It's the third model in the new Seat design line-up from Walter de'Silva and his team at the Technical Centre in Martorell, and sits into the taste stakes somewhere between the cutesy and cubic Altea and somewhat unwieldy Toledo.
Most importantly, the continuing emphasis on sporting kerb appeal means that it also stands between the youthful flush of a three-door hatch and fashion-stakes suicide of a big `n' bland dad's taxi.
The second generation of the Leon was first shown at the Barcelona motor show and hit the roads here just a few weeks ago.
Innovation, served up as a side order to cool, sporting design, is a big part of the appeal.
For instance, how often is it that the windscreen wipers - or apparent lack of windscreen wipers - is the first part of the car you see?
Or that the rear door handles are missing?
When you've worked out that the wipers are vertical - all the better to reduce wind noise - and that the door handles are hidden Alfa Romeo-style in a bubble within the rear windows - all the better to fox grandma - it's time to turn your attention to the Leon's delicious lines and curves.
As a chap in the car park observed without prompting, "it's a great looking car that new Leon, isn't it".
But there are flaws.
Disconcerting
As cool as it might be, I found the rear door handle system a little disconcerting. Flimsy even. And I'm sure that rings and watches will lead to a scratched glass bubble.
The second-to-top ranking Stylance interior also lets the overall package down - a sea of cheap plastic finishes detract from what is otherwise a nice drive.
The drab grey dash colour scheme is a particular Spanish fly in the ointment.
Similarly, in a world where even cheap mobile phones even benefit from Cinemascope-aping graphical interfaces, the liquid crystal display in the Leon looks a little dated apart from at night, when it has a nice red glow.
So while it looks good on the outside, the same can't be said of the interior.
It's a few slices of chorizo sausage bigger than its predecessor and that means that means there's decent space for passenger and driver, as well as a fair sized boot.
Importantly for a car which has always sold on the strength of its sporting appeal, the New Leon provides an engaging and entertaining drive.
The 1.9litre TDI diesel engine in the car I was driving has been updated for the New Leon - there are three petrol engines and two diesel engines available for the range.
While it's not one of the new engines available for this car, I still like it a lot.
In summing up, when compared to other cars from the VW Audi stable, it's more individualistic and cheaper than a Golf, and a lot more stylish than a Skoda.
And when compared to other cars, it's much more practical than a beaten old Fiesta and a sight less depressing than the prospect of admitting defeat and buying a Focus.
