SEAT Leon e-Hybrid interior, dashboard & comfort
There's little in the way of interesting design inside the Leon hybrid, but it is high-quality, logically laid-out and well equipped throughout
SEAT has long drawn on its VW Group resources to offer high-quality and practical interiors, and the latest Leon continues that trend. While there isn't much evidence of the Spanish design flair the brand has emphasised in the past, everything is where you'd expect it to be, standard equipment is generous across the range and all the latest in-car technology is present and correct, so there's little to complain about inside the Leon e-Hybrid.
SEAT Leon e-Hybrid dashboard
As large screens become more and more prevalent in nearly every class of car, it has become a little harder for manufacturers to set their interiors apart from those of the competition. The Leon e-Hybrid is a case in point; its dashboard is functional rather than eye-catching, with plenty of crisp digital dials and screens to keep you fully up to speed, but little in the way of true design flair. The red stitching on our FR-spec test car lifted the mood somewhat, but only a little.
Equipment, options & accessories
The less well equipped SE and SE Dynamic trim levels aren't available with the e-Hybrid drivetrain, so plug-in Leon buyers come straight in at the sportily styled FR version. It boasts 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, three-zone climate control, a fully digital cockpit display and a 10-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation as standard.
Stepping up to FR Sport increases the wheel size to 18 inches, as well as adding heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Xcellence brings dynamic indicators, four USB-C ports and a rear-view camera, while the flagship Xcellence Lux gets leather seat trim, a powered tailgate and SEAT’s Safety and Driving Pack, which brings adaptive cruise control and a host of other driver-assistance and active safety systems.
Infotainment, apps & sat nav
The Leon's infotainment screen is well positioned, up high on the dashboard, and to use it’s pretty crisp and quick enough at responding to inputs. You might find that SEAT’s software takes a little getting used to, but there's always the option to use the standard-fit Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to mirror your smartphone's screen and apps in the car. Elsewhere, the digital instruments behind the steering wheel are also clear and easy to read, although the display panel itself looks a little small, as if the space was designed for larger conventional dials.
