Replacement for Seat Leon ST
Discussion
Planning to change car in the next 6-9 months,
Currently driving a Seat Leon ST (estate) 1.4 petrol auto, 2017 model and owned for 4 years - it's been great with no issues, average over 45mpg, £35 tax and cheap insurance. Decent load space and nippy enough. Only real gripe is occasionally the android auto interface can have a wobble and I find the ride a little harsh, even on 17s.
Looking to the next car, partly as an itch to change, partly looking for a slightly softer ride. Considering cars 3-6 years old. Planning to keep the car for around 4 years before heading towards electric.
- Needs to have reasonable running costs, although I don't mind a moderate increase over the Seat
- Needs a softer ride
- Don't need lots of performance, although nothing significantly slower
- Should have a load space similar to or better than the Seat. I don't use all of it often, but the monthly tip run and giving lifts to 3 other adults once a week makes the extra space very handy
- Needs to have android auto/apple car play
- Good handling is nice to have but not a top priority, auto preferred
- Currently driving 12-15000 miles per year
- Budget 25-30k
Considerations so far:
- 3 series touring (320/30i)
- 4 series GC (420/30i)
- A4 Avant (TFSI 40)
- A5 Sportback (TFSI 40)
- Kia Stinger GT (3.3L), would have some warranty left but high fuel costs and 6 month servicing
Unsure what ride is like on the above 3 in comparison to the Seat, some cars with 18" wheels, most on 19" and a few with adaptive dampers
- C-class estate (C43), slightly older car for the money but more interesting, potentially pushing the limit on running costs
- 5 series touring (530d), slightly older car, nice interior, potentially a bit too big for my needs. Not sure if my mileage is a problem for diesel
- A6, too much glossy black plastic in the front - other concerns as above
Is anyone able to shed some light on the above options or come up with something I haven't thought of?
Currently driving a Seat Leon ST (estate) 1.4 petrol auto, 2017 model and owned for 4 years - it's been great with no issues, average over 45mpg, £35 tax and cheap insurance. Decent load space and nippy enough. Only real gripe is occasionally the android auto interface can have a wobble and I find the ride a little harsh, even on 17s.
Looking to the next car, partly as an itch to change, partly looking for a slightly softer ride. Considering cars 3-6 years old. Planning to keep the car for around 4 years before heading towards electric.
- Needs to have reasonable running costs, although I don't mind a moderate increase over the Seat
- Needs a softer ride
- Don't need lots of performance, although nothing significantly slower
- Should have a load space similar to or better than the Seat. I don't use all of it often, but the monthly tip run and giving lifts to 3 other adults once a week makes the extra space very handy
- Needs to have android auto/apple car play
- Good handling is nice to have but not a top priority, auto preferred
- Currently driving 12-15000 miles per year
- Budget 25-30k
Considerations so far:
- 3 series touring (320/30i)
- 4 series GC (420/30i)
- A4 Avant (TFSI 40)
- A5 Sportback (TFSI 40)
- Kia Stinger GT (3.3L), would have some warranty left but high fuel costs and 6 month servicing
Unsure what ride is like on the above 3 in comparison to the Seat, some cars with 18" wheels, most on 19" and a few with adaptive dampers
- C-class estate (C43), slightly older car for the money but more interesting, potentially pushing the limit on running costs
- 5 series touring (530d), slightly older car, nice interior, potentially a bit too big for my needs. Not sure if my mileage is a problem for diesel
- A6, too much glossy black plastic in the front - other concerns as above
Is anyone able to shed some light on the above options or come up with something I haven't thought of?
If a harsh ride is an issue don't buy a C43!
I would look at an A4 All Road, they hold their money really well, bit higher up but lovely ride, nicer than the conventional estate and usually far better equipped.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025032706...
Or, the 3 touring in non- M.sport trim, for smaller wheels and a pale headliner which makes the whole thing much nicer inside.
I would look at an A4 All Road, they hold their money really well, bit higher up but lovely ride, nicer than the conventional estate and usually far better equipped.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025032706...
Or, the 3 touring in non- M.sport trim, for smaller wheels and a pale headliner which makes the whole thing much nicer inside.
Brilliant, thanks for the input so far!
I do like the volvos although the powertrain may not be for me.
The A4 looks like it would be the best fit, although the allroad cars command a significant premium (perhaps rightly so)
I'll perhaps test drive a 3 series in non m-sport trim as well closer the time. Few non m-sports are 320s, unsure if a 318i would be underpowered. I find the seat has enough "go" and the numbers suggest the 318 is about .7/.8 of a second slower to 60. Might not be noticeable really given it's coupled to a zf8.
I do like the volvos although the powertrain may not be for me.
The A4 looks like it would be the best fit, although the allroad cars command a significant premium (perhaps rightly so)
I'll perhaps test drive a 3 series in non m-sport trim as well closer the time. Few non m-sports are 320s, unsure if a 318i would be underpowered. I find the seat has enough "go" and the numbers suggest the 318 is about .7/.8 of a second slower to 60. Might not be noticeable really given it's coupled to a zf8.
Dobberano said:
...and I find the ride a little harsh, even on 17s.
The lower powered cars had the cheap rear suspension that wasn't sophisticated. The higher powered Leons had the fully independent rear suspension that rode much better.I'm only making this point because higher quality suspension can give a good ride even with 18s or 19s, so don't rule out cars based on wheel size without testing them.
alock said:
The lower powered cars had the cheap rear suspension that wasn't sophisticated. The higher powered Leons had the fully independent rear suspension that rode much better.
I'm only making this point because higher quality suspension can give a good ride even with 18s or 19s, so don't rule out cars based on wheel size without testing them.
The above is very true & really should be considered.I'm only making this point because higher quality suspension can give a good ride even with 18s or 19s, so don't rule out cars based on wheel size without testing them.
What's your usage as your annual mileage puts you into diesel territory.
2.0t G70 Estate, you'll have a chunk of warranty left too:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505011...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505092...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503210...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504040...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505122...
These ride well, so for me are well worth a test drive.
Peugeot Sport 508 estate:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504301...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504281...
Facelift GT:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505042...
Allkure:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505021...
If a saloon can work then there's the even more plush G80:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505112...
Lexus ES300h:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503069...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504171...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504191...
alock said:
The lower powered cars had the cheap rear suspension that wasn't sophisticated. The higher powered Leons had the fully independent rear suspension that rode much better.
I'm only making this point because higher quality suspension can give a good ride even with 18s or 19s, so don't rule out cars based on wheel size without testing them.
This is a good point that I hadn't fully considered, the worst of the bumps do come from the rear of the car. Sounds like I need to test drive.I'm only making this point because higher quality suspension can give a good ride even with 18s or 19s, so don't rule out cars based on wheel size without testing them.
ZX10R NIN said:
What's your usage as your annual mileage puts you into diesel territory.
I commute in to work 3-4 days a week at 13 miles each way, mostly country roads. Twice a week 50+mile round trip for leisure. No kids or dogs - but transporting 3 adults reasonably comfortably is important as well as being able to do tip runs.I like the look of the G70 - some reviews mention unsettled ride, poor fuel consumption in the real world.
Quite keen on the Peugot tbh - although I can't charge at home at the moment (next house move will involve driveway parking, hence plans to go electric). The 1.6 petrol looks to have reasonable performance. Only downside is touchscreen based controls but I could see past that for the right price.
Not confident on saloons, I've just found the proper boot+opening useful too many times. If only.
I went through a similar hunt recently exclusively looking for an estate and settled on a V60 Cross Country. My mileage is lower than yours so I had a narrower focus of wanting a petrol which there are less of which made it harder to find one and generally sportier models, also had the requirements of ideally heated seats/screen/android auto and adaptive cruise which narrowed the list even more, especially with the German OEM's
Tried an S4 & A6 black edition and found the ride too hard/not that pleasant on both
Mercedes E43 similarly firm ride and bottom of the market at my budget scared me a bit in terms of maintenance/big bills
5 series was nice and you'll get more Tech but all the additional packs made it hard to find the right spec, i'd think a 3 series might be a bit pokey but depends if the amount of times you don't need the space is enough to warrant it, my FIL has a G20 3 series and it's very nice
Really liked the Superb we drove as a do it all car (large though)
Volvo V60/V90 + CC versions also really nice places to be and available with the kit i was after.
I've had a Leon ST previously and came from a Focus Estate which was a decent car. The focus was larger inside though we rarely had people in the back.
In the end the right V60 CC came up in the spec I wanted so i went for that and have been very happy with it so far.
Tried an S4 & A6 black edition and found the ride too hard/not that pleasant on both
Mercedes E43 similarly firm ride and bottom of the market at my budget scared me a bit in terms of maintenance/big bills
5 series was nice and you'll get more Tech but all the additional packs made it hard to find the right spec, i'd think a 3 series might be a bit pokey but depends if the amount of times you don't need the space is enough to warrant it, my FIL has a G20 3 series and it's very nice
Really liked the Superb we drove as a do it all car (large though)
Volvo V60/V90 + CC versions also really nice places to be and available with the kit i was after.
I've had a Leon ST previously and came from a Focus Estate which was a decent car. The focus was larger inside though we rarely had people in the back.
In the end the right V60 CC came up in the spec I wanted so i went for that and have been very happy with it so far.
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