The fourth generation of the Seat Toledo just made its global debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. The Spanish brand’s new compact saloon is a “sister” model to fellow VW Group member Skoda’s Rapid and it promises to offer a spacious interior in spite of the car’s compact dimensions.

Seat has announced that order books are now open in the UK, with first deliveries scheduled to start on December 1. Prices range from £12,495 and top out at £17,840, with insurance group ratings being as low as 8E.

In the UK, the Toledo will be available with three petrol and one diesel engine in E, S and SE trim levels.

The £12,495 base version is powered by a 74HP (75PS) 1.2-liter engine and will only be available in the E trim level, which includes front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, ESC, ISOFIX child seat mounts, an MP3 CD player with four speakers, front electric windows and 15-inch steel wheels.

The turbocharged 1.2 TSI engine is offered in two versions, with 84Hp and 103 Hp (85PS and 105 PS respectively). Both engines will be available in the S trim level that adds air conditioning, a trip computer, split folding rear seats and a height adjustable driver’s seat, remote central locking, electric heated mirrors, body-colored handles and mirrors and Bluetooth with voice control.

The 84HP 1.2 TSI is priced at £14,120 and the 105HP version at £15,150. The latter is also available in the top-spec SE trim, which on top of the S, includes climate control, leather steering-wheel and gear lever, cruise control, rear electric windows, a refrigerated glove box, front and rear armrests and 16-inch alloys, and is priced at £16,630.

The most powerful Toledo, the 1.4-liter TSI, is available solely in SE trim level with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and is priced at £17,780.

Finally, the 103HP 1.6-liter TDI Diesel is available in both S and SE trims, with or without the Ecomotive fuel-saving technology that consists of an auto stop/start and an energy recovery system and is priced at £16,640 and 17,840 respectively.

“Very few cars, if any, offer the same combination of space, flexibility, affordability, value and style as the new Toledo”, said Seat UK product manager Simon Bradley. “It offers something for everyone. Whatever version is chosen, every customer will enjoy outstandingly low running costs because of the car’s excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions across the range.”

By Andrew Tsaousis

PHOTO GALLERY

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