SEAT Ibiza review

What is it? The new SEAT Ibiza is the fifth generation of the brand’s big-selling supermini. Key features New platform, sharper looks, more tech and refinement. Our view The new SEAT Ibiza is the most effective version of the car yet, and a serious rival to Britain’s best-selling car the Ford Fiesta. More SEAT news, reviews, features and offers The SEAT Ibiza is a model crucial to the Spanish brand’s fortunes. The Ibiza forms one of the three ‘brand pillars’, the others being the larger Leon and the new Ateca SUV, and these in recent times have enabled SEAT to emerge from far too long a period as ‘Volkswagen’s problem child’. Today SEAT is on the up – as the fifth-generation Ibiza launches the brand is seeing UK sales 20% ahead of 2016, and Britain is now firmly established as SEAT’s third-biggest market after Spain and Germany. There is one more reason why those creating the new Ibiza cannot afford to get it wrong – the car’s main rival is Britain’s biggest seller of all, the Ford Fiesta… Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Exterior and interior. SEAT states boldly that “pretty much everything” on the new Ibiza is, well new. That includes the underpinnings – the brand is again the first in the Volkswagen Group to use a new platform, in this case, the modular MQB A0. This platform permits a whole range of model shapes and wheelbase lengths on the same basic design. While the new Ibiza is slightly shorter than the outgoing car (by 2mm!), MQB A0 also allows the wheelbase to be stretched by 60mm, and a width increase of a frankly massive 87mm. All of this adds up to more interior room as well as a more pleasing, planted exterior profile. Visually one will easily tell the new car from the old Ibiza. SEAT has followed the lead of just about every supermini rival bar Ford by only offering the car as a five-door model, but the styling is intended to retain the sportier look one would expect of a three-door. It is also clearly evolved from the Ibiza’s larger sister the Leon, with more distinct edges and heavier sculpting, especially around the doors. This is a car with strong design elements, notably the very aggressive triangular headlamps, their shape replicated in the door mirror housings. The rear is just as impressive, with a strong rake to the screen and lamps wrapping around the car’s corners. Inside is, again, instantly recognisable to anyone that has sat in the larger Leon, and that is no bad thing. VW Group knows how to create practical yet purposeful interior layouts, and the Ibiza maintains the breed. There is plenty of quality-touch surfacing, though unfortunately also still a little of the less-impressive cheaper plastic familiar to owners of the previous Ibiza, notably around the touchscreen infotainment system on the centre console. On our top-spec Xcellence model, the touchscreen is the full-colour Media System Plus version that, among other gains, expands the screen size from five to eight inches – so less plastic! It also includes navigation, this not the worst system around but still somewhat over-fiddly in today’s market. Generally, however, the dash is very well designed, neatly angled towards the driver and every important control close to the touch. No complaints about space – the longer, wider dimensions mean plenty of room within, particularly considering this is a supermini. Rear seat headroom especially is impressive compared to rivals. Boot size has mushroomed too, by 63 litres to 355 litres. Such space makes it easier to ignore the fact that it’s not the best-shaped cargo compartment on the market. Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Powertrains. Even before the current backlash against diesel engines, few buyers favoured them in superminis. SEAT makes the choice simpler by only offering three variations on a petrol unit, at least to begin with. Diesel variants are in the pipeline, a 1.6 TDI in 80 and 95hp outputs, while there will also be a more powerful 150hp petrol option before the end of 2017. For now, the choice is between two 1.0-litre units – the ‘older tech’ MPI engine with 75hp, and the TSI which boasts turbocharger, intercooler and direct injection and is offered with 95 or 115hp. The MPI is effectively the ‘entry-level’ engine and is paired to a five-speed manual transmission, as is the 95hp TSI. The larger 115hp unit gets a six-speed gearbox, and will be able to be specified with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. On the road. Chosen test subject for The Car Expert at the launch event was the 1.0-litre TSI with 95hp, a powertrain that is likely to be chosen by the majority of Ibiza buyers. First aspect of this engine that makes itself clear is, just how unnoticeable it is. It is so refined, so smooth in operation that one glides along in almost silence. This should not be taken as the unit lacking performance, because it delivers all one would expect in a supermini, and quite a lot more. It’s particularly torquey at the bottom of the rev range – 175Nm is served up from 1500rpm which makes it great for accelerating out of slow corners or brisk overtaking. We are not talking rocketship fast, that’s not what it’s about, but it is excellent in its environment and a great deal of fun. SEAT’s confidence in its new car saw us testing the Ibiza on the challenging A roads of the North Wales countryside, and the Ibiza was a very willing companion. In terms of handling any supermini sits in the shadow of the Ford Fiesta, but the Ibiza is now close enough to be a serious contender. The car is fun to drive, not too stiff – one wants the FR-trim version with its sports suspension for that – but tuned to a degree that produces great fun in the plentiful twists and turns that North Wales serves up. Yet when cruising, it settles back, smothers any less than perfect surfaces and provides an engaging ride. Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Introduction | Design | Powertrains | On the Road | Equipment | Summary and Specifications Equipment. The SEAT Ibiza launches with four trim level options – the familiar entry-level S, expected best-selling SE and sports-pitched FR, plus a new grade dubbed Xcellence. This is effectively a luxury alternative to FR, its bespoke wheels 16-inch instead of the FR’s 17-inch, desirables such as dual-zone climate control and Alcantara/simulated leather upholstery fitted instead of sports suspension and sports seats. SEAT claims that the new Ibiza boasts one of the most comprehensive safety packages in the segment, many of the electronic aids cascading down from the Leon and Ateca. It’s goot to see that the Front Assist and Multi-Collison Braking System driving aids are fitted even on the basement S grade. Most popular trim is expected to be the SE and it’s no surprise. For just over £800 extra it replaces the S model’s 15-inch steel wheels with alloys and adds such niceties as front fog lights that illuminate corners, LED daytime running and tail lights, and a colour instead of a black and white touchscreen. FR models cost more than £1400 more than SE, and one can only buy the 150hp engined Ibiza as an FR. As well as the sporty bits mentioned earlier, the touchscreen grows to eight inches and gains both DAB radio and the linking functions for smartphones, the Drive Profile with its Eco, Sport, Comfort and Individual driving modes, and niceties such as cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, see-me-home lights and such. Add £2,715 to an SE to buy an Xcellence, and the recipe includes all the non-sporty bits of the FR plus styling extras (tinted rear windows, chrome trim, bespoke painted door handles and mirrors), parking sensors including a rear camera, keyless start and such like. An Ibiza TSI 95 Xcellence is £17,310 and is a lot of car for the money. Summary. SEAT had to do something special to take the supermini fight to the Ford Fiesta, and it has. The new Ibiza is a very good car indeed, comparable with its Ford rival in just about every area, ahead (just) in several. The Fiesta will continue to be the nation’s best-seller because many people effectively buy it habitually. But those buyers really ought to look at the SEAT Ibiza – many might just break the habit… SEAT Ibiza – key specifications. Models tested: SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95hp On Sale: July 2017 Range price:£13,130-£17,310 Insurance groups: 5E-12E Engines: 1.0-litre petrol x 3. Power (hp): 75, 95, 115. Torque (Nm): 95, 175, 200. 0-62mph (sec):14.7, 10.9, 9.3. Top speed (mph): 104, 111, 121. Fuel economy (combined, mpg): 57.6, 60.1, 60.1. CO2 emissions (g/km): 112, 106, 108. Key rivals: Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Polo Test Date: July 2017 Read more SEAT news, reviews and features at The Car Expert

Design 9.0
Performance 8.0
Handling 9.0
Economy 8.0
Value 9.0

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