SEAT CóRDOBA

The 'SEAT Córdoba' is the saloon, estate and coupé version of the supermini SEAT Ibiza, built by Spanish automaker SEAT since 1993.

Contents

First generation (1993–2002)

Rebadges

Córdoba SX

Second generation (2002–present)

External links

First generation (1993–2002)

The first SEAT Córdoba was launched in the summer of 1993, penned by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and based on the chassis of the SEAT Ibiza which would spawn the Volkswagen Polo Mk III the following year. In 1996 the Córdoba range was extended to an estate ('Córdoba Vario') and a coupé ('Córdoba SX').
Its 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines were also found in the Volkswagen Polo and Ibiza, as was the 1.9 TDI.
Though based on the Polo and Ibiza, its extended rear overhang meant its length was close to a Golf but still smaller than the Jetta.
It was considerably cheaper than saloon versions of small family cars like the Ford Escort, Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 306 and Renault Mégane and its boot was about the size, though it failed to match the interior space due to its shorter wheelbase.
SEAT raced the 'Córdoba 16v' in international rallies where it enjoyed considerable success.

Rebadges

The contemporary Volkswagen Polo Classic (saloon) and Variant (estate) were in fact rebadged versions of the Córdoba, and not based on the hatchback.
FAW-Volkswagen, VW's Chinese subsidiary assembled and sold the Mk1 Córdoba under the Citi-Golf name in 1996.
The Citi-Golf had the Córdoba rear and front design not the European / South American versions which helped distinguish the Córdoba from the Polo Classic/Derby models.

Córdoba SX

The Córdoba SX was a two-door coupé version of the Córdoba. It came in four variants. A 1.6 100bhp, 1.9TD, 2.0 8V (Cupra) which has the same engine as the Córdoba GTi and a 2.0 16v. The 16v 150bhp ABF engine is identical to the engine found in the MK3 Golf GTi. The 16v SX also came with 16" multispoke alloys, 280mm front discs, ABS, traction control and air conditioning as standard. The model was slightly revised in 1998 with a new rear splitter which required the exhaust to be hidden, a revised front lower grill and splitter and leather interior became standard.
The Córdoba 16v, however, was not as popular as the Ibiza Cupra 16v due to being £1000GBP more expensive at list and 1 second slower 0-60 because of the added weight of the rear end.
In 2000 the Córdoba was face lifted, and the 16v ABF engine was replaced with a 1.8 155bhp Turbo engine and joined the Cupra range. However the SX was no longer available in the UK and limited numbers are known to exist in southern Ireland in right hand drive format but only in a 100bhp 1.6 8v model. This decision was made based on the poor sales performance of the phase 1 SX.

Second generation (2002–present)

The second generation of the SEAT Córdoba is virtually identical to the Ibiza III. It is again a four-door saloon version; no estate or coupé versions were built. The Córdoba II also shares its chassis and engines with the Volkswagen Polo Mk IV and Škoda Fabia: straight-4 8-valve 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrols, straight-4 20-valve 1.8-litre petrols, and a 1.9-litre TDI turbodiesel in 100 and 130bhp variants.
Saloons based on successful hatchbacks rarely become a sales success, and the SEAT Córdoba has done little to change that. It is to Seat what the Jetta and Vento were to Volkswagen and what the Orion was to Ford.
The Córdoba was imported to the United Kingdom until 2006.

External links