Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor | Rivals
1. Looks
Of all of the brands in the Volkswagen Group, Seat is the most recognisable. With its Spanish flair, the Ibiza is able to appeal to young and old alike - it certainly looks and feels more dynamic than the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia with which it shares its DNA. Seat's design team must have run out of rulers when sketching the Ibiza, as there's barely a straight line on the car - curves are most certainly the order of the day. It's well proportioned and there's an excellent attention to detail: the Seat badge lifts to double as the boot handle, and the rear lights wouldn't look out of place on a supercar.
Verdict 7/10
2. Looks inside
The Seat's Spanish flair continues inside. Despite being swathed in acres of plastic the dash is full of curves and is a reasonably pleasant thing to be sat in front of. The centre console is even angled towards the driver, which makes it feel more of a driver's car. Unusually for an around-town hack, the Ibiza had a chunky feeling steering wheel which you can get a decent grip on should you want to throw the car about. Our test car had quite a bit of wind noise through the driver's side window and door, although this could be an isolated case.
Verdict 6/10
3. Practicality
Decent storage space is vital in a supermini, as they tend to be practical workhorses first and toys second. There was plenty of space in the cabin to store oddments, a glovebox big enough to lose several pairs of gloves in and plenty of cubby holes. The obligatory fancy cup holders completed the picture up front. The boot was more than big enough for a big trip to Tesco, and the rear seats fold 60:40. The only real cause for concern was the sloping roofline, which could cause hassle for taller drivers.
Verdict 7/10
4. Ride and Handling
The ride and handling is focused on comfort rather than performance - there's the hot Cupra model for that. The Ibiza can waft along the road, and is only troubled by particularly scarred surfaces. There was plenty of road noise at speed, which was surprising given the fairly high profile tyres, which can help to dampen the sound. The light steering feels nice and light around town, aiding manoeuvring in tight spaces, but it doesn't 'weight up' to provide feedback at speed. We also found the clutch pedal travel overly long, which caused aching legs on long runs and extended urban commutes.
Verdict 7/10
5. Performance
Again, performance isn’t this 1.4 diesel's forte, but it can show a surprising turn of speed when needed. A power figure of just 80bhp belies the Ibiza's acceleration figures. It'll get to 60mph in 12.9 seconds and reach 109mph flat out; but it's the mid-range punch that really impresses. From 1,800rpm to around 4,000, there's enough urge in all five gears to make overtaking simple. Couple this with a claimed 61.9mpg figure (we averaged slightly less, at around 55mpg) and it's a very impressive all-rounder.
Verdict 8/10
6. Running Costs
Weighing in at under £10k, this Ibiza is good value for money; if you are planning to keep it for a long time. This is because Seats have the worst depreciation of any brand in the Volkswagen group. Of course, this does make them an excellent used prospect. Fuel bills will suit even the most cost-conscious motorist, and a group 4 insurance rating is very affordable. All Seats come with a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty (two years manufacturer cover, and one year dealer cover), a 12 year corrosion warranty and 24 months worth of European breakdown cover. Servicing is relatively pocket-pleasing, with a major service due every 20,000 miles, with a minor on each 10,000 mile mark.
Verdict 7/10
7. Reliability
Another area where the Ibiza scores well is reliability. Seat comes fifth in the Reliability Index, in terms of frequency and cost of repairs. Interestingly, it does much better than Volkswagen and Skoda. Our test car felt solidly built and was free from rattles.
Verdict 8/10
8. Safety
Our 1.4 Reference test car came with driver and passenger airbags, but lacked the £319 side and curtain airbags which only feature as standard on the FR and Cupra performance models. The passenger 'bag can be deactivated should a child seat be installed in the front. ABS comes as standard across the range, as does a collapsible steering column and a brake pedal that will break to avoid damaging the driver's legs in the event of a crash. The Ibiza scored an excellent four stars for occupant protection in the EuroNCAP crash test programme, and is above average for pedestrian protection.
Verdict 8/10
9. Equipment
Our entry-level Reference model came with enough kit for the average driver. Electric front windows, remote central locking and a radio/CD player; but the mirrors have to be moved via an adjuster on the doors and air-con was strangely absent. Swap diesel power for petrol and you'll get climate control on the Stylance, the next model up which is only available as a petrol. The next diesel comes in the 1.9 Sport, along with a range of racy accoutrements. Sat-nav isn't available on any model, even as an option.
Verdict 6/10
10. X-Factor
There's no shortage of cheap superminis these days, but the Ibiza is one of the few with a funky edge. But unlike some other Euro hatches, it's screwed together properly, and feels like a car you could want to live with for a long time.
Verdict 7/10
Rivals:
You might want to consider:
Skoda Fabia
Chevrolet Kalos
Mazda 2
Compare the best prices on a new Seat Ibiza with Auto Trader's New Car Search
