SEAT Leon gets a tech overhaul, plus new hybrid system with 60-mile electric range

• Revised engine lineup
• New plug-in hybrid with over 60 miles of electric range
• Larger infotainment screen

The fourth-generation SEAT Leon recently hit its fourth birthday and to celebrate, the Spanish brand has treated it to a round of upgrades, including a revised engine lineup and a new infotainment setup. While the changes aren’t as comprehensive as the bold new exterior design recently applied to the Cupra Leon (the SEAT’s sporty twin) they go some way to make the SEAT a more compelling option in the family hatchback market.

What’s new for the 2024 SEAT Leon?

You won’t spot any changes to the outside of the Leon for this round of upgrades, besides a new pair of optional LED matrix headlights. Instead, the cabin has been treated to a new infotainment touchscreen, up from 8.25 inches to 10.4 inches. If that’s still not big enough for you, you can upgrade to a 12.9-inch unit to sit alongside the 10.25-inch digital driver’s display.

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Both the new screens have been lifted from the latest Volkswagen Golf, the car on which the Leon is based. You also get the Golf’s new illuminating volume and temperature sliders, which should be easier to use at night than the outgoing Leon’s controls.

The biggest changes, however, are reserved for under the bonnet. The entry-level 1.0-litre petrol engine has been discontinued, replaced instead by a 1.5-litre engine delivering 113bhp, although you still get the same six-speed manual gearbox. The same engine can be optioned as a mild hybrid (badged eTSI) with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

A new plug-in hybrid engine, known as the eHybrid, has joined the lineup for 2024. The system uses a 148bhp 1.5-litre engine alongside a 113bhp electric motor, working together to provide 201bhp to the Leon’s front wheels. Thanks to a large 19.7kWh battery, SEAT claims that the Leon eHybrid is good for over 62 miles of pure-electric driving – a figure that now matches its Cupra twin.

How much does the 2024 SEAT Leon cost?

There’s no word on UK pricing for the 2024 SEAT Leon yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it commands a small premium over the outgoing model, which starts from £22,515.

Why not read our list of the best family cars?