SEAT Cordoba
If you like the design, equipment and style of an executive saloon, but don't fancy the expensive running costs, here's a car that SEAT claims will satisfy your needs.
The SEAT Cordoba is fine to drive and well equipped in 1.9 TDi SE form. But, at £13,995, it's only £500 cheaper than the 1.9 TDi SE Toledo, which is more practical for families as it has an even larger luggage area. If you want real value for money, look at cheaper models in the range.
If you like the design, equipment and style of an executive saloon, but don't fancy the expensive running costs, here's a car that SEAT claims will satisfy your needs.
The new Cordoba goes on sale in the UK this week, and despite sharing its underpinnings with the humble Ibiza hatchback, the newcomer's kicked-up rear and angular tail-lights give the car the distinctive appearance of a scaled- down Alfa Romeo 156.
But looks alone do not sell cars, and we can't help thinking that SEAT is being a little bit ambitious asking a fiver short of £14,000 for the range-topping 1.9 TDi SE model tested here. However, it's easily the best Cordoba to drive, thanks largely to Volkswagen's punchy 130bhp TDI PD engine and a slick-action six-speed gearbox.
Acceleration is good, too, with the 0-60mph sprint completed in 9.5 seconds, while the torquey powerplant and additional gear ratio mean that the newcomer is always refined and eager. The steering is impressive, with sharp responses and a weighty feel in the dead-ahead position, making the Cordoba seem like a much bigger car from behind the wheel.
In addition, the SEAT benefits from the Ibiza's acclaimed handling characteristics and has a great driving position. Although the controls and gearshift are light and logically laid out, minor annoyances include a confusing fuel gauge and a centre console shelf that tends to eject its contents if you pull away too fast. Visibility isn't that great, either, with a high waistline and angular rear screen making reversing moves difficult, while the door mirrors are far too small to be useful when attempting to change lanes on the motorway.
Plenty of standard equipment is an obvious attraction, as is a truly enormous luggage area, but the fact of the matter is that the Cordoba is still a small car, and £13,995 for a supermini with a boot is a lot of money.
To make matters worse, rear seat accommodation is cramped, some of the cabin plastics look and feel brittle and there's not much in the way of cubbyholes. But those buyers hoping to recoup some of the purchase price by way of the diesel engine's economy will not be disappointed by the figures. SEAT claims 54mpg for the combined cycle, and even in heavy city traffic we managed to return 45mpg. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions of 140g/km mean that the SEAT comes within the lowest company car taxation bracket for diesel-engined models.
Even though the TDi SE is the most desirable car of the three Cordobas destined for the British market, it is not the model we would recommend. Further down the range, the 100bhp 1.9 TDi S makes a better case for itself and is nearly as well equipped, while the £9,995 75bhp 1.4 S petrol version is more in the mould of the bargain buys SEAT has become famous for.
