SEAT Leon E-Hybrid PHEV Estate: The Complete Guide For The UK

SEAT Leon E-Hybrid PHEV Estate
Price: £35,500
Type of electric vehicle: Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body type: Estate
Battery size: 12.8 kWh
Electric range (WLTP): 36 miles
Tailpipe emissions: 27g (CO2/km)


Overview


SEAT S.A. is Spain’s first family car manufacturer. The automotive company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Martorell, Spain. In 1986, SEAT was sold to the German automotive group, Volkswagen A.G.

SEAT offers a range of zero-emission electric mobility products, to include, the SEAT MO eScooter, SEAT MO eKickScooter and four-wheel electric vehicles. The company offers battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), to include:



Electric Cars: The Basics


For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:


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The SEAT Leon E-Hybrid PHEV Estate


The SEAT Leon, has been available since 1998. The plug-in hybrid variant has been available since 2009. In 2011, a revised hybrid variant was introduced. The fourth generation Leon was unveiled in 2020.

Looking for a spacious family car, with an affordable price tag and low running costs? Well, the SEAT Leon estate plug-in electric car is certainly an option worth considering. Despite the increased availability of family electric cars over the past three years, the introduction of estate electric cars has been relatively limited, for both the premium and non-premium badges.

The plug-in electric car has a 12.8 kWh onboard EV battery with a 36 miles certified WLTP range. Though the real-world EV range will be lower, possibly closer to 30 miles, the EV still has much to offer those keen to save money by driving on pure electric mode. Depending on the cost of charging, driving an electric car will cost between 5 pence and 10 pence per mile i.e. far cheaper compared to calling on the internal combustion engine (ICE).

The PHEV is not DC charging compatible (most PHEVs are not) and has a 3.6 kW onboard charger. Quite typical for a PHEV in this price segment. We discourage the use of a 3-PIN domestic plug for charging and encourage charging via a dedicated home EV charger. The PHEV can be fully charged in four hours.

Though the electric range is limited to 36 miles, most of us would not require much more for our daily needs. In fact, in the UK, the majority of motorists drive at an average 30 miles per day. So for all the shorter commutes to the school, high street, grocery store etc, driving on e-mode is a perfect fit!

Even, for those that drive to work, driving on electric mode works well, as the electric car can be charged at home and at work (workplace EV charging)! For those weekend getaways, the petrol engine can be utilised for the longer drives.

Bottom-line, if you are not driving electric, you are not saving money. Moreover, driving in e-mode also further improves the efficiency of the vehicle. SEAT claims the PHEV has a fuel economy up to 235.4 mpg. Real-world economy will certainly be lower, but substantially better compared to the conventional internal combustion (ICE) variant (48 mpg).

In terms of performance, the SEAT Leon EV delivers a decent experience. The 1.4 e-HYBRID petrol engine is paired with an electric motor. The plug-in electric car can achieve 0-62 mph in 7.7 seconds. The top speed of the EV is 137 mph. Certainly suitable for city and motorway driving. Of course, do keep in mind that the EV also benefits from instant torque.

Though the boot space has been reduced in size (470 L) to accommodate the onboard EV battery, the PHEV is family-friendly in terms of practicality, offering adequate interior space, legroom and headroom. The EV has a good level of equipment and depending on the trim, the following come as standard: park assist, keyless start, wireless phone charger, 8.25″ to 10″ touchscreen media system and more. The interior quality is in line with the price tag.

Due to its lower tailpipe emissions (27g CO2/km), company-car drivers can take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-8%) tax rate. The EV does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG). Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!



PROS CONS
A practical and familiar family car (value for money)Boot space reduced due to the onboard EV battery
Cheap to drive on electric range On board charger limited to 3.6 kW
Comfortable drive and performanceNot as refined as the Volvo PHEV estate

Gallery


The SEAT Leon E-Hybrid PHEV Estate (credit: SEAT)


At A Glance
EV Type:Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body Type:Estate
Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG):Not Available
Engine:Petrol-Electric
Available In UK:Yes

Variants (4 Options)
SEAT Leon E-Hybrid FR (from £35,500)
SEAT Leon E-Hybrid FR Sport (from £37,165)
SEAT Leon E-Hybrid XCELLENCE (from £37,525)
SEAT Leon E-Hybrid XCELLENCE LUX (from £39,125)

EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:Available in one battery size: 12.8 kWh
Charging:DC charging not available. On board charger: 3.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 4 hrs)
Charge Port:Type 2
EV Cable Type: Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:27g (CO2/km)
EV Battery Warranty:8 years or 100,000 miles

Average Cost Of Residential Charging
Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh £1.27
Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh£1.67
Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh£1.73
Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh£1.89
Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh£2.03
  • Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in the UK varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for the UK is 14.40 p/kWh.
  • Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.

Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
  • Note 1: SoC: state of charge

Dimensions
Height (mm):1448
Width (mm):1799
Length (mm):4642
Wheelbase (mm):2686
Turning Circle (m):10.5
Boot capacity (L):470

1.4 e-HYBRID DSG
EV Battery Capacity:12.8 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):36 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):19.4
Fuel Consumption (mpg):235.4
Charging: DC charging not available. On board charger: 3.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 4 hrs)
Top Speed:137 mph
0-62 mph:7.7 seconds
Electric Motor (kW):N/A
Max Power (PS):204
Torque (Nm): 350
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:5
Doors:5
Kerb Weight (kg):1,373
Colours:8
NCAP Safety Rating:Five-Star

While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.


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Author

Ashvin Suri

Ashvin has been involved with the renewables, energy efficiency and infrastructure sectors since 2006. He is passionate about the transition to a low-carbon economy and electric transportation. Ashvin commenced his career in 1994, working with US investment banks in New York. Post his MBA from the London Business School (1996-1998), he continued to work in investment banking at Flemings (London) and JPMorgan (London). His roles included corporate finance advisory, M&A and capital raising. He has been involved across diverse industry sectors, to include engineering, aerospace, oil & gas, airports and automotive across Asia and Europe. In 2010, he co-founded a solar development platform, for large scale ground and roof solar projects to include, the UK, Italy, Germany and France. He has also advised on various renewable energy (wind and solar) utility scale projects working with global institutional investors and independent power producers (IPP’s) in the renewable energy sector. He has also advised in key international markets like India, to include advising large-scale industrial and automotive group in India. Ashvin has also advised Indian Energy, an IPP backed by Guggenheim (a US$ 165 billion fund). He has also advised a US$ 2 billion, Singapore based group. Ashvin has also worked in the real estate and infrastructure sector, to including working with the Matrix Group (a US$ 4 billion property group in the UK) to launch one of the first few institutional real estate funds for the Indian real estate market. The fund was successfully launched with significant institutional support from the UK/ European markets. He has also advised on water infrastructure, to include advising a Swedish clean technology company in the water sector. He has also been involved with a number of early stage ventures.

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