Seat León 1999–2006 car dimensions: 4184 mm long, 1742 mm wide and 1439 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,210 kg. Braked towing is 1,500 kg.
The cabin seats five with a light, airy feel and good head, leg and hip room. Front seats offer height, reach and rake adjustment, plus lumbar support on higher versions. Steering wheel adjusts for height and reach. Manual air conditioning is available, with Climatronic automatic climate control on upper grades. Cruise control appears on some later or higher trims. Optional navigation with a display screen is offered on Cupra models. Rain sensor is available. No advanced electronic driver aids such as emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane keep or cameras are fitted.
Boot space is 340 litres with seats up. Folding the split rear seats expands capacity to 656 litres. All-wheel-drive versions have a reduced 270-litre boot with seats up. A 12 V socket and luggage fixing points are provided.
Braked towing capacity reaches up to 1500 kg depending on engine, with unbraked limits around 600-650 kg. Payload is typically 445-520 kg. Sports suspension is fitted on Sport, FR and Cupra grades for firmer handling.
The cabin feels spacious and airy with quality materials on the upholstery, dashboard and side panels. It seats five comfortably with good head, leg and hip room. Front seats offer height, reach and rake adjustment, plus lumbar support on Cupra versions. The steering wheel adjusts for height and reach. Noise is low thanks to the aerodynamic body. Rear passengers get headphone sockets on some models. Climate control is manual or automatic Climatronic depending on trim.
Fuel tank holds 55 litres.
Oil change service every 15,000 km or 12 months.
Inspection service every 30,000 km or 12 months.
Four airbags standard: front and side.
ABS standard on all models.
Body fully galvanised with 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.
Fuel economy varies by engine. Petrol models range from around 32.8 mpg combined on the 1.4 to 32.8 mpg on the 1.8 turbo. Diesels achieve 53.3 to 54.3 mpg combined. The tank holds 55 litres across the range.
Servicing follows fixed intervals. Oil changes come every 15,000 km or yearly. Full inspections are due every 30,000 km or annually, whichever comes first. Brake fluid changes every two years.
Safety includes a rigid cage with crumple zones, side door bars and four airbags as standard. ABS is fitted to every car. Front belts have pretensioners. ESP and traction control appear on higher or later models. The first generation was not Euro NCAP tested but shares its platform with the Golf IV which scored four stars.
The fully galvanised body carries a 12-year anti-perforation warranty. Regular oil and filter changes keep the engines reliable. Suspension and gearboxes prove durable with proper care.
Length 4184 mm, Width 1742 mm, Height 1439 mm, Wheelbase 2513 mm (León 1999–2006)
Sources: manufacturer data, Wikipedia, auto-data.net and AutoCentrum, autoevolution.