Welcome to Autodrivel

We continue the series of experiments because, anyhow, we have a car that almost nobody buys, so let’s make something entirely different from Seat Toledo 5P compared to what we’ve seen so far.

I watch punk teens transform into goths into emo and then into punk again. That’s how it is with Seat Toledo 5P and Toledo in general. The first Toledo was an Ibiza with a boot, that they stretched to the dimensions of the Vento. Then, in the second edition they turned it into the compact sports saloon variant of the Leon, the sporty compact from the VW group, was born. And for Seat Toledo 5P, they went in a totally different direction and turned it into a MPV. There was an issue however, as the spanish also launched an almost-Golf-Plus MPV already,  the Seat Altea. So, Seat Toledo 5P is going through an existential crisis worse than Kanye West and/or Ye.

So, what’s the difference between Seat Altea and Seat Toledo 5P? Quite easy. On the Toledo’s buttocks they stamped “T O L E D O”, and on Altea’s tailgate it says “A L T E A”. Oh yes, and Altea is a classic hatchback with a tailgate that lifts with the boot a few kilometers up in the sky, while Seat Toledo 5P has a conventional trunk. Oh yes, and Altea stayed with us until 2015, while Seat Toledo was retired in 2009 because then the VW folks realized they were selling the same car twice and retired Toledo to appear in a different form, with a different concept, in 2012.

I could have copied from the Altea review and paste it here, but I said that if I paid for the full internet bandwidth, I will use the whole internet bandwidth. Like those who operate on the premise that if they paid for the whole speedometer, well then they’ll use the whole speedometer. So, Toledo is built on the Golf V platform, and unlike Altea, you have an extra 35 centimeters in length, mainly thanks to the Renault Vel Satis inspired buttocks. Otherwise, they’re identical because the Germans needed 5 years to realize they were selling the same car twice. Kind of how like Thomas Running invented running in 1784 by trying to walk twice at the same time.

Seat Toledo 5P Engines

Petrol

• 1.6 MPI BSE of 102 horsepower – Seat Toledo 5P is as sporty as Tom Jones, but still, they couldn’t put only one petrol engine up for sale, namely this 1.6 MPI. At least for the sake of options of engine choices. Sure, it has issues with oil and coil packs, but that’s about it. It’s actually the only petrol engine worth buying.


• 1.4 MPI BXW of 86 horsepower – Available on just a few select countries, this engine was barely enough for the standard Leon, but on the MPV Toledo is like having Chris Harris carry Top Gear on his shoulders. One man and engine can only do so much. Reliable, but too underpowered.


• 1.8 TSI BZB of 160 horsepower – A village bicycle used extensively across the VW group, from Skoda Superb to the Audi A4 B8 and everything in between, this is the famous 1.8 TSI suffering from oil incontinence. But at least here, it’s rarer than money in my wallet because Toledo 5P doesn’t inspire you to floor it and hoon it around. 


• 2.0 FSI BLR of 150 horsepower – Another sporty engine that made little sense being paired with Seat Toledo and doesn’t even get along with a LPG installation. So, the reasons to tick this engine are as many as the reasons for me to go to work tomorrow.


• 2.0 TFSI BWA of 200 horsepower – I don’t even know what consumes more on this engine – oil or gasoline??? Still, I’m curious to see how a 200 version Toledo runs with kids in the back. Specifically, I want to see how those kids redecorate the car’s interior with what they ate that morning.

Diesel

• 1.9 TDI BJB/BKC/BXE/BLS of 105 horsepower – Unfortunately, on Toledo 5P, we only have the 1.9 TDI in the 105 horsepower version, and some are good, others are not. Most do not have a DPF except for the BLS engine, and the BXE engine is quite known for shattering it’s rods. But overall, I have nothing more to say about the 1.9 TDI than it is a compromise that favors reliability but gives a kick in the nads to performance. And that they have 180,000 km on each cylinder, not whatever number the classifieds advertise. 


• 2.0 TDI AZV/BKD/BMM/BMN of 136, 140 and 170 horsepower – Unfortunately, Toledo 5P doesn’t catch the 2.0 TDI Common-Rail train, but at least it doesn’t have the problem engines from Audi A4 or Passat B6 or Touran. As for general issues, however, you’ll be left with a complementary dual-mass flywheel, injectors, and the DPF clogging.

Seat Toledo 5P Reliability Issues

• The main issue with Seat Toledo 5P is that VW realized only after 5 years that they were selling the same car twice, Toledo and Altea. And the Toledo received that weird tailgate that theoretically gives you extra space but suffers from exactly the same issue as most saloons– you never know where the car ends because you have no idea where the tailgate is. Plus, it will be challenging to replace the tailgate, especially from breakers.


• It’s a Seat, so a VW from 2005, so I have to talk about complementary rust affecting all cars in the group. Expect rust everywhere, even on plastic.


• In the desire to protect the pedestrian at the inevitable moment when you will pick him up on the pedestrian crossing, Seat Toledo 5P has a sloping and windshield longer than the expectation for the clock to turn to 5PM on a Friday so you can finally go home. Moreover, the wipers are hidden under the hood, also in the desire to protect the pedestrian. This means that 1. the windshield cracks more easily (see Renault Scenic) and 2. you will have quite a few blind spots.


• The ABS sensor is another recurring issue with the VW group from 2005, so you’ll have to change either a sensor, a ring, or even a pump if you think it’s worth the money.

Seat Toledo 5P Verdict 

It’s hallucinating how the same car was sold twice at the same time. But still, I have to find a reason for Seat Toledo 5P and not for Altea. Altea comes in an XL edition, comes with 4×4, and comes with newer generation engines. But Seat Toledo 5P? Nope, they withdrew it in 2009, then took a 3-year break, and came back under the name Seat Toledo IV, obviously with a different concept, with a different haircut. Do I recommend Seat Toledo 5P then? Only if you catch it with a good deal and really need that additional space compared to Altea.

Which engines do I recommend? The only petrol engine that fits Toledo is the 1.6 MPI, and for diesel, it’s your choice, although probably a 1.9 TDI is good enough for the job.