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Seat Toledo (From Epsom Guardian)
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Seat Toledo
4:33pm Thursday 12th November 2009
Overall
rating: 3 stars
Beauty might well be in the eye of the beholder, but even the Seat Toledo's greatest admirer would be unlikely to describe it as a particularly elegant or harmonious piece of design.
Previous generations of the Toledo were conventional to the point of being dull, so Seat decided to try something different with this one, creating what is (in effect) a saloon version of the Altea people carrier.
The resulting car looks strange, to say the least, with the addition of the substantial rump doing nothing for the underlying Altea's sporty lines.
Fortunately for buyers, the rest of the experience is pretty much identical to the Altea. The quality of some bits of interior trim doesn't feel that great, but there's plenty of room for both front and rear seat occupants and that protruding boot is predictably spacious.
It drives like the Altea, too - putting in a credibly sporty performance over twisty roads, certainly once its high centre of gravity is taken into account. It tackles motorway cruising well, too, but the firm suspension gives a sometimes crashy low-speed ride.
Only a limited engine range is available, with punters getting to choose between 1.6 and 2.0 litre petrols and 1.9 and 2.0 litre TDI diesels. Of these, the 2.0 litre units are definitely the stand-out stars, with both producing strong performance and the TDI combining this with excellent fuel economy.
What's to like
1) Reasonable to drive.
2) Good diesel engines.
3) Loads of room.
What's not to like
1) Looks clumsy next to Altea.
2) Ride quality gets poor over rough surfaces.
3) 1.6 litre petrol engine lacks urge.
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Seat Toledo
Seat Toledo
Seat Toledo
Seat Toledo
See also
Environment
rating: 5 stars
Diesel versions give respectable CO2 and mpg figures but the petrol engines are pretty indifferent on both counts.
Styling
rating: 2 stars
The Toledo's bizarre proportions look clumsy and rump-heavy compared to the far more elegant Altea that it's based on.
Handling
rating: 3 stars
Respectable driving dynamics for something this size and shape, although it's not on a par with conventional family cars costing the same money.
Comfort
rating: 3 stars
The driving position is good and motorway cruising is composed, but poor quality ride knocks the Toledo's case over bumpy roads.
Quality
rating: 3 stars
Tough interior is well assembled but lacks quality feel.
Performance
rating: 3 stars
Less engine choice than the Toledo and Altea. The basic 1.6 litre petrol motor spins sweetly but lacks urge, while others give respectable performance, especially the punchy, frugal 2.0 litre TDI.
Roominess
rating: 5 stars
There's no arguing against the Toledo's utilitarian credentials. If you're looking to combine an MPV and a saloon car, this is the only way to do it.
Costs
rating: 3 stars
Highish depreciation reflects the motor trade's suspicion of the Toledo, but it's reasonably cost effective to keep on the road. Diesel versions are impressively frugal.
Value
rating: 3 stars
Small supplemental cost over the equivalent Altea - but we're still struggling to see the point.
Stereo
rating: 4 stars
The audio system works well and large buttons make it commendably easy to use. Satnav is good but is a very expensive option.
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