What they said when the Seat Toledo was new… (Jul 4 2002)
SOMETIMES appearances can deceive.
Take the Seat Toledo. At first glance its cut down back end suggests yet another hatchback when in truth it is actually a sporty saloon. And while the Spanish offering is unlikely to ever trouble the sales chart or car of the year lists it remains a model of considerable appeal.
Based like its stablemate the Leon on the Volkswagen Golf platform, the Toledo saw Seat enter a new sphere, for since its last overhaul the car has tilted not only at private buyers but also the business sector. This is an area in which key requirements like safety, equipment, retained value, running costs, warranty, build quality, performance and, of course, price must be met.
And while challenging the likes of the BMW 3-Series is a non-starter, there's much to like about the Toledo. For one thing there's a three-strong engine line-up - a 1.8 litre 20-valve petrol, 1.9 turbodiesel and the flagship 2.3 litre V5 found in the test car. Now uprated to 170bhp, which is 20bhp up on the original unit, the V5 is also more economical and produces a cleaner exhaust by moving from two to four valves per cylinder.
This is a beautifully smooth and quiet engine with brisk acceleration, and has a light clutch and quick gearchange with well spaced ratios for making optimum use of the power band.
Comfortable to drive on the faster roads and motorway with excellent mid-range torque, there's also loads of grip on winding country lanes.
Seat's profile has undergone a transformation in recent years. The image is ritzy, colours intense and products progressively more polished. And to that end the Toledo is stylish and well designed, even if the overall impression is more Germanic than Latin.
In fact the only criticism would be a woeful lack of space - particularly legroom - in the back. Otherwise the interior is very similar to the Audi A3. In other words solidly put together and of top notch quality. Cabin noise is also low due to the quiet engines while the precision fit of the body panels keeps vibration to a minimum.
Spec is generous with even the cheapest car featuring front and side airbags, ABS with traction control, air-con, cruise control, electric front windows, remote central locking with deadlocks and four electric windows.
The V5 not only adds the likes of a 6-disc CD player and 16-inch alloys but also a satellite navigation system which would otherwise cost the best part of £2,000. All models has three years warranty.
Where potential customers won't be deceived is in the Toledo's price - with an entry point of £14,495 it represents sound value.
Words: Mike Torpey
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