Toledo is a city in central Spain on the river Tagus and is the capital the Castilla-La Mancha region. It is fame for its Toledan steel and sword blades.

It also lends its name to a car manufactured by Seat, which in turn is made from steel (though not Toledan steel). Now all that remains to discover is if the fourth generation model is as sharp as one of their famous blades.

It’s certainly off to a promising start, thanks in no small part to Seat’s decision to abandon the MPV-styling of its predecessor and instead adopt the clever hatchback-concealed-in-a-saloon design of its Skoda sibling, the Rapid.

The broad angular headlamps are a feature of the brand’s current design DNA and, together with the slender trapezoidal grille, the lower air intake and horizontal rear light clusters, give the Toledo a broader, more planted appearance.

The roofline arcs gently back to the C-pillar which flows down to the boot lid, framing the low-lying rear windscreen which means the clever hatchback-concealed-in-a-saloon design is not without the hint of a coupe about it.

As exciting as that might all sound the end result is a car that does rather play it safe, form following function, substance taking precedence over style. The Toledo is a car that treads a fine line somewhere between anonymous and inconspicuous. When was the last time you remember seeing one on the road?

If you’re the kind of person who argues that it’s what’s underneath that matters – and you would of course be correct – then you’ll be delighted to know that the Toledo goes some way to prove that old adage correct. It sits on an extended Polo platform with a big box, officially known as the boot, grafted onto the back.

The outcome of all that fettling is a spacious cabin and a simply massive boot. A boot more capacious, in fact, than either the Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia. The shape does make accommodating bulkier items a little more difficult, but for your run-of-the-mill weekly shop, you’ll be hard-pressed to find its equal.

Front and rear seat passengers are very well looked after, with ample head and legroom for everyone. The driving environment is not an unpleasant one. Quite the opposite in fact. The ergonomics are faultless while the build quality is excellent and, for that fact alone, the cabin is worthy of some praise but, like the exterior, the design of the dashboard leaves you with the sense that practicality was the primary concern.

There are three trim levels, SE, Style and Style Advanced, and standard equipment is a little on the sparse side across the range. Entry level models have steel wheels, air conditioning, electric windows, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth connectivity.

Upgrading to the Style adds 16in alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control and Media System Plus 6.5in infotainment touchscreen with DAB radio and sat nav while the Style Advance adds a hint of luxury with 17in alloys, LED rear lights, front parking sensors, keyless entry and leather and Alcantara upholstery.

On the move and the 1.6-litre diesel unit under the bonnet of my Style Advance spec test car proved to be the highlight of my week with the Toledo. It might only have 115PS but that’s married to 250Nm of torque which is available from just 1,500rpm. You’re also promised fuel consumption approaching 72.4mpg. A figure that, even in the real world, was never too far out of reach.

Performance – although it’s unlikely that will matter too much if the Toledo is on your shopping list – is respectable too, with the sprint to 62mph taking 10.4 seconds but it’s the broad spread of torque that really impresses, with enough flexibility to keep the number of gear changes to a minimum.

That makes for relaxed, easy-going motoring. Something that's hard not to appreciate as the world speeds manically around you.

Sadly the ride fails to live up to the promise of the engine’s peppy character, rather following the theme established by the car’s styling. The Toledo doesn’t share the sophisticated rear suspension of the Leon and it shows. The Spanish firm has a deserved reputation for building fine-handling cars but this particular Seat is the one that got away.

While the suspension does a commendable job of isolating passengers from fractured road surfaces body control is a little loose, meaning that the Toledo leans too much in corners to encourage rapid changes of steering input. If you're an enthusiastic driver this is a car you might want to steer clear of.

The Seat Toledo tries hard to be liked and, for the most part, it succeeds. It lacks the visual flair and dynamism of some of its siblings, but there is little doubt that its strengths – refinement, excellent diesel engine, build quality, spacious cabin and cavernous boot – will provide it with broad appeal.

Toledo Style Advance 1.6 TDI 115 PS 5-speed manual

Price: £19,680

As tested: £21,730

Engine: 1.6 TDI

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Max power: 115PS

Max torque: 250Nm @1,500rpm

Max speed: 125mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 10.4sec

Urban: 61.4mpg

Extra urban: 83.1mpg

Combined: 72.4mpg

Emissions (CO2): 101g/km

For more information visit www.seat.co.uk