Lifestyle Leon is a sound X-Perience

If experience is the process of acquiring knowledge, or skills, through constantly working at something then SEAT may not have picked the most appropriate name for its flagship Leon model.

After all, the Spanish brand’s vehicle line-up isn’t exactly brimming with SUVs or mud-pluggers.

Being part of the Volkswagen group though means there’s more than enough expertise on tap to ensure that SEAT’s new halo model, the Leon X-Perience is the real deal.

Sure, there’s a slightly raised ride height and plenty of protective cladding on the lower bodywork, otherwise it doesn’t look too dissimilar to the regular Leon ST estate.

Heading off-road with the SEAT Leon X-Perience

Pitched in there as a niche model for the lifestyle market the X-Perience is a cracking piece of kit on a multitude of levels.

With a compact price range of £24,385 to £29,880, it is an all-wheel drive estate car that uses the same Haldex 4WD system found in the Audi Q3.

Beneath the bonnet is a choice of two 2.0-litre diesel engines developing 150PS, as in the case of the tested version, or 184PS.

If you want the more powerful of the pair then you are also obliged to have the brand’s semi-automatic DSG gearbox and top spec SE Technology trim.

Plenty of space in the SEAT Leon X-Perience

That said the lower powered unit offers ample punch, even when well laden, has an easy shift six-speed manual gearbox and can, officially, return 58.9 miles per gallon – decent by any standard.

When it comes to heading off-road, or ‘Experience the Geat Outdoors’ as SEAT calls it, we aren’t talking Land Rover or Jeep capability.

But muddy car parks, shallow river fords and dirt tracks through forestry pose few problems, the Leon feeling comfortably at home in such habitat.

The 4×4 set-up only kicks in when required, otherwise the X-Perience is front-wheel drive and also boasts Start/Stop.

As you would expect of a halo model the equipment list is comprehensive, the likes of black roof rails, colour touchscreen, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, climate control and twin tailpipes all included on the entry level SE model.

Go for upmarket SE Technology and there’s a lot more, including stuff like sat-nav, 18-inch machined alloys, Alcantara seats and a convenience pack.

Cabin style is classic Leon – simple and functional – there’s plenty of boot space and, best of all, a definite feelgood factor to the car.

The SEAT Leon X-Perience in action