SEAT Toledo 1.6 TDI, road test (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

Over the last few days, the Highmotor test team has been behind the wheel of the fourth, all-new generation of the SEAT Toledo. In the first part we fired up the 1.6 TDI 105 CV engine. We also checked its on-road behaviour along with the consumption this small-displacement diesel was capable of achieving.

This time, we continue our test of the Spanish saloon, looking at the cabin finishes, the exterior and interior design, and the practicality, this last aspect being the car’s greatest strength, placing it well above larger saloons.

When SEAT unveiled the new Toledo to the world at the end of 2012, it was widely criticised for its very close resemblance to the León. The bodywork lines were conceived with the aim of achieving a compact saloon without giving up interior space, but at the same time it represented a radical change from the third-generation Toledo. SEAT has set aside the failed MPV experiment to return to the model’s traditional form, a saloon.

The front shows a car with great poise, thanks to crisp lines, a trapezoidal grille and, of course, the pronounced air intake at the bottom. At the rear, the A-pillar has been widened, which results in larger blind spots in the rear three-quarter area. Forward visibility is good.

The headlights, both front and rear, are conventional and offer a wide field of vision at night. During the day they stay on in daytime running mode.

The most striking aspect, as we have been saying, is the interior of the SEAT. It is surprising how, at a length of under 4.5 metres, a remarkably spacious cabin has been achieved. So much so that occupants in any of the five seats will be more comfortable than in the Exeo, the Toledo’s bigger sibling.

Four people can travel comfortably, and even a fifth. SEAT’s designers have created a very small, simple centre console, housing only the gear lever, the handbrake and the front armrest. The doors and dashboard have been noticeably slimmed down.

The boot, with a capacity of more than 500 litres, can comfortably hold four large suitcases. Loading that luggage is also easy. The folding rear seats allow the load capacity to be more than doubled.

The seats offer good comfort. The driving position can be adjusted for height, reach and seat recline. Furthermore, there is no need to take your eyes far off the road to operate the touchscreen or the multimedia system. From the multifunction steering wheel (in perforated leather) you can view everything from GPS to answering or making phone calls. The front armrest is adjustable and ideal for long journeys.

On getting into the car, a first impression might lead you to think you are in a vehicle with a finish quality that is reasonable for its price (€12,900, for the Reference petrol with PIVE included) or even better than what you are paying. A two-tone colour combination between the dashboard and the cloth upholstery helps create that impression, giving the car an attractive, elegant and eye-catching look.

The plastics, like those of its rivals, are hard, but they feel as if they were made to last rather than to please the customer’s touch. The seat fabric is more pleasant to the touch, as are the steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake.

A SEAT León is much better finished than the Toledo, whereas the saloon offers more interior space and a large boot at a modest price.