The five-seat car has four-wheel drive and offers 30mm additional ground clearance over the ST - this means the driver gets a more commanding view of the road. More importantly, you get the ability to traverse rough ground or tackle a high kerb. So Leon X-Perience isn't just a cynical styling exercise: it can 'walk' the walk.
X-Perience has a two-tonne towing capacity (braked) and the traction needed to get a horsebox out of a wet field if needed. SEAT Ireland deserves credit for offering a very affordable removable tow hitch option that makes the Spanish machine a perfect companion for country living. Aftermarket tow bars can cause warranty problems, mainly due to wiring resistance issues and poor electrical connections that can corrode over time. Tow bar preparation is standard and done in the factory, so when the full job needs to be done, it's a doddle.
X-Perience features roof rails, new alloys, some smart body mouldings around the arches and side skirts, plus there are faux skid plates front and rear that combine to get you entry into the 'green welly' brigade. The price to go from an ST to an X-Perience is roughly an additional €5,000 (the hatchback to ST price-walk is circa €1,000).
On the road X-Perience feels weighty and quite solid. The elevated driving position is great around town but even better in the countryside, where it blends in with the well worn Defenders and Discoverys. X-Perience comes with a manual gearbox as standard, but for a few quid more you can treat yourself to a DSG automatic.
We took a DSG-equipped, four-wheel drive X-Perience for an extended test and its easy-going nature really suited the tough-looking estate. X-Perience gets the fifth-generation 'Haldex' four-wheel drive clutch system. There is a new control unit and a cheaper clutch pack. The system requires less maintenance with an oil change every three years. There are no buttons to press as the car simply works out for itself the best way to get traction. We did a bit of modest off-roading and the car took it in its stride.
The four-wheel drive system is clever and has some nice features like 'Trailer Detection'. Power comes from a two-litre TDi with 150hp in the manual four-wheel drive (€32,495) and 184hp in our DSG four-wheel drive (€35,495) test car. SEAT says a more affordable 1.6-litre is on the way in time for 152 registration.
SEAT is a tiny player in the Irish market but is growing at an impressive rate. As a member of the Volkswagen Group, it has access to the platforms and parts that feature in VWs, Skodas and Audis, to name a few. Apart from a sticking hazard warning switch on our test car, the build quality is good.
SEAT Ireland has a relatively modest 22-strong dealer network and until this number grows significantly the Spanish arm of VW will remain a minority player in the Irish market. In a full year SEAT Ireland says Leon X-Perience will make up about 6% of Leon sales; with ST accounting for 18%; the three-door SC 4% and 72% five-door machines.
X-Perience is a nice, traditional alternative to an SUV.
Michael Sheridan
