Test Drive Seat Cordoba since 2003 Sedan

citizen

Ah, Cordoba! Scenic city in southern Spain. It is here that the most beautiful women of the province of Andalusia, here the cradle of many philosophers and scientists, poets and artists. Founded by the Romans The city was once almost the center of Spain, a lot of transport routes associated with Europe and Africa took place through it. The historical part of the cordoba is striking with its architecture here there is something to see. And there is, where it is delicious to dine, I can extract the reader. What am I talking about? About the name of the SEAT model named. The Spaniards make their cars in honor of the cities. Something means. It remains to find out whether cars are capable of producing as strong and pleasant impression. For what, the editorial office of Ai got a Cordoba sedan for a long test.
Last Mogic
The appearance of SEAT Cordoba personally produced a dual impression on me. On the one hand, the car looks quite original, there was nothing left in the exterior, which would resemble VW Polo progenitor. A slightly rumped feed seems to be the trunk lid above the waist line does not take sportiness, primarily at the expense of lighting, vividly resembling the Alfa Romeo model. How not to remember Walter de Silva, who put his hand and to this model. But, it seems, he did it reluctantly, somehow not to the end more precisely not before the start, because the front part looks strange. Did not like the scorched headlights, as if the eyes of the suffering from the Based Disease; Too rounded elements of the radiator grille were not glanced. And in general, Cordoba still knocks out of the current style of the brand, which, in fact, is not surprising, in fact, the last representative of the last family of Seat. And against the background of the same Leon, Toledo or Altea is perceived by the last (last) of the Mogican. However, I will leave the style of the style aside, especially since someone is probably such a look will have to taste, look into the salon.
Sitting on the driver's seat and watching, you feel a minimalist approach to the decoration of the interior, without any complaints. The plastic is harsh and gray, the instrument shield is compounded from two dials immersed in individual wells. Illumination with a hint of red aggressiveness, and the digitization of the instruments itself is in italics. Chairs are hard, staying in them is not too relaxing, but they fix the body nicely. The range of seats adjustments is great, and the Branca moves in height and by departure. As a result, it is not difficult to get a convenient to get driving, and in general there is no complaints about ergonomics. All management bodies are grouped over the responsibility zones, it is quite logical and understandable. The central console looks simple, but no one is already like and not necessary. The audio system sounds, let's say honestly, mediocre.
Behind the back will be only two, and then, provided that they are not higher than the mid-sided place for the legs. The height from the rear seat cushion to the ceiling in this sedan is 960 mm, and the height from the front seat cushion is 970 mm. At the same time, the back of the rear seat is to fold, increasing the volume of the luggage compartment with standard 485 to an impressive 1140 liters.
Pie drivers
Under the hood of the model installed 1,4-liter gasoline engine, which develops 85 hp It is aggregated exclusively with a 5-speed MCP, the gear ratios of which compensate for the lack of power. So, up to 60-80 km / h acceleration is quite assertive, but then the car behaves calmer. Nevertheless, in dense city traffic, you feel confident, and during starts from the traffic light, you leave behind. Moreover, you can easily switch transmissions without difficulty thanks to a rather clear algorithm of the movement of the MCP lever. I would, though, I wanted the moves of these were shorter. The clutch pedal is quite informative, the moment of grasp is quite clear.
The brake mechanisms also do not arise. It seems even that they are much more powerful and made what is called, with a margin. To that, there is an ABS and a system of distribution of the brake forces, which must unite confidence in slippery and inhomogeneous coatings.
But the most interesting thing is that even such a calm sedan, the Spaniards managed to endure extremely perverse handling. It is expressed, first of all, in excess turning. In other words, get a skid on the stride, if you move to speed, you can elementary. Complain the steering is informative, and with increasing speed, the ram is poured by pleasant severity. In addition, the cab rolls are not so great, and the suspension is completely ergonomic pits and irregularities of a significant effect on the stability of the movement did not provide.
We assume that such settings will surely enjoy dynamic drivers. True, for fast drive will have to pay a decent fuel consumption. During the test, I went, I will say honestly, not particularly saving gasoline, the engine consumed about 10.5-11.0 liters per hundred, which is not enough for a 1,4-liter motor. If the air conditioner is turned on, then the flow increases almost almost per liter, and the dynamics decrease significantly. In other words, Seat Cordoba has pleased handling. Sedane would be more powerful, yes append
And not expensive?
It is this question that I want to ask the SEAT distributor in Russia. Cordoba prices begin with a mark of 417,900 rubles per car in the basic configuration that does not provide an air conditioner, nor ABS, nor the electric drive glass and mirrors. Against the background of competitors, which can be attributed to a dozen C-class models, it turns out quite expensive, although at the total cost of owning the SEAT Cordoba looks good. However, the given tables give a comprehensive picture, and I remain adding that the Cordoba of a new generation will soon appear on the market, created on the basis of recently debuting Ibiza.

Andrei Osipov
Photo Seat.
 
 

A source: Magazine Automotive News [July 2008]