First drive: 2008 Seat Ibiza car review

Auto Driven: Seat Ibiza
Models tested: Seat Ibiza 1.6 16V 105hp Sport, 1.4 16V 85hp Stylance
Price as tested: £TBC
Range price: £TBC (From approximately £9,000)
Insurance group range: 2-5
Date and place tested: May 2008, Ibiza, Spain
Road tester: Adrian Higgins

The UK’s favourite Spanish car – the Seat Ibiza – has grown up for the launch of the car’s fourth generation model this summer.

Bigger than its predecessor and the first model in the range to entirely be the work of former Lamborghini design chief Luc Donckerwolke, the Seat Ibiza also gives clues to future Audis, VWs and Skodas with its all-new platform.

Web Editor Adrian Higgins swapped sunny Britain for the rain-soaked Balearic Islands to test drive the new Seat Ibiza.

The new Seat Ibiza has grabbed headlines for its sharp new styling and the platform it is built on.

The former is the first of the Spanish manufacturer’s cars to have been overseen by former Lamborghini design chief Luc Donckerwolke while the latter will be shared with future Volkswagen Group cars – Audi, Skoda and of course VW itself.

View more pictures of the 2008 Seat Ibiza

Sadly for Seat our first view of the Seat Ibiza was not bathed in brilliant Baleriac sunshine but against a backdrop of gloomy skies and a sprinkling of persistent, light rain.

Despite this, the car’s bold new lines could not fail to make an impact.

Zorro-like effect

Most eye-catching are the trio of creases which swoop across the car’s profile, one flowing down from the bonnet, a second tracing the line started by the rear light cluster and the third running along the bottom of the doors, creating a Zorro-like effect.

The front has also undergone a substantial redesign which has resulted in a more contemporary, serious look, but after a day’s driving and viewing Seat’s promotional videos it is the rear which impressed most and perfectly complements a substantial change for Seat’s biggest selling car.

The other most significant development has been the introduction of a new chassis due to be introduced across the VW Group.

And while the exterior design lends the car a smarter, more modern appearance it is the “agile” chassis, combined with increased body stiffness (though the car is now about 50g lighter) which contributes significantly to the Seat Ibiza’s more grown-up feel with improved handling giving greater confidence in corners.

Seat has created a more driver-focussed dash which is also fairly minimalist with large amounts of neatly-fitting decent-quality plastics dominating the view from the passenger side.

View more pictures of the 2008 Seat Ibiza

The dash also features a satnav “docking station” to enable tidy storage for your device rather than drivers having to stick it to the windscreen.

Cupra and FR versions arrive in 2009

Increased dimensions (the Seat Ibiza is 7mm longer with a track 30mm wider at the front and a few millimetres more than that at the rear) and a lowered driving position has also combined to improve headroom and make this feel a very roomy car. And not just for passengers – an additional 25 litres boot space brings the total area up to 292-litres.

Seat plan to drip feed models into the UK market with sporty FR and Cupra models, diesel versions and Seat’s Green brand Ecomotive all due in the UK in 2009. A range-topping Ibiza known as the Seat Bocanegra will make up the range in 2009 after the amazing reception it received at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

The 2008 launch will introduce UK buyers to three petrol options: a three cylinder 70bhp 1.2-litre model, a 85bhp 1.4-litre model and a 105bhp 1.6-litre model – both four cylinder.

The 1.2-litre model has a 0-62mph time of 15 seconds and a top speed of 102mph, the 1.4-litre model can cover 0-62mph in 12.2 seconds with a top speed of 109mph while performance figures for the 1-6 are 10.5 seconds and 117mph.

More sporty performance to come

Fuel consumption ranges from around 42.8mpg to 48mpg while CO2 emissions of between 139g/km and 157g/km will fall within car tax bands C and D with an annual bill of between £120 And £145.

I drove the 1.4-litre model and 1.6-litre model, both of which are competent engines with power delivered through a neat five-speed gearbox.

We would have liked the 1.6-litre model we drove to be a little quieter but runaround buyers will be well-served by these models with those looking for a sportier experience better waiting for the FR and Cupra versions.

View more pictures of the 2008 Seat Ibiza

At the other end of the spectrum the Ecomotive and diesel models will be kinder on the pocket (motorists who drive through central London will beat the congestion charge with any of forthcoming diesel models which will all fall below the 120g/km cut-off point).

At the time of testing the new Seat Ibiza had not undergone EuroNCAP crash tests but Seat is confident that developments including introducing electronic stability program (ESP) as standard will help secure a five star rating.

Other safety features include anti-lock brakes, traction control and brake assist as well as headlights which focus their beams on bends as they are cornered.

Three trim levels

Buyers will be able to choose between three trim levels: Reference, Stylance and Sport.

Each feature a good specification level with standard features including ESP, hill hold control, six speaker CD/radio and height and reach adjustable steering wheel.

Stylance upgrades the trim significantly to add body-coloured door handles, foglamps, air-conditioning, cruise control, leather steering wheel and gearknob, and trip computer.

Sport adds many of the same features as Stylance but unsurprisingly with a more sporty emphasis including sports suspension and sports seats. Options for the car include bi-xenon headlights, automatic lights and windscreen wipers, USB connectivity and rear parking sensors.

Seat expects the car’s looks to be its main selling point and the Seat Ibiza is undoubtedly an eye-catching car with easy-to-like contemporary looks.

The first models to hit UK roads will be among the big sellers and the fourth generation of a car which has notched up four million sales has progressed it considerably.

However, the manufacturer’s sporty brands FR and Cupra will also have a significant sales impact and we look forward to testing these models with the new chassis.