Former purveyor of clonky, usually very dusty Spanish boxes, it was swept up under the wing of the all-seeing VW group and began a rapid resurgence. The result is a pretty impressive bunch of well-engineered, good value VW clones, with a fair sprinkling of Latin attitude, especially in the looks department.
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Alhambra
£16,167 - £21,680
Epically old MPV offering sincere qualities but no stand-out feature to commend it over a riot of more modern, better-designed, more useful opposition. A gonner.
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Altea
£11,707 - £21,180
Result of putting a Leon on the rack and making it taller. Stretch it lengthways too and you get the Altea XL. Make it chunkier and you get the Freetrack 4. Keep up.
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Altea Freetrack
Very few cars with bumpers modelled on the moustaches of fictional detectives have proven to be a commercial success. The Freetrack seems set to continue this trend.
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Ibiza
£8,030 - £15,430
A taut, nimble hatch which buries its slightly last-season underpinnings beneath a very appealing personality. Whatever you do, Fiesta fans, don’t you dare dismiss it.
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Leon
£11,507 - £20,280
Perfect example of Seat doing its thing brilliantly. It’s a Golf underneath, so class-leadingly solid, but on top it’s a funky, stylish hatch with true Spanish flair. Olé!
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Leon Cupra/FR
Like a Golf GTi for people who go to foam parties and drink alcopop-type beverages advertised by men with a dubious sense of humour. Blinkin' quick, mind.
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Toledo
£12,707 - £18,805
Name once given to a boxy saloon now appears on an Altea with a Venus Williams-spec big arse. In terms of catching the UK imagination, it’s up there with bullfighting.


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