SEAT Cordoba 1999-2003 Photos, engines & full specs

SEAT introduced the first generation of the Cordoba in 1993 and, six years later, it refreshed the entire lineup, which consisted of a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, and a station wagon.

Usually, a carmaker refreshes a vehicle after four years on the market. SEAT was going through difficult times. Since it was under Volkswagen Group, it had to comply with the German directions. In the end, those decisions proved valuable.

The 1999 model featured a new design, which led to softer edges and some curved lines over the bodywork. Its headlights sported a curve on their upper side, while its predecessor featured rectangular ones. In search of its individual brand image, the carmaker introduced a new badge at the front, surrounded by a body-colored bumper element. The sedan version featured an interesting up-kick behind the rear doors and small triangular side windows. Its tall trunk lid and short rear overhang gave the car a sporty appearance, despite its small-segment size and proportions.

Inside, the carmaker introduced a completely new dashboard with better integration for the ventilation system and smooth vents on top of the center stack. Inside the instrument cluster, SEAT adopted Volkswagen's style for the dials, with the temperature and fuel gauges installed in the middle and panel's upper side.

Under the hood, SEAT installed a narrower range of engines when compared with its non-facelifted version. That resulted after the management noticed that customers seldom requested higher-powered engines.