The 2020 Seat Leon is the latest vehicle to fall victim to the moose test.
Essentially the Spanish version of the Mk8 VW Golf, the new Leon has a lot going for it, including a sharp and appealing design. Unfortunately, it gets a little hard to handle when forced to swerve quickly.
Automotive publication km77 was unable to complete the moose test at 73 km/h (45.3 mph) when driven in Normal mode. When driven at this speed, the hatchback understeered straight into the cones and couldn’t be controlled. In order to complete the test successfully, the publication had to switch the car into Sport mode and were able increase the speed up to 75 km/h (46.6 mph) but even then, the Leon didn’t perform flawlessly and also suffered from a lot of understeer.
Watch Also: 2020 Seat Leon Is A Nice All-Rounder, But Is It The Best In Its Class?
What’s particularly interesting about the result is that the previous-generation Leon completed the moose test at 77 km/h (47.8 mph) when driven by the same publication, powered by a 1.5-liter mild hybrid TSI engine and wearing identical 225/40 R18 Bridgestone Potenza tires.
While the new Leon may not be as easy to control at the limits as its predecessor, we have heard positive things about it in recent reviews.
The hatchback is offered in a number of forms. The range-topper comes in the shape of the new Cupra Leon that rocks a 2.0-liter TSI petrol engine available in three power levels. The entry-level model has 242 hp and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm), while the flagship Cupra Leon hatchback pumps out 296 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). Sitting atop the range is the Cupra Leon Wagon that has 306 hp and 295 lb-ft.