If you’re looking for something to carry the family, and a substantial quantity of luggage/shopping/furniture (delete as appropriate) but are one of those increasingly rare car-buyers who doesn’t want an SUV, then the Seat Leon ST might just be the car for you.

Balancing the need to create a practical, spacious vehicle with a desire to design one that’s also good-looking is never an easy one but, credit to Seat’s engineers, they’ve done a decent job with the ST. Even with the extended roofline and vertical tailgate it still manages to retain a good portion of the hatch’s sporting aesthetic.

Gallery1

There can be no complaints about the build quality of the passenger space, although I’d describe it as smart, rather than plush. Anything that driver and passengers are likely to come into contact with is of decent quality but, delve a little deeper, and there is some evidence of cost-cutting. There are some sharp edges around the seat bases and brittle-feeling plastics around the rear door handles, for example.

There’s plenty of flexibility in both driver’s seat and steering wheel positions so no one should have too much trouble finding a comfortable driving position. The ergonomics are faultless. All of the controls that you’ll be using regularly – heating, ventilation and infotainment – are all within easy reach.

There’s a multifunction display between the rev counter that, on higher-spec models, provides a range of information such as fuel range and average consumption while the infotainment screen is set high enough on the dash that you don’t have to divert your gaze too far from the road when you interact with it.

That screen measures eight inches, touch-controlled and reasonably bright and crisp. It includes a proximity sensor that detects a hand approaching and displays hidden on-screen buttons. It worked well during my time with the car, although the same can’t be said about the pinch to zoom function, which was a bit sluggish.

Full Link, which allows you to operate your smartphone’s apps from the touchscreen is standard on higher-level trims.

There’s plenty of space for a couple of tall adults in the front, with particularly generous head and legroom. There are plenty of cubbyholes too, including a storage compartment beneath the armrest, two cupholders between the seats and a decent-sized glovebox and door bins.

The rear will accommodate three, though adults will find it a bit of a squeeze. Head and legroom in the back is reasonable and only those blessed – or maybe cursed would be a better description – with exceptional height are likely to complain.

Boot capacity is 587 litres but the seats fold 60/40 to offer a bit more flexibility and, ultimately, increase that capacity to 1,620 litres.

If you’re buying an estate, perhaps performance and handling don’t figure too highly on your list of priorities but, if they do (and why shouldn’t they), the ST does a commendable job on both fronts.

The suspension is on the firm side, so body control is good and the car stays impressively flat through corners. The steering has a nice weight to it, and it’s precise too, so it’s easy to place the car accurately in bends but a little more feedback would be welcome.

The six-speed manual gearbox is slick.

That firm ride does compromise comfort a little, but it never becomes unbearable, even over the humps, bumps and potholes you’ll regularly encounter driving around town and on A roads. There’s quite a lot of road noise permeating the cabin so longer journeys aren’t quite as relaxing as they might be in, say, a Golf.

The four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine under the bonnet of my review car produces 130PS and it’s a very capable, reasonably efficient power unit. It’s sprightly and responsive around town and refined and relaxed at cruising speeds.

Equipment levels are generous, with even the entry-level S models getting air con, a five-inch infotainment system and Bluetooth handsfree calling and audio streaming. The FR trim that I reviewed adds the eight-inch multimedia screen, sat-nav, DAB radio, leather-bound steering wheel and gearknob and 17in alloy wheels among other treats.

The Leon’s interior doesn’t particularly shine and there are a few examples of cheap-feeling materials dotted around the cabin. Some might not relish the firm ride, preferring something a little more compliant to transport their family in, but for those who are happy to accept slightly compromised comfort, the Leon will reward you with competent, if not quite exhilarating, handling.

Seat Leon ST FR

Price: £22,515

As tested: £23,170

Engine: 1.5-litre TSI

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Max power: 130PS

Max torque: 200Nm @ 1,400- 4,000rpm

Max speed: 129mph

0-62mph: 9.5sec

Urban: 44.1mpg

Extra urban: 67.3mpg

Combined: 56.5mpg

Emissions (CO2): 113g/km

For more information visit www.seat.co.uk