SEAT Cordoba SX 1996-1999 Photos, engines & full specs

Volkswagen charged the market with this Spanish-branded three-box coupe in 1996 and offered the small-segment a tough challenge.

In 1996, SEAT introduced a two-door version for its three-years-old Cordoba small-segment sedan. While most carmakers just used hatchbacks for their sportier, three-door vehicles, the Spaniards considered that a trunk in the back wouldn't spoil the car's abilities and will improve its usability. Moreover, the carmaker entered into the World Rally Championship with the Cordoba WRC based on this two-door sedan version. It didn't win, but it made the carmaker famous.

The Cordoba Coupe showed a similar front fascia with the rest of the range. It used the same headlights and grille, but from there on, the differences started to pile up. First of all, since it sported just two doors, they had to be longer to make room for the rear passengers to enter. In the back, the carmaker installed wider windows. At the back, the carmaker offered an option for a wing on the trunk.

Inside, SEAT insisted in showing some sporty accents and installed red letters on the instrument panel, but they used a black background instead of white. The carmaker piled up on the center stack the HVAC controls, the radio-cassette player, and, on top of them, a pair of vents. For the seats, SEAT chose regular Ibiza three-door ones, without too much bolstering.

Under the hood, SEAT offered the Cordoba coupe with better engines than the regular Ibiza or Cordoba and started with a 75 hp, 1.6-liter engine. Top of the line was a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated gasoline engine that offered 150 hp. All versions were paired to a five-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.