Spending a few days pottering around Spain recently brought it home to me that British drivers are missing out on a few things: about 18 inches of
sheet metal aft of a car's rear window and the ability to save a few quid on
insurance.
Unlike our continental cousins, the British tend to shun the compact saloon - nee family hatch with a boot. For whatever reason it's a concept that doesn't click with the UK driving psyche. I believe the problem stems from a lack of attractive models to choose from. After all, how many times have you spotted a familiar looking hatchback in the distance, only for it to morph into the hunchback of Dagenham as it passes you by?
Fashioning a four-door saloon from a five-door hatch is, clearly, not as easy as it sounds. With so little length to play with, grafting a poorly designed appendage onto the rear of a car the size of a supermini can spell
disaster on the sales floor.
It doesn't help matters when Tarquin in the marketing department decides to spend next to no money promoting his company's new product, ensuring that the hatch variant gets all the attention. Making the four-door model more Cinderella than Belle of the Ball, if you like.
With that in mind, any new entrant is always going to have a tough time.
SEAT acknowledges this, and is the reason why its Córdoba compact saloon comes in only three flavours: 1.4-litre petrol plus two diesel variants - 100bhp and 130bhp.
Recognising that the latter is very much a niche within a niche, the Spanish firm knows that its entry-level petrol and diesel cars will be the 'big' sellers. And in an age where sales of oil-burners are growing and attitudes are changing towards cars powered by the sticky stuff, it's the Córdoba propelled by Volkswagen's venerable 1.9-litre lump that makes the most sense.
There's something strangely satisfying about zipping down the road in a car this frugal, safe in the knowledge that you'll be visiting a filling station with roughly the same regularity that you cast your vote for a new government.
Despite the engine's widespread use within the Volkswagen empire, it never fails to impress. Okay, so the Córdoba is a small car, but its potential range and long-legged demeanour make it just as adept at a record-breaking coast-to-coast dash as a trip to the corner shop. Proving that torque really is cheap (sorry), the gutsy engine pulls strongly at low revs and remains a willing partner at motorway speeds when you want to sweep past Mr Sunday Driver without having to fumble for a lower gear.
Such behaviour is not at the expense of refinement, though, as the hard working engine emits nothing more than a purposeful thrum at speed. Although cold starting is a different - and noisier - matter, you'll be able to ditch the earplugs once the thing's warmed up.
Before you ask, no I haven't forgotten about the rest of Córdoba. It's just that it's easy to be distracted by the car's impressive power unit. That said, the four-door SEAT's front end will be instantly recognisable to Ibiza owners. All the design cues are there; from the dominant SEAT 'S' that takes centre stage to the cross-looking headlamps.
It's only when you take a walk to the rear that you will see what all the fuss is about. Just like the five-door Ibiza, the Córdoba possesses two extra rear doors for the benefit of back seat passengers. A few steps further and filling your vision is the all-important boot, replete with an array of funky looking circular tail lamps at each corner.
The designers have done a decent job and at no time does the trunk look like an afterthought - regardless of the angle the car is viewed from. And to prove that the boot is fully functional, the size of the loading aperture would put that of many larger saloons to shame.
It's a similar story of understated competence inside, as the Córdoba's cabin is pure Ibiza and will seat four adults in reasonable comfort. It's no limo, but the space is there and so is a pleasingly high level of standard kit that belies the car's list price. A decent stereo, airbags, power steering, powered front windows and air -con all make a welcome appearance, making the Córdoba anything but your stereotypical compact saloon.
Verdict: Not your average compact saloon

FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: SEAT Córdoba Tdi S £12,000 on the road.
Engine: 4-cylinder diesel unit of 1896cc developing 100bhp at 4,000rpm and 177lb/ft torque from 1,800rpm.
Transmission: Front-wheel drive through 5-speed manual gearbox.
Brakes: Discs front and rear, with ABS.
Performance: Maximum speed 118mph, 0-62mph in 11.1s. CO2 emissions rating: 135g/km.
Economy: 43.5mpg on the urban cycle, 68.9mpg extra urban, 56.5mpg combined.
Fuel tank capacity 45 litres.
Warranty: 3-year/60,000 miles mechanical, 6 years' anti perforation.