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| Road Test SEAT Ibiza 1.2 S |
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Simple Is Best
The 1.2 Reference is now a thing of the past, and with the introduction of the new Ibiza the 1.2 S tested here takes its place as the entry-level model in the range. The S trim level is the only one available with the Volkswagen Group's little 1198cc three-cylinder petrol engine, and vice versa - the 1.4 petrol car comes in both SE and Sport trim, while the 1.6 is offered in Sport form only. I must admit that I quite like basic cars, so I don't mind the fact that the S comes with steel wheels (all other versions get alloys), and misses out on cruise control, front foglights, electric rear windows and so on. I could, however, have done with electric door mirrors, though the reason for my slight tetchiness on the matter is simply that the test car's manual adjustment didn't have enough range for my purposes. (Actually, the test car wasn't as basic as all that, since it was fitted with air-conditioning which is not part of the standard specification. According to SEAT, this one change turns the car from an S into a separate model called S/AC, costing £9495 rather than the £8995 of the "real" S).
What I really like about the car is its engine. There seems to be a division of opinion on this among my colleagues; some don't like it at all, while others rave about it, and among the latter group there are several who describe it as "characterful". To be honest, I'm not sure what this means, but it may be a one-word attempt to convey the engine's pleasantly growly note and its willingness to spin round as fast as the revlimiter will let it without any apparent sign of strain. |
