SEAT Cordoba (03-06) - Review

Review by Parkers on
The SEAT Cordoba is essentially an Ibiza with a large boot. It never really caught on it the UK as there’s not really a market for small saloons and there’s not much of an engine choice. However, the one petrol and two diesels are frugal, insurance is low and it’s unlikely to let you down, so if you’re willing to look past the dowdy image and limited versatility, you could pick up a great bargain.
3 out of 5

Other SEAT reviews

3.5 out of 5

Running costs

Insurance costs are reasonable, with groups ranging from four for 1.4 S models, to seven for the 128bhp 1.9 TDi. Fuel economy is good too, with the diesel engines both returning over 50mpg (the 1.4-litre petrol manages a commendable 43pmg). Service intervals are every 10,000 miles, which is average.

* based on most recent data

Estimated fuel cost for 10,000 miles per year

Unleaded

£1,427 - £1,427 *

Diesel

£1,145 - £1,187 *

The estimated fuel cost figure is a guide to how much this model will cost to fuel each year, so you can compare between cars. It's calculated by using the model's average mpg (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price. It's based on the following cost-per-litre: petrol 135p and diesel 141p. Prices are updated daily.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

Every 10,000 miles

Warranty

Mechanical 3 years; bodywork 6 years

Road tax (12 months)

£120.00 - £170.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

4.5 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
    135
  • F
  • G
    158
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

Cordoba performs very well on the eco front. With an average of 145 g/km CO2 across the model line-up, its emissions are comparably low for a small family saloon. However, it's worth noting that the line up has a high number of diesel models, bringing the average down and giving buyers more choices of low-emission versions. Diesels typically produce less CO2 than petrol engines with similar power outputs. Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 1.9-litre diesel, which is one of the greenest models in the range. The range is very frugal, averaging 51 mpg.

Find the exact engine and CO2