Road Test
Seat Toledo 1.9 TDI
Test date 18 January 2005
Price as tested £15,025
For Space, price, proven mechanicals
AgainstAwkward looks, average road manners, engine refinement
This is a new car from a manufacturer desperate to gain an identity. Apart from turbocharged Leon hatchbacks, and the distant memory of some rapid, brightly coloured Ibizas, the Seat brand has long lacked a clear and consistent direction, both in here and in Europe. But it is slightly sporting. And so, following a reshuffling of the VW group brands, Seat is now intensifying its efforts to become the sporty brand of the mainstream portfolio, with a Mediterranean flavour. The idea is to put some clear black Tarmac between the reasons to buy a Seat, a Skoda or a Volkswagen.
The Toledo itself can trace its heritage back to the 1991 Toledo five-door - Seat's first car launched under VW's ownership. The rights to its name originally belonged to Rover, but lapsed under a gentleman's agreement in the late 80s when the British marque was no longer using it.
Like its smaller hatchback siblings, the first Seat Toledo entertained with some fine and secure handling, and was made surprisingly practical by its huge rear hatch; unfortunately it wasn't as practical or spacious for anyone inside the cabin. The car that replaced it was a saloon, and so bears a less direct connection with today's version.
Look further back in the company history books and you'll come across a lesser known middle-sized saloon called the Malaga, which appeared in 1985 and bears a certain notional similarity to the Toledo. This car had good value and plenty of equipment to its credit, but it was also poorly appointed and unrefined enough to make it a rare sight on British blacktop.
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