2018 SEAT Leon 1.6L Diesel · A27 CDC

The 1.6 TDI diesel engine should return around 55-65 mpg in real-world driving, making it economical for high-mileage use — well-suited to this car's apparent purpose. Road tax falls in a low band for diesel cars of this era, typically £20-£30 per year after the first-year rate. Insurance sits in a moderate group for the Leon, generally affordable for most drivers.

At 109,723 miles, maintenance costs will be higher than for a lower-mileage example. Budget for timing belt replacement if not recently done (£400-£600), potential clutch and DMF work (£700-£1,200), and general wear items such as brakes, tyres, and suspension bushes. Diesel-specific items like EGR valves and DPFs can also become problematic on high-mileage examples. Estimated annual running cost is £1,200-£1,600 given the mileage profile, factoring fuel economy benefits against likely repair spend.

The MOT history for this vehicle is unusually clean — five consecutive passes with no advisories recorded across 77,781 miles of testing history. However, the model-level data identifies headlamp issues, brake disc wear, and coil spring failures as the most common MOT failure points for the SEAT Leon. Inspect headlamp condition and alignment carefully, as lens degradation is common on cars of this age. Check all brake discs for lipping and measure their thickness against minimum specification.

Coil spring breakage is a frequent Leon failure — visually check for uneven ride height, particularly at the rear, and listen for clonking over bumps. Also inspect the exhaust mounting, particularly the rear silencer, as corrosion-related failures are common on diesels that have covered significant mileage.

Given the diesel engine and high mileage, pay particular attention to the DPF (diesel particulate filter) — check for warning lights on the dashboard and confirm the car completes successful regeneration cycles on test drive. Inspect the turbocharger for excessive play or smoke, and check oil condition on the dipstick — black, gritty oil suggests inadequate service intervals. Finally, examine the underside for corrosion and check for any oil leaks from the sump, cam chain area, and turbo seals.