What we’re looking for: The Seat Leon
SC and Kia Procee’d will need to drive as well as they look if they’re to win
this test
We’ve been mightily impressed with the new
Seat Leon in five-door form, but now there’s a sporty three-door version that
costs less and looks even better.
The new Kia Procee’d is another wannabe
coupé that’s based on an existing five-door hatch (the regular Cee’d), and
you’d be hard pushed to argue it isn’t Kia’s most striking effort to date. It’s
slightly pricier than the Leon, but comes with even more toys.
New
Kia Procee’d vs new Seat Leon SC - Who Makes The Best Sporty Hatch?
What are they like to drive?
Both cars look suitably sporty, but only
the Seat backs up its styling with a similarly sharp drive.
The range-topping FR model we’re testing
here has stiffer suspension than other Leons, so it changes direction quicker
and stays flatter through twists and turns. The steering feels precise and
weights up reassuringly as you turn the wheel, making a typical B-road an
absolute joy.
The drawback of stiff suspension is often a
crash ride, but this isn’t the case with the Leon. While you’re always aware of
bumps passing beneath the car, they’re immediately dealt with by the superb
damping; even the most scarred roads never cause the Leon to bounce around.
The Procee’d is completely different. Its
soft suspension makes for a decidedly wallow ride, so it’s actually slightly
better at soaking up bigger bumps, such as speed humps. Unfortunately, the
sloppy body control causes the car to pitch and sway along twisty and
undulating roads. The steering is also a let-down, because while it’s usefully
light at low speeds, it’s vague and doesn’t weight up consistently as you turn
in to corners.
Soft
suspension soak up bumps well, but the Kia isn't at all sharp to drive
Both cars have similar power, although
you’d never guess because of how much faster the Leon is. Its turbocharged
1.4-litre engine produces a whopping 50% more torque than the Kia’s naturally
aspirated 1.6, so you don’t need to work it anywhere near as hard to make rapid
progress. Even when you do thrash the Procee’d, it still loses ground to the
Leon at a rapid rate.
The Leon also has the sweeter gearshift and
is the quieter cruiser. True, the rakish door mirrors generate a bit of wind
noise at 70mph, but that’s not nearly as annoying as the din produced by the
Kia’s Hankook tires.
The
Leon FR strikes a brilliant balance between comfort and body control
What are they like inside?
Apart from a cheap-feeling plastic flap
that covers the cubbyhole at the base of the dashboard, the Leon’s cabin is
smart and classy. The uncluttered layout is easy to understand, too, and the
standard color touch-screen is well positioned at the top of the dashboard,
being easy to see at a glance. It can be tricky to hit the right area of the
screen while you’re on the move, but the software is quick to respond.
If anything, the Kia’s dashboard is even
simpler, because it features huge buttons that are easy to use. The
touch-screen system isn’t as good as the Leon’s, though, because there’s
sometimes a delay before it responds and the menus aren’t as well thought out.
Intuitive layout: Big nd clear
buttons on Kia's dashboard make it easy to use. Could be better: Seats
don't offer enough side support and don't contain any real leather
The Leon and the Procee’d both give the
driver plenty of space and a good range of adjustment. However, the Leon’s
seats are more supportive; they’re not only better at holding you in place
through corners, but also more comfortable on long journeys.
The front seats in both cars have a memory
function, meaning you don’t have to reset your driving position every time you
let someone into the back.
Whichever you choose, you’ll find there’s
enough space for six-footers in the back, although the Leon is best for the
exceptionally tall, thanks to the extra headroom on offer.
Good quality: Only a couple of
pieces of trim let down the Leon's cabin. It's mostly good. Easy to see:
Touch-screen is positioned high up on dash, close to your eye line
The Procee’d’s false boot floor provides
some useful extra storage and irons out the step in the floor that would
otherwise be left when the rear seats are folded. However, the Leon’s boot is
significantly longer and taller.
Will they break the bank?
Our Target Price shoppers couldn’t find a
discount on either car at the time of writing, which makes the Leon cheaper by
$622. Kia is offering early buyers a discount of $1,500, although there’s no
world on for how long.
Our
Target Price shoppers couldn’t find a discount on either car at the time of
writing, which makes the Leon cheaper by $622.
The Leon’s cost advantage is extended when
you factor in depreciation; the Seat is predicted to shed $3,000 less of its
initial value during the first three years. It’s also cheaper to tax and
service, while our True MPG tests prove it’s more economical.
In the Procee’d’s favor, it does come with
more standard equipment, including sat-nav and automatic lights and wipers.
However, Kia doesn’t include front parking sensors or genuine part-leather
seats, which are standard on the Seat.
In
the Procee’d’s favor, it does come with more standard equipment, including
sat-nav and automatic lights and wipers.
Both cars get alloy wheels, climate
control, cruise control, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and
a USB socket.
Our verdict
The Seat wraps up an easy win here. It’s
faster, more fun to drive and more practical, and when you consider it’s also
cheaper to buy and run, the margin of victory is anything but small. The Procee’d
isn’t a bad car, but it struggles to shine against such strong opposition.
Seat Leon SC 1.4 TSI 140 FR: 5/5
·
For: Brilliant ride and handling balance; more
rear space; fast; cheaper to own
·
Against: Stat-nav costs extra; interior could be
classier
·
Verdict: A brilliant warm hatchback
Kia Procee'd 1.6 GDi SE: 3/5
·
For: Lots of kit; comfortable low-speed ride;
stunning looks
·
Against: Sloppy handling; pricey; weak
residuals; rear visibility; inflexible engine
·
Verdict: Looks great, but thoroughly outclassed
