SEAT Toledo

SEAT Toledo 1.9 TDi S

If you fancy a large, comfortable diesel but don't want to part with �15,685 for the entry-level oil-burning Passat, there is another option. It might be slightly shorter than the VW, but the new SEAT Toledo TDI S is just as big inside, with a huge boot, spacious, well planned cabin and supportive seats

Auto Express Car Reviews

July 2002

Rating:

If you fancy a large, comfortable diesel but don't want to part with ί¿½15,685 for the entry-level oil-burning Passat, there is another option. It might be slightly shorter than the VW, but the new SEAT Toledo TDI S is just as big inside, with a huge boot, spacious, well planned cabin and supportive seats. What's more, the newcomer is a bargain package - at ί¿½12,995, it's the cheapest model in the Spanish firm's saloon range and costs ί¿½2,690 less than the equivalent Passat. But that doesn't make it a basic car.

Under the bonnet beats VW's long-serving 110bhp TDI unit, which returns over 54mpg on the combined cycle, yet loses little in performance. A 0-60mph time of 11.2 seconds may not sound that quick, but mid-range grunt is impressive and the top speed is 120mph. Despite the price, the TDI S has air-con, electric windows, an eight-speaker CD radio and ABS. The lack of power mirrors is irritating, but build quality is as good as you would expect from the VW Group.

A CO2 figure of 140g/km puts the Toledo in the lowest diesel tax category, at 18 per cent, while the purchase price means it will be a cheaper fleet car than the less powerful VW Golf TDI PD 100. With such value for money, it's hard to see why the SEAT remains a slow seller.