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By Justin Delaney We were fortunate enough to be in sunny Spain for the launch of the previous generation SEAT Leon but now with the world in the grips of a pandemic, we find ourselves closer to home for the launch of the exciting fourth generation Leon. Hot on the heels of the new Golf 8 here we have another car based on the same underpinnings (MQB Evo platform) but with a much more striking design. The Leon looks bigger at 4,368mm long (+86mm) and slightly lower at 1,456mm high (-3mm) over its predecessor. This increased wheelbase of 2,686mm, which equates to 50mm more, gives occupants a larger interior space. There is ample room even in the back for longer journeys but it's what you get for your money overall that really makes the new Leon a must consider machine. Features From standard buyers will pick up the new Leon with a plethora of features such as 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch media system and SEAT Connect. You also get adaptive cruise control, light assist, and fatigue detection, which we are not sure anyone pays attention to. The Xcellence and FR trim levels offer customers even more additional features as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels on the Xcellence spec and glorious 18-inch alloy wheels on FR which is the car we had on test. In these trim specifications you also get a full digital cockpit, full LED lights, sweeping rear lights or ‘Coast to coast” as they are called, wrap around interior lighting, and more tech than you can imagine. Power The SEAT Leon has always had a decent choice of engines no doubt because of its VW partnership and this new model is no different. Five engine options provide decent choice kicking off with two petrol engine choices in the 1.0 TSI 110hp and a 1.5 TSI 150hp. Diesel lovers are catered for also with the strong 2.0 TDI 115hp and a 2.0 TDI 150hp DSG. A new offering for SEAT will be the addition of the mild hybrid electric vehicle available in a 1.5 eTSI 150 DSG. Our FR test vehicle had the 150hp 2.0 TDI and it pulled like a freight train. Is it the best engine in the bunch? Well, it depends on your usage really. If you plan on big motorway miles then we would recommend the diesel option but if your daily round trip is below 150 kilometers, the petrol variants are more than enough. Safety SEAT haven’t been known to scrimp in the safety department and this all new Leon is widely regarded as the safest vehicle the brand has ever developed. With the integration of a state-of-the-art suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) their aim was simple! Lets not just protect passengers from potential accidents, but also to prevent accidents actually happening in the first place. This works by keeping the vehicle safety systems always alert and monitoring the car’s route with data gathered by a camera along with ultrasonic and radar sensors. This means the new SEAT Leon can react when facing obstacles on the road or sudden movements of other drivers. It will activate driver assistance when necessary, alerting drivers to a dangerous situation to help minimise the risk of an accident. This means that predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Assist, and Side and Exit Assist, are all combined to protect the Leon and passengers 100% of the time. Costs This is where SEAT usually shines through and yes the new Leon kicking off at just €23,910 for the petrol is a competitive offer. PCP Finance coming in at 2.9% across the new Leon range is also available meaning you could have a new Leon for as little as €239 per month. Diesel prices kick off at €26,040 and customers can also avail of a discounted 3-year service plan for only €9.99 per month. Summary We think it's safe to say the new SEAT Leon is the most advanced vehicle in the history of the brand. It’s evident in the cutting-edge design and interior. We spent a week with two different variants one of which, we reviewed for the YouTube channel and the other FR version we had here. Both cars impressed immensely and beg the question why would you opt for the more expensive Golf when your money goes a little further with SEAT. Yes the touch displays take a little getting used to and some of the driver assist functions might be a little intrusive but over all it’s a very good drive. It’s not hard to see why the SEAT Leon remains a core model for the brand in the Irish market when they put so much effort in to the design and build. Others have forgotten this sector in favor of putting all their efforts into their next crossover but thankfully SEAT still sees the value in the family hatchback and for this, we applaud them. For Safety Technology Ample Space Drive Against No short cut buttons Make up your own mind by browsing the SEAT Leon yourself here. About DoneDeal DoneDeal is for premium car deals to feel great about from Ireland’s local trusted Car Dealers. Employing people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal has quietly emerged as Ireland’s number one destination to buy and sell premium cars online. DoneDeal has onboarded Ireland's trusted car dealers to become the number one touchpoint for Irish consumers when buying premium cars. To put this in perspective, when scaled for Ireland, DoneDeal is comparable to AutoTrader in the UK. DoneDeal's central mission is to empower Irish consumers by removing all uncertainty when it comes to purchasing a car. The result has been the development of products and services that empower the Irish consumer, e.g., free basic history check on verified cars, in-depth history checks, warranty, and finance options. Buy Premium cars confidently with DoneDeal. #Motors

By Justin Delaney Believe it or not the original Mini, designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1959, was born out of the Suez crisis oil shortage and the demand for affordable motoring. It was a car that served incredibly well and would remain not just an icon but a very capable car right up until the last one was produced in 2000. Now under BMW ownership the MINI brand has taken on a new lease of life and has an incredibly strong following. Since the relaunch in 2001 many variants of the MINI have come to fruition but few have been as significant as the prospect of this completely electric version. The MINI Cooper SE is the second electrified MINI in the model line-up, joining the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid. These two models have proved extremely popular and currently account for 19% of worldwide-electrified MINI sales. A quarter of all UK MINI Countryman orders are now for the plug-in hybrid version and with the popularity of electric vehicles rising, its looking like next year, a third of MINI 3-Door Hatch models built at Plant Oxford is expected to be the fully-electric version. Features So is this new electric MINI as good as the Cooper S we all know and love so much? Well, to look at it, you would think its just yet another cool MINI but the tell tail smooth front grill, power-spoke low drag alloys and the yellow detailing hints at something different. Inside its almost identical to a regular MINI Cooper S but when you flick the start toggle, things begin to change. Gone is the rumble of the combustion engine in favour of complete silence or a faint electro-drone to warn pedestrians of its presence outside. When you sink the go pedal 100km/h comes up in just 7.3 seconds, which isn’t far off the petrol powered Cooper S pace and the wall of torque is evident. But how does it get through the bends and can it still be regarded as a hot hatch? Well thanks to the clever package of battery cells spread along underneath the car, the centre of gravity is 30mm lower and it certainly doesn’t feel the whopping 145kg weight gain over its petrol powered sibling. B roads are negotiated with ease and stopping using the one-pedal’ function adapted from the BMW i3 is addictive. When you lift off the accelerator the re-gen slows the car aggressively in an effort to harvest otherwise wasted power back into the battery. You find yourself rarely touching the actual brake pedal! Power The MINI Cooper SE is powered by a single 32kWh electric motor to the front wheels via an automatic gearbox. It produces 184bhp just like the 2.0-litre petrol-powered Cooper S but as mentioned the electric MINI is considerably heavier. With the 11kW cable you can achieve a full charge in about 3.5 hours or from empty to 80% in 2.5 hours. Now that our Irish charge network is improving you should try avail of a local fast-charge station that will take an empty battery to 80% capacity in just 35mins. According to the WLTP test cycle, the MINI Cooper SE is rated to achieve 234km on a single charge, but realistically with the odd spirted drive and not entirely city use, we got a shade over 170km before we needed to plug it in. Safety The MINI Cooper SE offers driver-assistance technology such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and rain-sensing windshield wipers and headlights. Back when this shape MINI was orininally crash tested in 2014 it scored four out of five stars awarded by EuroNCAP. It scored 79% for adult occupant protection, 73% for child protection, 66% for pedestrian protection and 66% in the safety assist category. A new shape would determine additional crash testing. Costs Buyers can choose between three trim options or ‘levels’ as they are known. Level 1 €27,764, Level 2 €30,405 and Level 3 €35,445, which was the vehicle we had on test. As expected each level adds more standard equipment like automatic air con, leatherette seats, larger wheels, parking assistance and the endless customisation options that MINI’s are famed for. Fitted as standard is a digital dashboard, Navigation including Real Time Traffic Information updates and front LED headlights. We can wholeheartedly recommend the Harmon Kardon sound system along with the 8.8-inch screen, which is now touch-sensitive as well as iDrive controlled that was fitted in our Level 3 spec car. Summary The MINI Cooper SE is one of 13 electrified vehicles the BMW Group currently offers across its brand portfolio. This will be increased to a total of 25 electrified models on the road by the end of 2023, with more than half of those models fully electric. For us the MINI Cooper SE will be one of the more exciting electric vehicles you will have to choose from. Yes it could benefit from a bigger battery to exploit a little more range but for urban dwellers, few electric cars offer this level of cool, at this price point. We think it takes the brand’s trademark go-kart handling into a new era of electrified driving and we would urge you to take a test drive. Be sure to check out our video car review below and you can check out the Mini Cooper S from Ireland's trusted Car Dealer's on DoneDeal here. About DoneDeal DoneDeal is for deals to feel great about from Ireland’s local trusted Car Dealers. Employing over 50 people in Ireland across Dublin and Wexford, DoneDeal has quietly emerged as Ireland’s number one destination to buy and sell premium cars online in Ireland. DoneDeal has onboarded Ireland's trusted car dealers to become the number one touchpoint for Irish consumers when buying premium cars. To put this in perspective, when scaled for Ireland, DoneDeal is comparable to AutoTrader in the UK. DoneDeal's central mission is to empower Irish consumers by removing all uncertainty when it comes to purchasing a car. The result has been the development of products and services that empower the Irish consumer, e.g., free basic history check on verified cars, in-depth history checks, warranty, and finance options. Buy Premium cars confidently with DoneDeal. #Motors

It’s now FREE to place your ad in these sections on DoneDeal: Clothes & Lifestyle, Baby & Kids, House & DIY, Sport & Leisure & Music & Education. These Freebie ads are exactly what they say they are – totally FREE so there’s nothing stopping you selling off  what you don’t want and try something new without breaking the bank! Everyday there are over 500,000 people searching DoneDeal for the kind of stuff you no longer want. No time like the present to clean out the playroom, wardrobe, shed, attic and sell the stuff you no longer want at no cost to you at all. So how do you get a Free Ad? From today, when you’re placing an Ad one of the above sections, you’ll be able to choose to place a Free Ad. You can place as many of these ads as you like so if you’ve a whole wardrobe of clothes you want to get rid of, or loads of toys the kids have grown out, you can place an ad for each item and not be charged a penny to sell them! Freebie Ads stay on the site for 30 days, plenty of time to get your things sold. You can still choose to place a Regular Ad in these sections for the usual €1 for 60 days, but now we’ve made that option even sweeter too and included a free scheduled bump to the top of the list! So what are you waiting for? Click here to see the full list sections which are FREE to advertise in and get your free ad on DoneDeal today 😉

DistilledSCH is honoured to announce that we have been named one of the best places to work in Ireland for 2019. What makes this recognition so special is that we have shot up nine places to sixth in the latest Great Place To Work Survey for medium-sized businesses. GPTW (Great Place To Work) is based on anonymous voluntary feedback from employees based in participating organisations and results are segmented according to the company size (Large, Medium, Small). Our staff ranked us highly in the following areas: Management Diversity Culture Wellbeing Innovation As a fast growing and dynamic company, Distilled SCH CEO and founder of Daft.ie Eamonn Fallon said he was very proud of the companies position and growth over the last twelve months: “It’s fantastic to see Distilled SCH climb nine places to sixth in the latest Great Place to Work survey. As our company continues to grow, we are very proud that we continue to evolve and improve our workplace and I’m delighted to see us recognised for all the hard work put in by all our staff. We are committed to making Distilled SCH a great place to work for all our staff.” At Distilled SCH, we believe our greatest assets are our employees. Here is what a few of them are saying about working at Distilled SCH: “I love working for Distilled SCH, the culture is second to none! I’m part of a group called the Distillers and we organise all company events. These events bring everyone together and it makes it such an enjoyable place to work” – Paula Tierney “There is something really special about being able to work across 3 of Ireland’s most iconic and loved home-grown brands. You get a firsthand experience of the positive impact we make in people’s lives all across Ireland every single day. It is such a great place to work, the company culture is really important and that is reflected in the employee benefits and amazing people that work here. You can expect to feel welcome, supported and truly valued in Distilled SCH” – Wiliam Tector “It’s great to work for a company that cares so much. Distilled SCH really cares about its customers. They truly care about their employees, which is clear from the culture, benefits and the emphasis on a healthy work/life balance. It’s a pleasure to work in a place where you can learn, be challenged and grow while working on products that really matter to a lot of people” – Raychel O’Connell Distilled SCH which has a combined workforce of 153 employees across three offices (Dublin, Wexford and Waterford) has been operating as a joint venture between Irish owned Distilled Media and Oslo based international media giant Schibsted Media Group since July 2015. Eamonn Fallon said: “Distilled SCH brings together three iconic Irish brands. DoneDeal – the number one destination to buy and sell cars in Ireland, Daft.ie – Ireland’s leading real estate website and app and Adverts.ie – a mobile-first platform for buying and selling goods and services.”

Ford leave nothing to the imagination and have exceeded expectations with the all-new Ford Focus. Current rivals to this sporty hatchback include the Peugeot 308, Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed and on the more premium end, the Volkswagen Golf. With a competitive starting price of €22,000, the Focus positioned itself exceptionally well to succeed in the Irish market. We got behind the wheel to take it on a test drive and for this particular review, we managed to get our hands on the top line Vignale model, which retails for around €33,000. View Ford Focus’s for sale on DoneDeal now. Unlike previous models, the Focus was manufactured with the intent to create a more spacious and stylish vehicle. Ford increased the boot size to 375 litres (which should comfortably fit approximately two to three suitcases) and in addition also improved the backseat head and legroom, giving passengers a more comfortable driving experience. Several storage spots exist throughout the car, including cupholders, door cards and a large glove box for everyday items. The car boot is also fitted with convenient hooks and tethering points to help hold loose objects in place. Each model also comes with a standard spare wheel situated under the flooring in the boot of the car. Front passengers are treated to lumbar support seating which comes as standard. The Focus is the only car in its class to offer this which can be a make or break feature for many car buyers in today’s market. This Vignale edition, however, also comes with electric seating for both driver and their front seat passenger. Fitted with the latest technology, the Focus has several USB points, a high-class touch screen that provides a smooth experience as users swipe across the different applications. The infotainment system includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto. A very slick addition to the Focus was the removal of the standard gear stick which was replaced with a console-mounted rotary gear shift dial, giving the car a more premium feel. Surprisingly, the visibility is quite good considering the car has a more sporty design, the low dashboard gives the driver an elevated experience. The vehicle comes with park assist technology for automatic parking, and the presence of a rear camera provides excellent assistance for those who still prefer the old-fashioned manual way. To conclude, Ford has impressed us with the upgrades they made to the Focus. This vehicle is a standout in a somewhat crowded hatchback market. Having set a new standard, we are excited to see how Ford further improves this impressive machine.

Dynamic yet practical, the V60 is a true Volvo interpretation of a family estate car. The V60 promises practicality as well as extended boot space for those who need extra storage space. Volvo’s ‘V Series’ is a collection of hatchbacks and estate vehicles, which offers an array of mainstream and premium cars. The V60 competes against the BMW 3-Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant and the Mercedes C-Class estate. The standard model is on the market at a starting price of €41,200. However, for this review, we got our hands on the Inscription. This top of the line spec retails from €46,440 and with all the added features it is definitely worth the investment. View Volvo V60’s for sale on DoneDeal now. A slick and convenient addition to the V60 is the automatic boot door that opens by swiping your foot in front of the sensor at the bottom of the car, perfect for when your hands are full. What makes this estate a family car is just how truly spacious it is. With an impressive boot capacity of 529 litres, the V60 has the best space compared to its rivals. If that’s not enough, the rear seats can fold forward, increasing the capacity to 1300 litres. From tethering points and a spare wheel to dividers for shopping bags, this vehicle has it all. The convenience pack upgrade includes a 12-volt socket and electric folding rear seats. This luxurious Swedish vehicle also has a ski hatch embedded in the centre back seat for those who have plans of driving to the slopes. The rear doors open to a full range to improve access and make it is effortless for families who will be using children’s car seats. It is also worth noting the Isofix points are easily accessible too. Overall the car is quite spacious at the back and can fit three passengers quite comfortably. However, the optional sunroof for the V60 does compromise headroom for the back seat passengers. Features inside the car include an armrest with cup holders, seat storage and even a three-pin socket with selected models. Both driver and front passenger are treated to a bright and luxurious experience. Unlike its rivals, the V60 comes with fully electric seats as standard. From the digital dashboard to the large front and centre infotainment system screen, this car comes with all the gadgets a car enthusiast would want when searching for their next vehicle. It’s worth mentioning that the V60’s infotainment system can be tricky to operate at times and does not come with Apple Car Play or Android Auto for the standard models. Volvo follows suit by providing the latest technology to support lane assist, accident avoidance and a rearview camera to help manoeuvre reversing in those tight spots. What separates the V60 from its competitors is its driving and handling. Designed to make urban driving a breeze, one of the first things you notice behind the wheel is how smooth it is to drive as it glides over the road, and how exceptionally light the steering is. A selection of engines are available for this vehicle; however, Volvo recommends the T5 petrol (230 bhp) accompanied by the 8-speed automatic gearbox. Although a great pairing, we couldn’t help but notice there was a slight lag between them, which was unfortunate. What makes the V60 desirable is its appeal to families by being practical for those everyday needs. From the stylish interior to its incredibly safe design, this great estate is an excellent option in today’s market.

A global leader in the motor market, Hyundai have witnessed substantial growth over the last number of years and are now following the small crossover craze with their new Hyundai Kona. We got to test drive the Kona 1 litre petrol to find out how this compact SUV performs on the road. The Kona currently competes against the Kia Stonic, Renault Captur and SEAT Arona. Priced slightly more expensive than its competitors, Kona’s standard model starts around €21,500. For this review, we managed to obtain the executive model, which starts from around €23,500 and in our opinion, is the best option among the Kona range. View Hyundai Kona’s for sales on DoneDeal now. With a boot capacity of 361 litres, the Kona ranks above average compared to its rivals. If that’s not enough, the rear seats can fold forward, increasing the capacity to 1,300 litres. Several tethering points can be found in the boot along with storage space under the false floor for valuable belongings. The compact crossover’s rear doors open to a full range, improving access and making it effortless for families who will be using children’s car seats. However, the Isofix points are awkwardly placed in the seat, making them difficult at times to use. The Kona provides a generous amount of head and legroom for passengers. Several storage spots exist, some of which include cup holders in the door cards and two additional storage points are located on the rear of both driver and passenger seats. Front seat passengers are treated to a more open and spacious surrounding; however, that is to be expected. As the Kona is weighted towards practicality and affordability over style, the overall interior is quite basic and takes away from its unique exterior design. In some higher spec, Kona’s coloured stitching is available to improve the interior. The touch screen infotainment system comes in five, seven or nine inches depending on the spec and has all the features you’d expect like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a sat nav. If buying the standard model, we would recommend upgrading to the seven inches as we believe it is a must-have. Other stand out features worthy of mentioning include its lane assist, which is nothing short of incredible. The 1 litre has an eager yet refined engine that makes it one of the more fun compact SUV’s to drive. The high mounted body gives excellent visibility of the road for drivers and has no problem driving over rough terrain. The petrol version is quite responsive, but its handle is not as advanced in comparison to the Arona. Overall we would recommend the Kona as it is a functional and safe car to drive. Equipped with some super features, it’s easy to understand why the Kona is a popular option for current car buyers.

Nearly four years after its original announcement, Aston Martin have unveiled their first all-electric car, the “Rapide E”, but only 155 will ever be produced. No price has been announced yet – but Aston Martin say the Rapide E will travel over 350 kilometres on a single charge and can go from 0 to 100km in under four seconds. The Rapide E will be built in South Wales, the same location where Aston Martin plans to build the all-electric vehicles for their Lagonda brand. The car was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this week. View Aston Martin’s on DoneDeal.

A test drive is a crucial part of the car buying process. On paper, a car may appear perfect for you but once you take it for a drive, you may feel entirely unconvinced. With this in mind, here are some tips to make the most out of your test driving experience. Research First When you visit a car dealership, you should already have researched what models of cars you’d like to test drive. It’s important to test drive the exact model and spec of car that you’re looking for as changes in engine size can greatly alter the feel of the car. Try to test drive your shortlist of cars on the same day so that you can make a clear comparison. You should also consider bringing a member of family or a friend with you to offer a second opinion and to point out features you may overlook. Exteriors and Interiors Although your first thought will be to hop in the car and start the ignition, it’s important to take a look at the interior and exterior of the car first. Is the car big enough to meet your needs? Are the primary controls laid out to suit your driving needs? Are the interiors finished to your required standard? It’s a good idea to create a checklist of some of the features which are important to you when buying a new car and take the list with you on the day of the test drive. Here are some new car safety features which you can keep a look out for. Before starting the car, you can ask the salesperson to go through these features with you. The Test Drive Spend a few minutes familiarising yourself with the car and adjusting the seat and mirrors to make sure you’re comfortable. When driving, take notice of some of the key features such as: Smooth acceleration Effective braking Fluid gear changes Clear visibility from the rear window and mirrors Electric features (bluetooth, air conditioning, sat nav, park assist etc) Easy to read gauges and display screens It’s always a good idea to try and take the car overnight so that you can test the car on different road surfaces and to inspect the lights at nighttime. If the car dealership doesn’t offer this option or the option of a test drive alone, make sure the salesperson doesn’t act as a distraction during your test drive. Don’t be pushed into a quick drive around the forecourt and don’t be afraid to ask for some quiet while you get a feel for the car. Take Your Time Even if you’ve decided that this is the car for you, it’s still worth taking some time to think it over. It’s also important to go through this process with the rest of the cars on your shortlist so that you can find the car best suited for your needs. When buying from a car dealership, remember that the salesperson is there to answer any questions or concerns you may have, so don’t be afraid of asking too many. Don’t hesitate to ask for a second test drive if you’re still not sure too. #CarBuyingAdvice #Motors