IT'S the beginning of a new year and, as ever, a plethora of car makers are seemingly queuing up to tell us what a successful time they had in 2011. Of course, the PR people at multi-national brand names are past masters at applying a little bit of spin to give any set of figures a positive look. But SEAT really does seem to have something to boast about as it revealed the brand had sold more vehicles in the United Kingdom last year than in any one previously. A total of just over 36,000 new car registrations easily surpassed the previous best of 34,790 in 2007. And the annual Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures also showed an all-time record share of the British new car market at 1.86 per cent. That may seem a modest figure but represents steady progress for the Spanish firm and will undoubtedly go down well with its Volkswagen paymasters. Indeed, in just the same way as Skoda, SEAT’s fortunes have benefitted significantly from being absorbed into the VW family. Just like the Czech firm, SEAT provides cars with a compelling combination of VW technology but at prices much cheaper than their German-badged counterparts. A case in point is the Leon S Copa 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive. With a suspension lifted pretty much spring and bolt from the revered Golf, some slick Spanish styling and a miserly diesel engine this is a family hatchback with plenty to admire. The Ecomotive badge marks this version out as SEAT’s green machine, so you won’t be getting the excitement or performance of the headline-grabbing Cupra hot-hatch version. But the look is very sleek and easy on the eye nonetheless. The Leon takes many of it’s design cues from coupe styling so you get a steeply raked windscreen, sloping roofline, low-slung stance and rear spoiler. Even the nifty concealed rear door handlles help to emphaise the fluid lines. In addition the aero pack, exclusive to the Ecomotive model, is designed to reduce drag even more – specifically to boost the car’s economy. And it is this Leon’s penny-pinching performance which will undoubtedly enhance its appeal to families living with increasingly tight budgets. Aided by start/stop technology, energy recovery systems, low friction tyres and a gearshift indicator, the 1.6-litre diesel offers a potential 74.3 miles per gallon on average – although this must be weighed against the extra cost over unleaded at the pumps. Emissions of just 99g/km also mean exemption from road tax charges. It’s not the most refined diesel on the roads, though, getting pretty vocal at times. But that could well be a small price to pay for the cheap running costs. The aforementioned suspension has a slightly sportier set-up than in the Golf and provides good grip and agility but also makes for settled cruising on the motorway. Inside the Leon provides ample space for the family to stretch out on long trips. Leg and head room is plentiful in the front and back while the front sports seats are both comfortable and supportive. Interior materials are not overly plush but they do have a really solid feel and are bolted together well while there are some generous kit levels. All Leons have air conditioning, electric front windows and wing mirrors, an MP3 compatible CD system with aux-in socket, six airbags, ABS with traction control, emergency brake assistance and stability control programmes. The S Copa trim adds 16-inch alloys, front fog lights, multi-finction steering wheel, dual zone climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and front seat lumbar adjustment. And at this time of year the winter pack, a £320 option fitted to this car, includes such practical things as a headlight washer system and heated windscreen washer nozzles plus heated front seats – less practical, perhaps, but always a winner with Mrs Gibson. The package undeniably offers a lot of car for your money and, with strong residual values too, is likely to help see SEAT’s fortunes continuing to rise in 2012. FAST FACTS SEAT Leon S Copa 1.6 TDI CR Ecomotive Price: £17,880 Mechanical: 105ps, 1,598cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 118mph 0-62mph: 11.5 seconds Combined mpg: 74.3 Insurance group: 15 CO2 emissions: 99g/km BiK rating: 13% Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles | 
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