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Renault Clio vs SEAT Leon comparison

Compare performance (158 HP vs 272 HP), boot space and price (17,100 £ vs 24,800 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Renault Clio or SEAT Leon?

Renault Clio vs SEAT Leon: Key differences

Renault Clio

4.7 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • significantly cheaper
  • somewhat lighter
details

SEAT Leon

4.4 (2 Reviews)
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  • clearly more power
  • considerably more efficient
  • barely quicker 0–100 km/h
  • a bit more trunk space
details

All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Clio

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Renault Clio is significantly cheaper – starting at 17,100 £ , while the SEAT Leon costs 24,800 £ . That’s a price difference of around 7,748 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the SEAT Leon uses 1.2 L/100km and is considerably more efficient than the Renault Clio with 4.1 L/100km. The difference is about 2.9 L/100km.

Leon

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the SEAT Leon offers clearly more power – delivering 272 HP compared to 158 HP. That’s roughly 114 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the SEAT Leon is barely quicker – completing the sprint in 7.7 s, while the Renault Clio takes 8.3 s. That’s about 0.6 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the SEAT Leon delivers substantially more torque with 360 Nm compared to 190 Nm. That’s about 170 Nm more.

Clio

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Renault Clio is somewhat lighter – 1,202 kg compared to 1,344 kg. The difference is around 142 kg.

Looking at boot space, the SEAT Leon offers a bit more boot space – 380 L compared to 327 L. That’s a difference of about 53 L.

When it comes to payload, the SEAT Leon carries a bit more – 521 kg compared to 463 kg. That’s a difference of about 58 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The SEAT Leon stands well ahead of its rival in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £24,800
Leon

SEAT Leon

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 116 - 272 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 1.2 - 5.5 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 133 km
details

Frequently compared as well

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Renault Clio
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Renault Clio
SEAT Leon

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is a smartly styled and practical compact hatch that feels at home in city traffic while offering a surprisingly refined ride. It pairs user-friendly tech and a comfortable interior with a reputation for being economical and easy to live with.

details
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r212188p
r212211p

Reviews Renault Clio

4.7 (1 Reviews)
rate
technoman
31 Mar 2026, 08:36:27

Having owned a clio now for the last 8 years we have found the 0.9ltr engine to work well both around town and on motorways . Averaging around 45mpg on mixed driving. The 3 cylinder engine has no cambelt to worry about . Interior has worked and worn well . No defects at all during owner ship BUT the striking red paintwork (metallic) is showing deterioration and is expensive to put right and this would be the only reason for dropping a star off the rating . There are two main services on the car an A and a B service. All they do on the A service is change the cabin filter and do the usual safety checks which costa around £120 the second B service is oil and filter change around £230 but at 36000 miles need air filter and brake fluid change which can add another £120

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): City / Short distance
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money

SEAT Leon

SEAT Leon pairs sharp, modern styling with a cabin that's sensible and slightly sporty, making it an appealing choice for buyers who want flair without fuss. It drives with eager composure and offers a neat balance of comfort and agility, so you get everyday usability with a wink of fun.

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Small-33980-LeonSEDynamic-MysteryBlue
Small-33989-LeonSEDynamic-MysteryBlue
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Small-35510-SEATLeonkeepsWhatCarAwardinthefamily

Reviews SEAT Leon

4.4 (2 Reviews)
rate
FaBio
4 Jan 2026, 21:30:20

Mechanically the car is fairly well built, apart from the rear axle.
The air conditioning is effective and visibility is good, while the FR setup paired with the 18" wheels, in my view, hurts comfort — getting in and out can be awkward. Once on board, though, the seats are very comfortable. The infotainment is comprehensive, with a generously sized screen and full-link smartphone connectivity; the factory sat-nav does what it can, but obviously Maps is superior in every way.
All in all, a fun/sporty car that also winks at family life thanks to a roomy boot and modest fuel consumption.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): Long-distance driver
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money

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Renault Clio
SEAT Leon

Costs and Consumption
Price
17,100 - 23,700 £
Price
24,800 - 36,800 £
Consumption L/100km
4.1 - 5.2 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
1.2 - 5.5 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
133 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
92 - 118 g/km
co2
28 - 126 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,202 - 1,316 kg
Curb weight
1,344 - 1,657 kg
Trunk capacity
301 - 327 L
Trunk capacity
270 - 380 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,768 mm
Width
1,799 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
453 - 463 kg
Payload
473 - 521 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol, Full Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic, Automatic Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
115 - 158 HP
Power HP
116 - 272 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.3 - 10.3 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
7.7 - 10.5 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
190 Nm
Torque
220 - 360 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
84 - 116 kW
Power kW
85 - 200 kW
Engine capacity
1,199 - 1,789 cm3
Engine capacity
1,498 - 1,968 cm3

General
Model Year
2026
Model Year
2,024 - 2,026
CO2 Efficiency Class
C, D, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, B
Brand
Renault
Brand
SEAT
What drivetrain options does the Renault Clio have?

The Renault Clio is available as Front-Wheel Drive.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.