The flagship of the current SEAT range, the handsome Toledo saloon, is based on the VW Golf but actually costs slightly more.

The new Toledo offers more room than a Golf and, a SEAT trait, a simply enormous boot.

Luggage-carrying capacity may be slightly compromised by the narrow opening (you won't be bringing home any flat pack wardrobes from Ikea in a Toledo) but there's always the SEAT Leon if you prefer a hatch.

The interior is up to the lofty standards set by the Golf in this class.

VW owners will be familiar with the switchgear and Audi drivers will be shocked to find the macho red backlighting used in their cars has filtered down to the SEAT range too.

The steering wheel is nice and chunky to hold, the gearstick snicks across the gate with Japanese smoothness and the handling feels spot on, not too soft, not to hard.

SEAT has even fixed my biggest VW bug-bear by specifying softer padding for the Toledo's seats.

The 1.9-litre turbodiesel fitted to the TDi SE is a welcome addition from the VW parts bin.

In the Toledo it's fast, smooth and almost ridiculously frugal (60mpg on longer runs).

So which would I rather have, a Toledo or a Golf?

On paper there's nothing in it but on the street, where it counts, the smart-looking Toledo would always catch my eye first. The SEAT has attitude as well as aptitude.

So what do I make of the Toledo TDi?

Not so much an expensive Golf as a cheap Audi A4.

Price: £16,915