SEAT Leon takes the hotly contested Best Lower-Medium category award in the Fleet Awards

March 21, 2014: Prize handed over at prestigious Fleet News awards in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel Fleet News calls the Leon “bang on the fleet button”

The new SEAT Leon has taken the Best Lower-Medium Car prize at the annual Fleet News awards in London.

The award marks the Leon out as the most outstanding medium-sized family hatchback for fleet users, according to the Fleet News panel of experts.

Beating a host of very highly regarded hatchbacks, including the BMW 1 Series and the Volkswagen Golf, the Leon was praised by the panel for its alluring combination of quality, style and efficiency.

“The Leon is one of the great all-rounders in the sector with desirable looks, strong residual values and very low running costs. The new model represents a big leap forward compared to the old car. It’s bang on the fleet button with a range of body styles, good kerbside appeal and a quality interior,” enthused Stephen Briers, Fleet News Editor-in-Chief.

A delighted Peter McDonald, Head of Fleet & Business Sales for SEAT UK, added: “Winning the best medium-sized car category with Leon is a great accolade for our fleet team and the brand. It shows that the judges have great confidence in our product and the service our network provides.

“We’re seeing a significant growth in true fleet this year, with the latest figures for March showing we’re way ahead of 2013 already, which is a fantastic start to 2014.”

The SEAT Leon range was recently bolstered by the addition of the range-topping Cupra versions, which offer up to 280 PS from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, meaning every version hits the 62 mph benchmark in less than six seconds. Despite that, fuel consumption is 44.1 mpg combined for the most powerful 280 PS version equipped with a DSG automatic gearbox.

At the more efficiency-focussed and of the Leon spectrum there’s the Leon Ecomotive, which is available in three body styles – three-door SC, five-door hatchback and ST estate – and returns a staggering 85.6 mpg combined. Prices for the Leon range begin at £15,550.