The action was reportedly taken after less than 50 units of the high-riding AWD compact estate were sold last year, Autocar reports, citing a spokesperson within the company.
Looking on Seat’s UK website confirms the demise of the Leon X-Perience, as the versions currently on sale are the three-door SC, five-door hatch, regular estate and the range-topping Cupra.
The most affordable is the five-door hatchback, which starts from £17,970 ($25,564), whereas the Cupra is at the opposite end, being priced from £29,600 ($42,108).
The similar Volkswagen Golf Alltrack didn’t do well either last year, as less than 100 cars were sold in the UK, but unlike the Leon, it remains on sale. Pricing for the 150PS (148hp) 2.0-liter diesel, with a six-speed manual and all-wheel drive, starts at £29,240 ($41,596), which makes it almost £5,000 ($7,113) more expensive than the former entry-level Seat Leon X-Perience.
Seat won’t be affected by axing the high-riding Leon, though, as now they have two crossovers in their lineup: the compact Ateca, which starts from £18,670 ($26,560), and the smaller Arona. The subcompact crossover has a starting price of £16,555 ($23,550), and goes against the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008, and Vauxhall/Opel Mokka.
A third Seat SUV, based on the same platform as the Skoda Kodiaq, is expected to go on sale this year. Its name remains unknown after the automaker delayed the announcement due to the Catalonia crisis last year, but the list was trimmed to four candidates: Alboran, Aranda, Avila and Tarraco.
The brand’s Nissan X-Trail rival is believed to be offered with seating for up to seven, and this could lead to the retirement of the Alhambra MPV, as SUVs are much more popular than people carriers.
