SEAT Toledo
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| SEAT Toledo | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SEAT |
| Parent company | Volkswagen Group |
| Production | 1991-present |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1991-1999 |
| Class | Small family car |
| Body style | 5-door liftback |
| Platform | Volkswagen A platform |
| Wheelbase | 2470 mm |
| Length | 4320 mm |
| Width | 1660 mm |
| Height | 1425 mm |
| Similar | Fiat Tempra Ford Orion Peugeot 306 Renault 19 |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
| Production | 1999-2004 |
| Class | Small family car |
| Body style | 4-door saloon |
| Wheelbase | 2520 mm |
| Length | 4440 mm |
| Width | 1740 mm |
| Height | 1440 mm |
| Related | Audi A3 SEAT León Škoda Octavia Volkswagen Bora |
| Similar | Fiat Marea Ford Focus Peugeot 306 Renault Mégane |
| Third generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Production | 2004-present |
| Class | Compact MPV |
| Body style | 5-door MPV |
| Wheelbase | 2580 mm |
| Length | 4460 mm |
| Width | 1770 mm |
| Height | 1570 mm |
| Related | Audi A3 SEAT León Škoda Octavia Volkswagen Touran |
| Similar | Ford Focus C-MAX Honda FR-V Mazda5 Opel Zafira Renault Scénic Toyota Corolla Verso |
The SEAT Toledo is an automobile built and marketed by Spanish automaker SEAT, a division of the Volkswagen Group. The Toledo brand name was first introduced to the SEAT line-up in 1991, and the third generation was introduced in late 2004.
Contents |
[edit] First generation (1991-1999)
The Toledo was the first SEAT developed entirely under VW leadership. The first generation was a five-door notchback liftback built on the Volkswagen Golf Mk II chassis, with boot simlar in shape and size to the Volkswagen Bora's but with the advantage of a tailgate. As saloon versions of small family cars were rare in Europe, it was sometimes considered a large family car due to its overall length and boot size, despite having smaller rear leg room and pricing closer to small family cars.
The Toledo initially featured underpowered engines compared to the Ibiza and Málaga's System Porsche units, such as a base 1.6-litre 75 PS (55 kW) petrol engine and a GT version using the 2.0-litre 115 PS (85 kW) engine. Later the Toledo would see the addition of more powerful versions, including a 150 PS (110 kW) 2.0-litre GTI 16V and 110 PS (81 kW) 1.9-itre TDI which, like many diesels built since 1996 by the Volkswagen Group, it is advertised as capable of running on both mineral diesel and biodiesel.
[edit] Second generation (1999-2004)
The second generation was introduced in 1999. It was more coupe like than the previously boxy shape. It had a much more fluid design, although both were products of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio.
It shared components with both its Škoda and Volkswagen brothers (the Octavia and the Bora) yet is supposedly the sportiest out of the three, and sport details have been added, such as completely translucent headlights not often seen in cars at that time, and lots of curves in the interior.
It was built on the Golf Mk IV platform, which meant stiff springs to keep the large 500 litre boot (600 with the seats folded down) in the air. The early models were built at the Audi/VW plant in Belgium with much improved build quality, although the Toledo was still presented as an economic alternative to the lower level of the D segment, and included in the basic price a high level of equipment. Unfortunately, one of the features most associated with the Spanish model, the tailgate was removed in favor of a more traditional saloon boot opening. The following year, the Toledo would be used as the base for a proper hatchback, the SEAT León.
Base model was now a crossflow 1.6-litre 100 PS (74 kW) petrol engine, followed by a 1.8-litre 20-valve 125 PS (98 kW) unit, while the top of the line was represented by the 2.3-litre 150 PS (110 kW) V5 engine. Diesel versions used the 1.9 TDI engine, with a variable geometry turbocharger, offered initially with power outputs of 90 PS (66 kW) or 110 PS (81 kW). Later in the series, the 1.8-litre 20-valve Toledo received a turbocharger, capable of delivering 180 PS (132 kW), and a later evolution of the VW TDI engine, which pumped out 150 PS (110 kW). Both versions now featured a six-speed manual transmission.
[edit] Third generation (2004-present)
The third generation was introduced in 2004, and it is completely different from the previous two. Abandoning the sedan format, the Toledo Mk III has a very controversial design, penned by Walter de'Silva. It is a compact MPV with the Altea's front section and a rear end inspired in the not very successful Renault Vel Satis, paying homage to the original Toledo's hatchback/sedan rear. All pretense of a sporty identity was thrown out, in favour of a more upscale and alternative image. A large 500 L DIN boot is its most interesting feature. Under the bodywork, the SEAT Toledo uses the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen Golf Mk V.
All engines are Volkswagen Group-sourced. There are two diesel engines: the 2.0-litre TDI engine with 140 hp, 1.9-litre TDI with 105h p. On the petrol side, there is a 1.6-litre engine with 100 bhp and a 2.0-litre engine with 147 bhp.
[edit] External links
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