We compare the SEAT Leon with the latest Volkswagen Golf to find out the similarities and differences.
The Volkswagen Group is large and comprises a variety of manufacturers, from the more premium Lamborghini, Bentley and Porsche marques to more consumer-focussed brands such as Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, ŠKODA, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi. The group even has its own motorcycle brand, namely Ducati.
As can be expected within such an automotive group is the sharing of technology and platforms. This, of course, reduces development costs and, as such, the overall price of a vehicle on the market, making it more appealing to customers. Thus, it is no secret that for a lot of popular configurations, the brands above utilize the same platforms, other components and engines, but the latter is usually tuned to specific outputs based on the product positioning.
For a very short stint, SEAT made a local appearance, offering a variety of hatch models on the market. The Spanish automaker sold the Leon range, alongside some other ranges, locally from 2006, with the last of the hatch models, the Cupra, arriving in 2008. Subsequently, the marque exited as it didn’t sell enough vehicles to sustain itself locally.
However, the SEAT marque is still strong and selling vehicles in a variety of markets. One of those vehicle ranges remains the Leon and in 2020, the automaker launched the latest iteration globally.
Exterior
When comparing the exteriors of the Volkswagen Golf 8 and SEAT Leon, there is a stark difference in styling. While both the Golf and Leon take shape as a five-seat, four-door hatchback, where the Golf has a more rounded design language with distinctive stylistic choices that harks back to models of the past, the Leon is much sharper and has more triangular designs incorporated.
In fact, when looking at the SEAT Leon, it has more in common with Korean models such as the Hyundai i30, from a design point of view, than it does with its German sibling.
Interior
Once again, while there are buttons and trim items such as the door cards and handles that reveal it as a product that falls within the Volkswagen Group, the Leon distances itself from the Golf with a differently styled dashboard, steering wheel and seat upholstery. In terms of spaciousness, the Golf and the Leon offer similar volumes for both the front and rear occupants and are very similar in boot size too.
Engines
Locally, the Volkswagen Golf is offered in a single derivative, namely the GTI. However, the same model is made available in a variety of trims in global markets with a variety of powertrain options. The SEAT Leon follows suit as, depending on the trim level selected, customers gain access to a range of diesel, petrol and hybrid propulsion options, similar to those used in the Golf line-up globally.
Verdict
Upon closer inspection, it seems, the SEAT Leon shares more than just the MQB-evo platform with the Volkswagen Golf 8. In fact, much of the technology and even trim are shared across the two models. It really then comes down to the styling of the two hatchbacks. Locally, however, we don’t have an option between the two models anymore and customers will have to settle for the Golf 8 GTI.
Ryno FourieRyno started his career capturing press images of the latest and greatest vehicles which have subsequently adorned the covers and pages of prominent motoring titles locally and internationally. After a short stint as a photography lecturer, he once again joined the automotive industry as a sub-editor and photographer for a local publication, however, currently, you will find him spending most of his time in the studio creating written, video, and photography content as part of the AutoTrader content team.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Is a SEAT Leon the same as a Volkswagen Golf?