It seems hard to believe that the latest SEAT Cordoba is a car based on the VW Polo supermini platform.

The saloon version of the popular Ibiza, in its latest guise, becomes another of those 'crossover' cars that tips up into the next segment to battle with Toyota Corolla and the Ford Focus.

Similar in size to many small family car competitors, the Spanish car represents good value because it has a couple of cheaper, albeit less powerful, engine options than those other cars. Yet it doesn't give away much in essential comforts and safety features to them.

So, if you can have two cars of roughly equal size and decent quality, you can save maybe up to E3,000 in the difference.

I first drove one of these in Spain when it was launched to the European press. Liked it then as much as I previously liked - and still do - the latest Ibiza on which it is based.

Things don't look any worse in right-hand-drive, and while the Cordoba interior is not the flashest in town, it is nicely shaped and well put together.

There's a touch of two-toning in the style, and though the car I drove didn't have the heavyish flock finish that the very top end of Ibezas have, it is nicely finished.

The steering wheel and gearshifters are nice to feel and use, and the electro-hydraulic steering system allows decent feel for what's happening up front.

Outside, the Cordoba is a street ahead of its predecessor in style, with a high-waisted outline that lends itself to a decent-sized boot that has a capacity of 30 litres more than its predecessor.

The new car is 117mm longer, and is also wider and taller than the older car. Stylewise, the real detail scoring with the latest of these Polo-platformed cars has to be in the lights, both front and rear, which are very sexy indeed.

In all, there are four engines available. The 1.4 petrols come in 75bhp and 100bhp tastes respectively, and that top-end one is one of my overall favourite VW Group engines. The entry level has a 3-pot 1.2-litre that needs to sing for its supper, but sings with happy humour nevertheless.

And if you wanna go for the full monte, then you do diesel, because the top engine is the 130bhp TDi that will do the 0-62mph sprint in around 9.5 seconds and still return more than 55mpg. It has a 6-speed gearbox.

The new Cordoba comes with the now-familiar specification levels of Stella, Signo and Sport. At prices (ex works) ranging from E15,650-E24,050.

It doesn't want for specification even in the most basic version, which includes dual airbags, radio/CD, electric front windows, remote central locking, height adjustable driver's seat and a steering wheel adjustable for both reach and rake.

If SEAT dealers throughout Ireland do their job any way right at all, we're going to see a lot of these rolling around.