DEBATE is hotting up over EU suggestions of introducing technology into cars that will prevent drivers breaking speed limits.

While some express outrage at the loss of ‘freedom’, the simple truth is that most modern cars are absolutely rammed with systems that intervene to a greater or lesser extent.

And no car illustrates that better than SEAT’s first three-door Leon, the SC. Priced from under £15,500, the Leon SC is extremely well-equipped, with anti-lock braking, electronic stability control and tyre pressure monitoring fitted as standard to all models.

Move up to the test model in SE trim and along comes cruise control, hill-hold assist and front foglights that follow the road.

But it is the addition of some optional equipment that really underlines the advances being made in the family hatchback sector – and the number of driver roles that can be safely handed over to electronics.

A £100 ‘convenience’ pack adds rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights, and for another £295, a ‘driver assist’ pack switches the headlights from dip to main beam and back again.

The system, which uses a camera mounted on the rear view mirror housing, proved to be the slickest I have yet used and operates so seamlessly that you could trust it to get on with the job without any manual intervention.

Those optional headlights are pretty special in themselves as the Leon is the first family hatchback in the world to have full-LED headlights fitted.

The Audi R8 supercar was the first car to offer them as an option, but the Leon is the first to do so in an affordable class of car.

SEAT says they provide a light beam that is closer to natural daylight than any other type of headlamp, and they do so while using less power, which ultimately saves fuel.

SEAT says that LEDs are virtually maintenance-free and extremely durable, with a life of at least 10,000 hours — an eight-hour drive every single evening for about three-and-a-half years to give the lights that much use.

It also claims a possible safety advantage, because LED tail lights are two-hundredths of a second quicker to react than conventional bulbs, which might make the difference between being shunted from behind or not.

In addition, the headlights also feature a clever function that lifts the beam slightly at motorway speeds, giving an improved view of the road.

With a shorter wheelbase, a slightly lower roofline, a more sloped rear hatch, broader rear ‘shoulders’ and distinct rear three-quarter windows, the coupé-styled SC is surprisingly practical, with exactly the same large boot as the five-door version.

Smooth and refined on the move, with rock-solid build quality, the addition of the 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine with seven-speed automatic gearbox, lifts fuel consumption above the 60mpg mark in day-to-day use.

Taut handling and a surprisingly quiet ride make for a thoroughly involving drive. Involvement of an even more tangible kind comes from yet another piece of electronics – lane assist.

This uses a camera mounted behind the rear-view mirror to detect lane markings ahead of the car and, using the power steering system, applies a small amount of steering correction, intended to nudge the driver into taking corrective action.

If you are feeling tired, the system is a real boon, but if you are wide awake the constant tweaking on the steering can prove a tad irritating.

As long as a button exists to turn off some of these aids, drivers can sit back and enjoy the helping hand that all this high-technology delivers.

Auto facts SEAT Leon SC SE TDI

  • Insurance group: 13 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 72.4mpg
  •  Top speed: 119mph
  • Length: 422.8cm/166.4in
  • Width: 181cm/71.2in
  • Luggage capacity: 13.4 cu ft
  •  Fuel tank capacity: 11 gallons/50 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 102g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles