SEAT Leon (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 184 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,236

£186/month

MOT Pass Rate

85%

Good

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 18-32

1984cc Petrol

Solid Option

85% pass rate, £2,236/year to run. Close to the average across all models.

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Petrol1984cc5 years old184 tests30k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1984cc)

~36 mpg

£1,631

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£350

Total per year£2,236

Per month£186/mo

Per week£43/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

85% MOT pass rate(Good)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. That's close to the average of 82% across all models in our data.

85% of MOT tests on SEAT Leons from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 184 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 29,531 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models3080th of 3,336(bottom 8%)

Rank among SEAT models181st of 310(bottom half)

vs average of all models+3%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average-7%(92% avg)

vs SEAT average+0%(85% avg)

Mileage Analysis

29,531

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 SEAT Leon had 29,531 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.

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Best Year to Buy?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2020 model has the highest MOT pass rate at 90%, while the 2006 model has the lowest at 74%. The 2021 scores 85%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.

SEAT Leon by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	85%	184	29,531 mi
2020	90%	13,840	38,299 mi
2019	88%	33,662	45,808 mi
2018	88%	37,787	53,378 mi
2017	88%	32,092	63,602 mi
2016	87%	28,078	72,877 mi
2015	86%	30,311	83,849 mi
2014	85%	33,359	93,735 mi
2013	83%	21,374	100,080 mi
2012	79%	16,909	108,558 mi
2011	78%	12,613	114,006 mi
2010	77%	11,322	120,467 mi
2009	77%	9,868	119,895 mi
2008	76%	9,717	124,433 mi
2007	75%	8,629	129,414 mi
2006	74%	5,613	129,640 mi
2005	76%	3,477	130,247 mi
2004	77%	2,724	136,378 mi
2003	76%	2,090	129,241 mi
2002	76%	1,025	126,696 mi
2001	75%	431	128,387 mi
2000	76%	92	108,063 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+7%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

+8%

MINI Cooper

2019 · 1499cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+7%

Hyundai Tucson

2019 · 1591cc Petrol

£1,853/year

90%

+5%

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About the 2021 SEAT Leon

The 2021 SEAT Leon is a family car. Our records list a 1984cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 184 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 8% of 2021 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 29,531 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, SEAT Leon owners cover more miles than the average driver.

2021 SEAT Leon Fuel Costs

The 1984cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,631 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 SEAT Leon?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,236 (£186/month), broken down as £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £350 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 85% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

SEAT Leon Reliability Trend

Newer SEAT Leons pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 9 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2021 SEAT Leon

At 5 years old, the SEAT Leon offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. If you're flexible on year, the 2020 model has the highest pass rate at 90%.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 SEAT Leon stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
SEAT Leon(2021)	85%	£1,631	£200	Grp 18-32	£2,236
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383
MINI Cooper(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383
Hyundai Tucson(2019)	90%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£383

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 SEAT Leon

Is the 2021 SEAT Leon reliable?

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. 85% of MOT tests on 2021 SEAT Leons ended in a pass, from 184 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 3 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 SEAT Leon cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,236 a year (£186 a month): £1,631 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £350 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 SEAT Leon?

85% of 184 MOT tests on the 2021 SEAT Leon ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 3080th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (bottom 8%).

Which year SEAT Leon has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2020 SEAT Leon has the highest MOT pass rate at 90% and the 2006 the lowest at 74%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 SEAT Leon?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 SEAT Leon is 29,531 miles, which is above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.