I’M BEING accused of driving cars that are far too ‘hot’ for my years and image by family and friends.
That’s because just recently the cars on test have been of the sort that might just have suited me when I was a bit younger.
But I’m hearing nothing of it. Even if my passengers are starting to feel their years I’m not and a week behind the wheel of the latest hot hatch from the SEAT garage has just proved it.
And to make things worse the SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDi CR on test just happened to be in banana yellow – well Crono yellow to be exact - which meant that just about everyone who knew me made a point of remarking about the most recent vehicle on the drive.
Not that this little performer wouldn’t have caught they eye in any colour even if it is SEAT’s first common-rail diesel in hot hatch format.
SEAT have come up with a real performer that is not outside the price reach of the young racer and in diesel format at that.
Diesel might not be everyone’s choice of fuel for a hot hatchback but SEAT's Leon FR 2.0 TDI shows it can work. FR packs 170bhp and works well with the extremely stylish looks.
If you know anything about diesel you’ll know its torque not power that is the real key to performance which is why the 170bhp can produce a very impressive 350Nm of torque – and that let me tell you is impressive in most company.
This car is a performer, make absolutely no mistake. There’s 0-62mph sprint in 8.2 seconds and a comfortable 133mph top speed. And this Leon comes with the XDS electronic differential which mimics the action of a mechanical limited-slip differential to help it deploy its power more effectively.
The car is based on Volkswagen's fifth generation Golf and with additional curves thrown in and drives and handles very much like its better known cousin.
The FR TDI is available with the standard six-speed manual gearbox or the excellent six-speed DSG automatic with its wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The latest Leon has been revised slightly and the FR 2.0 TDI benefits from the full package of alterations. The rear window is larger to assist with rear visibility - the improvement is marginal though and reversing vision would be my greatest criticism.
The suspension has been made 20 per cent softer - even on the sporty FR models. ESP stability control is a welcome addition to the standard list.
Rear passenger space is impressive for such a small car and the tailgate opens wide to reveal an awkwardly shaped boot which failed the golf club test.
There’s always something that impresses you so much about a particular car that you cant stop boring people about it. In the case of the Leon it’s that the windscreen wipers park vertically into the pillars. This is a piece of brilliant technology, simple yet so effective.
It just about makes up for the size of the front pillars which proved particularly obstructive.
On the road price is £18,900, which includes road tax, three year or 60,000 warranty, 12 year body warranty and two year SEAT service mobility valid across Europe.
I like the FR styling kit comprising exclusive bumpers front and rear, 17" alloy wheels (with 18" versions as an option), sports seats, white instrumentation, twin stainless steel exhaust pipes, an FR-specific steering wheel and gearlever, plus a number of further FR logos inside and out.
The redesigned dash on the latest cars also incorporates iPod connectivity.
The car falls into insurance group 12E and on the combined cycle you can expect to return 53mpg, which is good value for a car of this performance with CO2 emissions of 139g/km.
The SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI CR is a tasty option. Few cars in this class can compete on combined performance and value. I won’t be ordering a yellow one though.