ONE certainty about thecar industry is thatyou laugh at a badge at your peril, only the strong survive and they do not do that by being thebutt of jokes at Bernard Manning's club.
Many years ago while the Bob Monkhouse Skoda joke book was still a top seller I visited the new production line at Mlada Boleslav which was to flood Europe with high-grade Octavias and bring many thousands into the Volkswagen group's sphere of influence. It was the most advanced production facility in Europe. It was also the slowest.
Oh how we chuckled as a workforce which, under the Soviet heel, had been producing tractors for the five-year plan with woodworking tools, struggled to cope with basic robotics. We're not laughing now.
Around this time SEAT was an experienceyou enjoyed, or not, once a year on the Costa Bonka. Newly controlled by VW there was still no real indication of the youthful sporting nature the marque was to develop.
And there was certainly no hint that one day there would be a £28,000, 4x4 estate with all the trappings of much more expensive cars and the performance to satisfy all but the greediest of drivers.
So let's get off the pedalo and let's see if the two-litre 181bhp TDi automatic is a superior flamenco performance or Agadoo.
To mark it out from the standard Leon ST the X-Perience, and I am going to get fed up with writing that out soon so let's call it the XP, has a subtly raised undercarriage but still presents estate height driving rather than the down-your-nose crossover raised platform.
This and some rugged body styling hints as with its close relative the Octavia Scout, suggests a modicum of filed work capability. Which indeed the car has but think of it as a rambler rather than a mountain climber. It should find favour with towists and pony fanciers even if there is no tow bar as standard.
On the road there is even more to recommend the XP. A quiet, unfussed turbo diesel bladders the usual 0-62mph times by hitting take off in seven seconds. On top of that claimed mpg averages 57.6mpg. No chance of a siesta in this although tax at £110 is not something to lose sleep about.
This was the twin-clutch DSG which marries well with the performance and means you can play racing drivers around the lanes and back roads to your heart's delight. Should you take the fun option handing does not disappoint. Those planning to tow may prefer the less powerful 148bhp manual version, the hotter XP is only available as an auto.
Under less frisky condition the Leon is wonderfully smooth and comfortable with loads of space and the boot unaffected by the extra all-wheel-drive underwear.
Inside there is little difference to the standard ST. There are decent materials throughout and the fascia is somewhat understated as is the way when VW products are graded.
To set the X-Perience apart there are bespoke Alcantara seats with contrasting stitching. Centrepiece of the top-spec technology package is a touchscreen media system and sat nav. Loads of standard kit here, like cruise control, parking sensors and auto headlights and wipers.
Owners who don't actually plan to go off-road may want to stick with the standard ST and fit winter tyres. Personally I can't be bothered swapping wheels over every October only to find it is December before there is any hint that Britain is not a major wine producing country.
Some may prefer the Octavia Scout which in its most powerful manifestation is cheaper and has a bigger load space. A debate few of us would have expected to have way back when, battling to get on the plane in a sombrero carrying a bullfighting poster featuring the man from the Plenty advert.