Category Archives: Family hatchback

Family hatchback, Motoring, Peugeot, Saloon

Peugeot 408

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The striking profile of the Peugeot 408 attracted plenty of attention

Striking looks and road presence

By Bill McCarthy

Finding a stylish and technologically advanced car that turns heads is a challenge. Many cars lack the features and designs that make a true statement on the road. 

Peugeot’s dramatically styled 408 had the very unusual event of someone following me into a car park after seeing it drive past.

Convinced by the dark livery and fusion of SUV and fastback that it was the Lamborghini Urus.

You could see his point . . . to a point!

It is a dramatic makeover, sleeker and more aerodynamic.

Plus, the longer and lower dimensions of the car give it a dynamic and aerodynamic shape that exudes confidence on the road. 

Its blend of SUV and fastback elements, combined with its sleek and aerodynamic makeover, certainly contribute to its eye-catching presence on the road.

It offers a balance of stylish design, advanced technology, and decent performance. Its combination of SUV and fastback elements, along with the upgraded interior and safety features, definitely turns heads and makes a statement on the road.

Exterior

  • Dramatic and aerodynamic design with a fusion of SUV and fastback styling.
  • Long and low dimensions for a dynamic appearance.
  • Deep front grille and daytime running lights integrated into the front light clusters.
  • Impressive rear design with cat’s claw style LED rear lamps.
  • Lower bumper gloss black trim and twin chrome exhaust surrounds.
  • Tinted rear glass and smart new alloys enhancing its appearance.

Interior

  • Next-generation i-Cockpit interior with a compact multi-function steering wheel.
  • High-quality fixtures and fittings with logically placed controls and switchgear.
  • Standard features like a 180-degree Colour Reversing Camera, rear parking sensors, Advanced Emergency Braking, and Extended Traffic Sign Recognition.
  • Latest 10-inch touchscreen with the i-Connect infotainment system, activated by voice commands.
  • Navigation with TomTom Live updates, speed camera alerts, and i-Toggle feature for personalized shortcuts.

Performance and Handling:

  • 130bhp three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.
  • 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds, max speed of 130mph.
  • Eight-speed automatic transmission with seamless shifts.
  • Eco, Normal, and Sport drive modes for different driving preferences.
  • Good handling and comfortable ride with effective suspension.

Practicality:

  • Competitive boot space of 536 litres, expanding to 1,611 litres with rear seats folded.
  • Safety features include stability control, airbags, active safety brake with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane assist, programmable cruise control, and driver attention alert.

Factfile

  • Peugeot 408 Allure Premium 1.2L PureTechPrice: £32,200
  • Engine: 130PS, 1199cc three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine
  • Max Speed: 130mph
  • 0-62mph: 10.4 seconds
  • Combined MPG: 41-48
  • Insurance Group: 19E
  • CO2 emissions: 129g/km
  • BIK rating: 30%
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles

Family hatchback, Motoring, SEAT

Sporty Leon has punch and panache

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SEAT Leon FR

Review by Bill McCarthy

SEAT has cemented its reputation as being the youthful arm of the VW empire by offering sporty styling, punchy engines and excellent handling.

But there is much more to it, their cars are economical and family friendly and are in fact great all-rounders offered at competitive prices.

The FR model is a great example of this with sharp angles and creases, sporty bumpers, dual exhaust pipes and matched with eye catching lighting designs,

Now in its fourth generation, the interior is particularly roomy, especially in the rear, with excellent head and legroom, It feels a pleasant environment aided by ambient lighting.

Stowage space is also excellent with plenty of storage areas and pockets to complement a decent boot area of 380 litres. Like all hatchbacks, this can be extended by folding the rear seats.

The layout is minimalist and largely dark plastic with the main focus a high-resolution 10.25-inch configurable driver instrument cluster and 10-inch infotainment system.

This includes In-car connectivity with Full Link including cloud-based functions and services like smartphone connectivity, which allows occupants to connect their mobile devices to the vehicle’s infotainment system.

This is complemented by a wraparound dashboard light that covers its entire width and continues through the doors. It’s not only an ambient decorative light, but it also provides a number of key functions such as blind spot detection.

Even the entry-level SE provides keyless start, LED headlight technology with automatic high beam, electric and heated side mirrors, electronic parking brake, cloth upholstery, leather steering wheel and gear stick, and SEAT Connect technology as standard.

This model adds goodies like 17-inch alloy wheels, upholstery stitching that matches the exterior colour, a leather multifunction steering wheel, three-zone air conditioning, wireless charging tray in the front and two USB points in the rear. In addition to the front two.

On the road, the 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine produces plenty of grunt, hitting 60mph in just under 10 seconds, but also delivering plenty of torque, so power is always on tap.

It is a refined unit that, mated with a six-speed manual box, provides a pleasant driving experience. The DSG automatic transmission is designed so that the gear selector is no longer mechanically connected to the gearbox, instead using electronic signals to indicate a shift. There are three driving modes, Eco, Normal and Sport, but in addition, the FR and FR Sport models offer a sliding scale of changes to adapt the car to their exact requirements.

Sitting 15mm lower to the ground the suspension set-up ensures the FR not only looks sportier, but delivers excellent handling characteristics with plenty of grip when leaning into corners. It really is a fun car to drive. The downside is that it can feel unsettled on some lesser road surfaces.

Economy is excellent with the mid-40s mpg comfortably achievable.

All SEATs are safe and the Leon offers the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) designed to see more of its surroundings and react to obstacles on the road or sudden movements by other drivers.

Factfile

SEAT Leon FR 130PS

Price: £25,545

Mechanical: 130PS, 1498cc four-cylinder turbo petrol engine driving front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 129mph

0-62mph: 9.4 seconds

Combined mpg: 46  (WLTP combined cycle)

Insurance group: 16

CO2 emissions: 130g/km

BiK rating: 29%

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles