Today was the Irish launch of SEAT’s first all-wheel drive car – the Leon X-Perience. The manufacturer opted to show off the capabilities of this new offering in the mountainous region of Macreddin, Co Wicklow - a perfect setting full of winding roads, hills and rough-enough terrain.
At first glance you would be forgiven for thinking this is just like a SEAT Leon ST, but keep looking and you’ll notice it has a bulkier appearance. The darkened wheel-arches, the bulkier front and rear bumpers, the tougher side skirts and mouldings, and the 30mm extra ground clearance give a more SUV-like stance to the Leon.
Over the last two years I have really grown to like what SEAT are offering in the Leon range. The Cupra is stunning, the Leon FR ST (Sports Tourer) is very impressive, and now the X-Perience is opening up a new market for the manufacturer.
When motor journalists go to launches like this it’s not unusual for a test drive to last less than half an hour. These events are intended to give us a taster as to what’s in store before we get to drive them for a week. Therefore, first impressions of the Leon X-Perience I’ve driven today are good. At first the steering feels a bit heavy, but when you bring it onto the twisting roads of the countryside you realise that it is well capable of motoring through bend after bend.
The Leon X-Perience is a unique car for SEAT as a brand. With this model they are tipping their toe into the SUV and 4WD market. Already they have plans to launch their “ASUV” in quarter 4 of 2016. With the X-Perience they are attempting to offer customers “the best of both worlds” for customers who want the feel of an estate car, but the capabilities of an SUV.
One major draw for some potential customers of this vehicle is the pulling power of the X-Perience. It can take an extra load of 2,000kg, which isn’t a bad figure when you consider that a Volkswagen Amarok takes 3,000kg. For customers who are planning to purchase this for pulling caravans, etc. the brand is also offering a tow pack as an optional extra which will cost you €560 including VAT.
Neil Dalton, Head of Marketing and Product, tells us that according to their statistics 81% of potential customers will be male. Based on the same information they think that the average age of purchasers will be 46.
Until July 2015 only two engines will be available with the X-Perience. The first of these two engines is a 2.0 TDI offering 150hp with a manual gearbox (€32,495). The second engine available is a 2.0TDI offering 184hp and a DSG gearbox (€35,495). Both models according to SEAT, offer combined fuel economy of 4.9 litres per 100km and both fall into tax band B1 (€270 per annum in road tax). In July they will introduce a 1.6TDi engine 2WD offering 110hp, and the estimated starting price of this should be close to €28,500.
The biggest challenge SEAT face at the moment is the perceptions people have of the brand. SIMI (Society for the Irish Motor Industry) figures for January show that the brand is certainly standing up to that challenge. Last month was an all-time record month for the manufacturer in Ireland. Sales figures show that they managed to register 828 new cars – which is 30% month on month growth in comparison to last year. At the moment they hold a 2.8% market share in the Irish car market.
John Cunningham, head of Aftersales for SEAT Ireland, said that to change perceptions towards the brand they will offer more care to customers. At the moment SEAT cars come with a standard-enough three year warranty (or 150,000km). They also offer a 3 year mobility offer in conjunction with the AA. The mobility offer will give customers roadside repair, puncture fixing, replacement car, etc. as you would get in an AA package.
Overall the X-Perience is an attractive package. It will be in competition with its very similar cousin, the Skoda Octavia Scout.
