SEAT Leon wins Scottish Estate Car Of The Year Award.

• SEAT Leon ST lands best ‘Estate’ gong at prestigious “SCOTY” Awards 2014
• Judges hail everything from Leon ST’s price, running costs and style to its driving experience and load-swallowing ability
• Third prestigious award for Leon ST in matter of months and only one year on from Leon SC 2.0 TDI 184 PS storming off with best ‘Diesel Car’ award at the same event
• Leon CUPRA 280 also Runner Up in hot hatch category

There will be a few weary SEAT souls north of the border this morning, after the sporty Spanish brand toasted success at the Scottish Car of the Year Awards overnight with a few wee drams.

At a glittering bash at the St. Andrew’s Hotel, the Barcelona-based firm’s new Leon ST (Sports Tourer) fended off fierce competition from the Honda Civic Tourer and Peugeot 308 SW to win the Estate category. In fact, it was quite a coup for the svelte load-lugger, triumphing on its debut, having only been in UK showrooms since January. Its potent Leon CUPRA 280 sibling also scooped Runner Up in the hot hatch category.

In fact, it’s going to need every inch of its cavernous 587-litre boot if its list of admirers keeps on growing at the current rate. It’s the Leon ST’s third coveted title within just a few months, having already found homes in the bulging trophy cabinet for Auto Express magazine’s ‘Best Estate 2014’ and Caravan Club’s ‘Towcar of the Year 2014’.

Introducing its stunning victory at the first time of asking, Alisdair Suttie, President of the ASMW (Association of Scottish Motoring Writers) commented, “The compact estate market has never been healthier and this was one of our hardest-to-pick categories. However, the winner’s blend of pace, space, excellent value for money and sharp styling made it an immediate front runner.  Throw in a wide range of engines and fantastic economy and it became impossible for our judging panel to overlook.”

Rounding off the plaudits for the high-selling Leon ST, the judges summed up its effortless victory on Scottish soil simply, “The SEAT Leon ST is not only well priced, but it’s a good looker too, while the most frugal models cost buttons to run. Its gigantic boot and fine road manners made it our judges’ favourite in a category which includes some tough opposition.”

Oh, how right they are too. With sparkling performance, enviable quality and kit levels, the Leon ST really puts the boot in with its keen pricing and affordable quality. Its prices start from £17,110 on-the-road, with the SCOTY award-winning FR 2.0 TDI 184 coming in at an extremely palatable £23,815.

One minute, the Leon ST FR is a comfortable motorway mile-eater and family car, the next it’s a bona fide hot hatch chaser. It can shift from zero to 62 mph in only 7.8 seconds before going on to hit 142mph. If you ever wanted it to, of course. Even more impressively though, its potent performance won’t punish you at the pumps. It’ll sip fuel at the rate of 65.7 miles per gallon on the combined cycle, and only emits 112 grams per kilometre of CO₂, meaning road tax is exactly zero in the first year and a measly £30 every year thereon.

It’s got plenty of kit too. Ranging from 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and SEAT Drive Profile which allows the driver to alter the car’s throttle and steering responses, right through to sportier front seats, suspension and front and rear styling touches.

Commenting on the company’s latest trophy, SEAT UK’s Head of Press & PR, Juliet Carrington, who collected the award at the glittering bash said, “We’re over the moon with our stunning Leon ST’s latest award. It’s on a real roll, winning car magazine group tests and racking up prestigious awards along the way. It’s clearly struck a chord with buyers up and down the country, as it’s selling at more than twice the rate we forecast. This latest award from the Association is a great early Christmas present for us, as well as our colleagues in Spain, and with a bit of luck, we’ll be celebrating a SCOTY hat-trick next year!”

Until the end of the year, SEAT is still offering its highly prized Technology Pack free on all new Leon range retail orders. The tempting package bundles striking full-LED headlights, satellite navigation and DAB digital radio, which would normally cost £1,930 if the items were bought separately. Which is likely to prove even more of a winner with the canny Scots.