Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 198,870 currently licensed in the UK, the SEAT Leon is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Leon 5 stars in 2020, with 92% adult occupant and 88% child protection scores.
It has a 78.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,642 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £220/month or 33p/mile.
Theft risk is rated low at 3.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2020
MOT Pass Rate
78.8%
95,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£220
est. annual total
New From
£25,000
Euro NCAP tested the Leon in 2020 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
92%
Child Occupant
88%
Pedestrian
71%
Safety Assist
80%
There are 25 known DVSA recalls affecting the SEAT Leon. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/348
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Issue: The front airbag in your SEAT vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle. Immediate Action Required: Stop driving your vehicle immediately. Contact the SEAT Takata Stop Drive helpline at 0113 526 9646 (Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm) to arrange your recall service. Mobility assistance is available if needed.
Build dates: 2009-12-18 to 2016-04-14
R/2024/285
On affected vehicles a deterioration of the driver airbag propellant could occur. In the event of an accident and the activation of the driver airbag fragments of the generator housing could become detached and injure the vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2012-09-26 to 2012-11-20
R/2024/160
On affected vehicles a deterioration of the driver airbag propellant could occur. In the event of an accident and the activation of the driver airbag fragments of the generator housing could become detached and injure the vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2009-11-23 to 2011-04-28
R/2024/026
On certain vehicles with electromechanical brake servo and DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) of a limited production period there is a possibility that a heat protection mat was incorrectly fitted. In individual cases the brake fluid reservoir can melt and cause a brake fluid leak into the engine compartment.
Build dates: 2020-10-22 to 2022-03-30
R/2023/294
In certain vehicles within a range of specified VINs it has been detected that an engine support that did not receive the correct heat treatment may have been fitted.�
Build dates: 2023-07-27 to 2023-08-07
+ 20 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 95,000 MOT tests, the Leon has a first-time pass rate of 78.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Leon is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old SEAT Leon are estimated at around £2,642 per year, or £220 per month.
Fuel
£1,008
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£909
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Leon achieves a combined fuel economy of around 52.3 mpg (43.5 mpg urban, 60.1 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEON | PETROL | 52.3 mpg | 1.2L |
| LEON | PETROL | 42.8 mpg | 1.3L |
| LEON | PETROL | 44.8 mpg | 1.4L |
| LEON | PETROL | 36.7 mpg | 1.6L |
| LEON | DIESEL | 60.1 mpg | 1.6L |
| LEON | PETROL | 39.8 mpg | 1.6L |
| LEON | PETROL | 33.2 mpg | 1.8L |
| LEON | DIESEL | 53.3 mpg | 1.9L |
Starting from £25,000 new, a SEAT Leon typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 68% | £16,900 | −£8,100 |
| 2 years | 57% | £14,350 | −£10,650 |
| 3 years | 50% | £12,600 | −£12,400 |
| 4 years | 45% | £11,350 | −£13,650 |
| 5 years | 42% | £10,450 | −£14,550 |
| 6 years | 39% | £9,700 | −£15,300 |
| 7 years | 37% | £9,150 | −£15,850 |
| 8 years | 35% | £8,700 | −£16,300 |
| 9 years | 33% | £8,250 | −£16,750 |
| 10 years | 31% | £7,850 | −£17,150 |
The Leon has a theft rate of 3.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 198,870 licensed and 14,975 SORN Leons in the UK (213,845 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Leon has a 78.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 95,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Leon 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2020. It scored 92% for adult occupant protection, 88% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road users, and 80% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Leon are estimated at around £2,642 per year (£220/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 25 known safety recalls affecting the Leon. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Leon has a theft rate of 3.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Leon starts from around £25,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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