Seat Leon SC, Honda Civic or Volvo C30?
In the first online episode of OpSearch Naar, three sporty coupés from the compact middle class shone on this podium: the Hyundai Veloster, the Peugeot RCZ and the Volkswagen Scirocco bit off the lead. But what if you have a family? With some effort, children can sit in the back of the above trio, but that will not go very well. That is why this time we again portray three sports enthusiasts from the C-segment, now focused on family transport.
We set off with about 10 mille and for that amount there is a lot of goodies for sporty family fathers and mothers. Contenders include the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, BMW 1 Series, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Seat Leon and Volvo C30. We pick three more. Our requirements: about 140 hp, a manual transmission and warranty, because you never know how ‘sporty’ the previous owner handled the occasion in question …
The Seat Leon SC: access may be a little more difficult, but once you’re there…
Seat Leon SC 1.4TSI FR Sport – 2014 – 185,678 kilometers – €9,885
With the first occasion, this Seat Leon, there are some doubts. On the one hand, it is an imported vehicle (since December 2018 in the Netherlands, since then it has had one owner) that has already covered quite a few kilometers, especially given the faultless technology from that time. On the other hand, the worst ailments were over in 2014 and it is offered by a well-known company. It is a pity that the advertised price means ‘take it with you’. Including Bovag warranty (plus maintenance and cleaning and fresh MOT) this is €10,900. And that it is a three-door? Well, the Leon is also available as a five-door hatchback and station wagon ST, also as FR! The beautiful appearance (color, sporty accents) convinces us to pay attention to the XG-146-N.
Leon SC is not just any three-door
The SC is not just a three-door Leon: the rear window is flatter, the side view is a lot more dynamic, the wheelbase is shorter and the roofline is slightly lower compared to its better relatives. Inside, the furniture (combination leather/alcantara) is slightly more sporty in cut. The dashboard should mainly have the FR steering wheel and clocks with hanging needles. It is a bit of a scramble to the back, but in terms of legroom you are certainly not wrong there, the headroom is just about there. The trunk measures 380 liters, the same as the five-door. So you don’t have to make many concessions with the SC. The shorter wheelbase makes for a more playful, nimble handling than the more practical Leons have to offer, but as a total package a Giulietta (Seat would one day become the Spanish Alfa Romeo) offers more sporty fun. Perhaps the dashboard is a bit too ordinary. The equipment is not: six-speed gearbox, heated front seats, electrically folding exterior mirrors and brake assist are some of the features present, plus two beautiful, real chutes! All in all, such a Leon SC is well worth a try. Note: five-door and ST offer more convenience, but less sportiness.
Signaling
Brand Seat
Type Leon SC 1.4TSI FR Sport
Construction year August 2014
Mileage 185,678
Asking price €9,885
Where to buy? Car company Zieleman, Nieuwleusen
Technical data
engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,395 cc, turbo
Max. assets 103 kW/140 hp at 4,500 rpm
max. couple 250 Nm at 1,500 rpm
Luggage room 380 l/nb
max. trailer braked 1,500 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 19.2
0-100km/h 8.1s
Top speed 211 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
The second Honda Civic with the spaceship-like appearance.
Honda Civic 1.8 Comfort – 2012 – 109,063 kilometers – €10,900
For the same amount, but including a one-year Bovag warranty, this Honda Civic is available at a Honda dealer. Two years older, but blessed with a lot less kilometers. Moreover, it looks like a three-door coupe, but it is a five-door hatchback, while its Magic Seats even give this occasion station wagon-like possibilities. And don’t be fooled by the name ‘Comfort’, because the Civic is an above-average sporty driving car. Here it is the excellent road holding and the tight-shifting six-speed gearbox that should ensure a faster beating heart, the engine is, despite the beautiful VTEC technology, of the old school. Atmospheric, therefore, and that means that extending far into the gears should keep the momentum going. And look at the difference between Civic and Leon in the maximum torque and the number of revolutions at which that maximum is reached! However, the power source does not shy away from high speeds: it is built for it and lasts a long time. Together with Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, Honda is even champion of high mileages at our Klokje Rond inspections! The supply of parts can be a thing, also in terms of price.
Compared to the first ‘ufo-Civic’, the sharpest edges have been removed from this successor, which makes it slightly more forgiving in terms of suspension comfort in daily practice. The furniture is satisfactory, but not everyone will be able to find a comfortable sitting position. Test sitting is the motto! Just like the Leon SC, the headroom in the back is not enough. Let’s look at the goodies, then the Civic must let its Spanish opponent go ahead. What you expect is there, but not much more. A tow bar is present: the Civic can pull 1,400 kilos. What remains is the taste-related appearance, also with regard to the layout of the dashboard. As if the designers went completely wild after all the good previous Civics while enjoying a good sake. So for the enthusiast!
The Honda Civic is a five-door.
Signaling
Brand Honda
Type Civic 1.8 Comfort
Construction year August 2012
Mileage 109.063
Asking price €10,900
Where to buy? Honda dealer De Bois, Amersfoort
Technical data
engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,798 cc
Max. assets 104 kW/142 hp at 6,500 rpm
Max. couple 174 Nm at 4,300 rpm
Luggage room 477 l/na
Max. trailer braked 1,400 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 17.2
0-100km/h 9.1s
Top speed 215 km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Volvo C30, always a three-door.
Volvo C30 2.0 R-Edition – 2011 – 112,818 kilometers – €9,900
Should it really stay within ten grand, as we had planned, then this Volvo C30 may be an option. It is the oldest of our trio, but like the Civic it has a modest mileage – especially for a Volvo! – which was driven together by two owners (the Civic also has two previous owners). In addition to this C30, the compact Volvo family consisted of the sedan S40 and the station wagon V50. Common is the chassis from the Ford Focus. That is promising! The C30 does not disappoint, but does not drive significantly different from its more practical brothers. In short: the Leon SC and the Civic drive sportier, while in the Swede, comfort ultimately predominates. Just take those fantastic leather-trimmed seats, both front and rear. Because, yes: it is a four-seater, just like the design predecessor 480. Because it inherited stylistic features from the 1800ES, we can definitely speak of a beautiful pedigree that – with significant intermediate phases – goes back to the 1960s!
The dashboards from this Volvo period are beautiful.
Practically speaking, the C30 of the three people portrayed carries the red lantern. See, for example, its modest luggage space. In terms of motor, the C30 does a ‘Civicje’: a fairly strong, unblown machine, good for 145 hp and 185 Nm. So here too pull through the gears to get the momentum going, which ensures a fairly spicy fuel consumption. Fortunately, the special appearance will probably ensure a small depreciation. We sometimes see this car become a real classic, something you cannot say about the Spanish and Japanese entries. Also almost classic is the beautiful, floating center console with its many buttons. And speaking of buttons; in terms of amenities, the Swede also resembles the Civic rather than the clearly more luxurious Leon.
Signaling
Brand Volvo
Type C30 2.0 R Edition
Construction year April 2011
Mileage 112,818
Asking price €9,900
Where to buy? Workshop Van Winsum, Kampen
Technical data
engine 4-cyl. in-line, 1,999 cc
Max. assets 107 kW/145 hp at 6,000 rpm
max. couple 185 Nm at 4,500 rpm
Luggage room 251 l/na
Max. trailer braked 1,350 kilograms
Avg. consumption 1 in 13.2
0-100km/h 9.4s
Top speed 210km/h
All data according to factory specifications
Which sporty C-segmenter suits you?
In summary: do you opt for the motor temperament of the experienced Leon SC, the sporty steering, switching and driving characteristics of the Civic or the special, neo-classical lines of the C30? Or rather an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, BMW 1 series, Ford Focus or Mazda 3? We are curious about your preference!
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl