Let’s quickly contextualise the SEAT Ibiza. As SEAT belongs to the VW Group, so do the nuts and bolts of the Ibiza, meaning its skeletal underpinnings are closely related to that of the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia. It sits above the Mii city car and below the Leon hatchback in SEAT’s range, and believe it or not, is now in its fourth-generation, meaning its first incarnation dates back to the early 80s.
Sitting under the VW Group umbrella means it is constantly compared to its neighbouring brands - and from a style point of view, SEAT is arguably top dog, with its Spanish flair certainly being a favourite with the younger crowd.
Its drive, on the other hand, is similar to that of its Polo and Fabia cousins: it’s light and predictable. This is brilliant when nipping around city streets, but it also makes it less fun on country roads. It might be a road tester’s cliché, but the Fiesta is much more entertaining.
When it comes to choosing an engine, do yourself a favour and avoid the naturally-aspirated 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol. As soon as you drive this you will be thinking, ‘I wish this had a turbo’. Well, no need to wish, there is a turbocharged 104bhp 1.2-litre TSI available – which is what we had on test. This engine is great if you are looking for a small engine with a lot of personality, as it can reach 62mph from a standing start in just 9.8 seconds. Not too bad at all.
The biggest criticism I have of the Ibiza on the road is its refinement. The cabin can get very noisy, with road and engine roar flooding in. Also, if you go for the large 16/17-inch wheels – as opposed to the standard 15-inch steel wheels – ride comfort will be jeopardized slightly.
Interior quality in the Ibiza does not have the same lavish feel of the Polo. Although scratchy plastics were the norm in superminis, they are still too common place in the Ibiza. The I-Tech trim fitted on our test car wasn’t as tech-heavy as you may think. In fact, I-TECH ironically doesn’t add any technology at all. I-TECH models – only available with the 1.2-litre TSI and costing £14,340 – gain 16-inch alloy wheels and the I-TECH logo branded on the seats, B pillars, door sills, floor mats and key fob.
The significant tech additions come from the preceding Toca trim which brings SEAT’s dashboard-mounted Portable System Live and this comes with sat-nav, Bluetooth, Micros SD card functionality and tips for eco-driving. As is the case with the I-TECH trim however, this trim is only available with the one engine – an 84bhp 1.4-litre petrol – meaning you will have to pay at least £13,420 to get your hands on a sat-nav.
With some slight qualms with refinement and interior quality, it is clear to see the Ibiza is in need of a revamp, with its last full overhaul dating back to 2008 (a facelift took place in 2012). A whole new model should be announced soon and hopefully it will bring the Ibiza’s interior closer to the Polo and its larger brother, the Leon.
