NUMBER
26210
VIEWS: 516
TOTAL VIEWS: 3,692
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