SEAT Leon SC safety is looked after by an array of safety systems. These include Multi-Collision Brake, which is standard across the range. If you’re involved in a crash, the brakes are applied after the initial impact to prevent a further impact if the driver is unconscious, for example.

Also available is a Tiredness Recognition system, which keeps an eye on your steering inputs over the course of a long journey and activates a warning if they change in a manner which suggests you’re nodding off.

Optional packs include the ‘Safety Pack’ which includes an unfastened seatbelt warning for all passengers and the ‘Driver Assist Pack’. The latter includes High Beam Assist (which automatically dips the headlights to avoid dazzling other vehicles) and Lane Assist, which automatically adjusts the car’s line to keep it in lane if it detects that it’s wandering over a line without indicating. It takes its information from a video camera mounted behind the screen and is active from 40mph.

Seven airbags are standard – two front, two side, two head and a knee airbag – and ISOFIX child seat mounting points are integrated into the two outer rear seats.

The optional full-LED headlights include a motorway function, which lifts the beam at higher speeds automatically for a better view ahead.

SEAT Leon SC practicality isn’t vastly different from that of the regular Leon, despite the lower roofline, more reclined tailgate and shorter wheelbase.

The 380-litre boot area is unchanged from the five-door car and is the same size as the VW Golf and Audi A3 (with which the Leon shares many of its oily bits). Unlike the Golf and A3, however, an adjustable-height boot floor isn’t available.

Access to the rear seats is easy enough and unless you’re very tall the lower roofline doesn’t have much of an impact on headroom. Compared with the regular Leon there’s 10mm less for front passengers and 18mm less at the back.

The rear seats fold down easily and the boot tailgate features moulded hooks for hanging up lightweight bags or jackets when it’s open.