New Seat Leon receives five star NCAP rating

The European consumer protection agency Euro NCAP has classified the new SEAT Leon ST with its top five-star rating.

This means that the spacious and versatile estate is now rated at the same outstanding level as its sister model, the five-door Leon. Innovative safety systems multi-collision brake and lane-keeping assistant also received Euro NCAP Advanced rewards.

In accident safety for adult passengers, the Leon achieved 94 percent of the maximum points. The test program includes offset front impact, side impact by a vehicle and a post and rear impact. In the particularly highly rated area of child safety, the new Leon received 92 percent of the maximum points and top marks in the dynamic test with small-child dummies. Euro NCAP also made the positive observation that the passenger airbag can be deactivated to facilitate installation of a rearward-facing child seat, with the airbag status displayed to the driver.

Dr. Matthias Rabe accepted the certificates for the two Euro NCAP Advanced rewards at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. The lane-keeping assistant and the multi-collision brake were both commended as groundbreaking safety innovations.

The SEAT lane-keeping assistant uses a camera in the front windscreen to identify road markings and responds with corrective steering input should the vehicle threaten to leave the lane. The system is set up for motorways and trunk roads at speeds of more than 65 km/h. The SEAT multi-collision brake automatically slows the vehicle following a severe collision in order to dissipate residual kinetic energy. If the airbag is activated by the initial collision, the electronic stability control brakes the vehicle and switches on the hazard lights.