SEAT CORDOBA RANGE
If You Like The Look Of SEATs Cheeky Ibiza But Fancy A Saloon Version, The Cordoba Is Just The Ticket. By Andy Enright
Small supermini-based saloons have always been poorly received in Britain. Which is one reason why there havent been many. The original
SEAT Cordoba suffered because of this general apathy but that hasnt stopped the Spaniards trying again with the all-new version we feature here.
In theory, theres good reason for this optimism. The Cordoba is, after all, based on the What Car magazine Car of the Year-winning Ibiza supermini and, you would have thought, there must be a bank of buyers out there for whom a saloon, rather than a hatchback, would be preferrable. These people tend to be more mature not the kind of people likely to buy a car called Ibiza in other words. More Max Bygraves than Max Power if you will.
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Perhaps thats being a little harsh, but if true, then the younger buyer are missing out. The Cordoba does, after all, still have the same verve as the Ibiza and the styling, while unlikely to walk off with any Rear Of The Year awards, is nevertheless neatly integrated. The rear light clusters reflect the trading of stylists between
SEAT and Alfa Romeo; the lamps being very reminiscent of those of the Alfa 156, in itself no bad thing. Reflecting the more pragmatic buyer profile, the Cordoba range centres on two TDi diesel engines, both of 1.
9-litre capacity and
Volkswagen Group origins, which crank out either 100 or 130bhp depending how deep your pockets are. The alternative is a 1.4-litre 75bhp petrol unit which will appeal to those looking for a low upfront price. The range opens at £10,015 for the Cordoba 1.
4 Reference and tops out at £14,015 for the Stylance 1.9 TDI130 model. Sandwiched between these topntailers is the midrange Cordoba 1.9 TDi100 which is priced at £12,015.
"The Cordoba may always play second fiddle to the Ibiza in this country, but since when was choice a bad thing?"
Standard Reference specification runs to air conditioning, a CD-based stereo system, electric front windows, remote central locking and an outside temperature gauge. The driving position has been well thought through, with height adjustable front seats and tilting headrests. The back seats have a head rest for each position and can be split/folded to open up even more capacity than is already afforded by the 475-litre boot. To put this figure into perspective, the Cordobas boot is bigger than that of, say, a Volkswagen Bora a car which competes in the next class up.
The Ibiza/Cordoba chassis is based on the Polo platform. Theres no shortage of storage space around the cabin with big door pockets, a decently sized glove compartment, centre console and under dash cubbies combining to make living with the Cordoba easy. Theres even a hidden storage box under the drivers seat to keep valuables away from prying eyes. Trade up to Cordoba TDi130 Stylance and youll get a six-speed gearbox, 15-inch alloy wheels, Climatronic air conditioning, electric rear windows, a trip computer, twin headlights, fog lights and an alarm.
Satellite navigation is even available as an option for the well heeled few who didnt realise that there are map pockets on the backs of the froint seats! Safety was high on SEATs priorities when designing this family of cars, and the Cordoba features twin airbags as standard. The passenger airbag can be deactivated by a key switch in the glove compartment if a child seats is used in the front seat. Electronic power steering with SEATs acclaimed DSR (Dynamic Steering Response) gives a surprisingly natural, quick witted feel while anti-lock brakes augmented by emergency brake assist will pull you to a halt with the minimum of drama. Inside youll spot a number of VW Group parts, reappearing like old faces at a school reunion.
The window switches, the gear knob, the ventilation controls and so on are all sourced from that bottomless well thats disparagingly termed the VW parts bin, and are none the worse for it. The roofline is lower than weve become used to in Polo and Fabia variants, but otherwise the cabin holds few surprises other than a rather novel textured plastic thats softly abrasive. The Alfa trademarks of designer Walter da Silva are again evident in the graceful shape of the dials recessed individually into the facia, giving the cabin a sportier feel. When compared to its predecessor, the Cordoba is a dramatic improvement.
Not only is it far prettier, it also utilises its cabin space better, the engine range is far more economical and the perceived quality has been ratcheted up a good few notches. None of these factors, however, differentiate it hugely from its rivals. The 1.9 TDI diesel engines are the pick of the range if youre into smooth cruising, but are too heavy to provide much fun through corners.
Not surprisingly, the 130bhp is the better choice, being not only faster but rather curiously, much quieter. The more agile 1.4-litre car handles reasonably well but doesnt have the verve to occupy the attention span of your average press-on driver. Although small cars with boots dont tend to generate big sales figures in the UK, its easy to see why the latest Cordoba has been so well received in other markets.
It may always play second fiddle to the Ibiza in this country, but since when was choice a bad thing? The Cordoba may not be the most exciting car SEAT has produced of late, but it was never intended to be. Some cars do sensible very well. The Cordoba is one of them.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Cordoba range
PRICES: £10,015-£14,000 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-7
PERFORMANCE: [1.4] Max Speed 107mph / 0-60mph 13.6s
CO2 EMISSIONS: 135-140g/km
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4] (combined) 41mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? Length/Width/Height (mm) 3985/1698/1441mm
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