The SEAT Leon has always been an appealingly sporty alternative to a Volkswagen Golf. It may have the same high-quality underpinnings, and share the same engines, but the Leon simply looks that bit racier, that bit faster against the clock. It has the everyday pizzazz lacking in a Golf and, over the years, has earned itself a loyal following as a result. Indeed, ownership satisfaction surveys show Leon drivers to be a very happy bunch particularly those who own the sharp-suited 2013-2020 car. This was the best Leon ever at launch, a real step on from its predecessor in terms of refinement, sophistication and overall quality. Buyers even had the option of LED headlights a world first in the family hatchback sector. The Leon was offered as a core five-door hatch, or a sportier three-door called Leon SC. There was also an estate, called Leon ST. All Leon of this era are well equipped, with standard air con, touchscreen infotainment, Bluetooth and electric door mirrors. The engines are good, too: 1.6 and 2.0 TDI diesels sold well but the petrols are equally strong, with the 1.4 TSI and later 1.5 TSI proving great all-rounders. Then there's the more focused driving dynamics of the Leon, which is crisper and more engaging, without going over the top (unless you choose the high-performance Cupra, that is).The SEAT Leon delivers a solid amount of outright practicality thanks to a spacious cabin and reasonable luggage capacity. Drivers of all sizes shouldn't have any problems getting into the front seats (although some may find the higher Arona or Ateca easier to climb into), plus storage space is ample. Note that all models apart from the entry-level SE benefit from an electronic handbrake instead of the older lever design, one of the benefits being an extra storage space between the driver and passenger.Despite its spacious interior, the Leon isn't much larger than its main rivals. In fact, it's shorter than the Ford Focus and Hyundai i30 (and a little bit narrower than the latter), meaning garages designed for 'average sized cars' shouldn't have any trouble accommodating the Leon. If things do get super-tight however, electrically folding mirrors are fitted as standard on FR models upwards. The thick C-pillars (behind the rear doors) could hamper visibility when reversing, so we'd recommend speccing the SE Dynamic trim or upwards in order to get the standard-fit front and rear parking sensors.