SEAT Leon X-perience estate: tough family car

Price:£24,385 - £28,870

Pros: Rugged looks, well built, practical interior, cheap running costs for a four-wheel

Cons: Diesel engines can be noisy, interior could feel more special, mechanically identical to cheaper Skoda Octavia Scout

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4/5, Carbuyer "The SEAT Leon X-perience is the latest model in the growing class of tough family cars based on conventional estates. Its stiffest competition comes from within the Volkswagen Group (which owns

SEAT

) in the form of the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack and Skoda Octavia Scout. The SEAT copies their formula by raising the suspension of the Leon ST estate and adding grippy four-wheel drive. The X-perience's four-wheel-drive system means it can tow heavier loads than the regular Leon ST, while its raised suspension helps it tackle the ruts and bumps of a rough country track. In truth, many Leon X-periences will be bought on the strength of their rugged looks alone. Raising the ride height gives the model extra presence compared to other Leons (even the faster and cheaper Cupra), while some protective plastic cladding completes the tough image. Open the door and you’ll immediately notice the typical VW Group interior quality. To its credit, the SEAT boasts a healthy dose of Spanish flair in its dashboard layout, although there's very little to show that you’ve shelled out for the top-of-the-range model. A generous equipment list that includes climate control, rear parking sensors and all-round electric windows goes some way towards making up for this."

3.5, What Car? "The Seat Leon X-Perience is intended as a new flagship offshoot model in the highly successful Leon range, and also lays the groundwork for the planned arrival of Seat's first-ever SUV, due in 2016."

4/5, Auto Express "Extra ride height and four-wheel drive will attract buyers to the SEAT Leon X-Perience, but the price may turn them away."