Seat Cordoba Saloon 2003-2006

Basically the SEAT Cordoba is a Volkswagen Polo with a sportier body and slightly cheaper kit. The 2nd generation of the Cordoba was offered in 2002 as a rebadged saloon version of the 3rd generation SEAT Ibiza hatchback. Visually and technically there’s not a lot between those two cars although you can instantly recognise the Cordoba by the bulky rear end.

Pros and Cons:

• A good looking car
  A good choice of efficient engines
  High assembly quality

• Uncomfortable rear seats and low roof
  Obstructed visibility through the central mirror

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Exterior and Interior

The Cordoba is an interesting car. It is not in the top draw of design eloquence, but the overall impression is modern and sporty. It is a typical SEAT with the recognisable ’panda’ face and curvy sides.

The main difference from the Volkswagen Polo is practicality level as the Cordoba boot size is better. The Cordoba has 485litres of pure luggage space while the Polo only has 432. It gets even better with folded rear seats as the boot space grows to 800litres. It does make the Cordoba’s rear end look like a sailor’s chest, but as the whole exterior follows a rather bulky and rounded theme, it doesn’t really stick out and the overall impression is positive.

It does leave the impression of a bigger car than it actually is. Seating 5 people is not really an option though. The rear seats are suited for 2 adults and even then, it cannot be called comfortable. The material used in the interior is cheaper and harder than that of a Polo, hence the price difference. The materials used are decent quality and the cloth used on the seats is hard wearing and keeps people fixed in place even at higher speeds. Just like other SEAT’s, the Cordoba comes with rather hard seat cushions, which some people may dislike; it is generally a matter of taste.

The level of equipment is ok for the price range. The basic needs of the passengers are catered for and even the factory sound system is not as poor as you might imagine.

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Engines

The Cordoba is supplied with 1.2-litre 69bhp, 1.4-litre 86bhp, 1.6-litre 105bhp and a 2.0-litre 115bhp petrol engines and a 1.4-litre 75bhp or 1.9-litre 128bhp diesel engines.

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Performance and Economy

The smaller 1.2-litre petrol engine is too small for the car, especially if you constantly use the large boot space. From the 1.4-litre upwards, the engines get stronger and fuel economy is good too – over 40mpg for the 1.4-litre version. The 2.0-litre engine definitely sounds and feels good, but for what the car is, a family sedan, its fuel economy is too low. For a more balanced power to economy ratio, you might want to choose the 1.9-litre diesel which is quite a powerful engine and returns 56mpg.

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What it's like to Drive

The Cordoba is quite a sporty and precise car. The gearboxes are fine-tuned and a joy to use. The suspension is good, so there won’t bee too much roll and movement at any speed. All controls including brakes and steering are precise and pleasant to use. As a small criticism, the steering is slightly too ’assisted’ so it doesn’t translate the road data back to the driver as efficiently as a more expensive car would.

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Faults and Repairs

The Cordoba is almost identical to the VW Polo. It may look a bit cheaper, but in essence it’s the same car. The high-quality assembly you get with a Volkswagen you’ll also get with a SEAT, there are no compromises there. The Cordoba is reasonably reliable and no major problems should occur.

There may be issues with hydraulics on older Cordobas, so it’s always a good idea to check steering and brakes. The diesel engines get tired quickly if they’re not maintained properly and the smaller 1.2-litre engine is prone to overheating related issues because it is too small for the car.

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