Ten Point Test

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 81%

The Seat Ibiza FR could be the perfect all-rounder. It’s good-looking, fast and in diesel form it’s incredibly economical. It also fills a niche, as neither of its Skoda Fabia or Volkswagen Polo siblings are available with a performance diesel engine.

Very few other manufacturers offer a quick diesel supermini either, with the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa all offering less performance.

1. Looks 9/10

The Seat Ibiza is one of the best looking superminis, and the FR trimmings make it look even better. There’s an enlarged front bumper and honeycombe grilles, FR badging, double headlamps and a rear spoiler. There’s also a choice of elegant alloy wheels, although their spoke design makes them very easy to damage against the kerb.

Buyers can choose between the three-door SC – sports coupe – hatchback and a more conventional and practical five-door body style.

2. Looks inside 8/10

Black and red dominates the interior, with red piping and stitching on the seats, floor mats and steering wheel, giving the Ibiza FR a sporting edge to its otherwise restrained feel. FR badging is everywhere, including the seats, flat-bottomed steering wheel and instrument panel. The seats are supportive and comfortable, and it’s possible to get a great driving position thanks to lots of seat and steering wheel adjustment.

3. Practicality 7/10

The five-door is the more practical choice, giving  better access to the rear seats. It also has a slightly bigger boot, measuring 250 litres instead of 236. But, it’s smaller than the 295 litres found in a Ford Fiesta. Because the 2-litre engine in the FR TDI takes up lots of space under the bonnet, the car’s battery is neatly stored in the spare wheel well, under the boot floor, along with a full-sized spare wheel and tyre.

4. Ride and Handling 8/10

The Ibiza FR sits 15mm lower on stiffer suspension, reducing body roll in corners, but also making the ride less comfortable. If a relaxing drive is a top priority, the firm setup is not ideal, but, it’s fun to drive and the steering and gearbox are light and precise.

XDS is fitted too, an electronic system which can brake a front wheel if it senses the car is going too fast in a corner and losing grip. It feels unobtrusive and makes the car feel safer and more agile than it would be without the system.

The diesel version is the only Ibiza FR fitted with a manual six-speed gearbox, drafted in because it can handle the extra pulling power of the diesel engine. The petrol FR gets an excellent seven-speed semi-automatic DSG ‘box, which can be left to change gear by itself, or by using the steering wheel-mounted paddles.

5. Performance 8/10

The petrol Ibiza FR is fitted with a potent 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged engine with 150bhp, accelerating it to 62mph in 7.7 seconds. It offers smooth power and suits the car well.

The FR TDI is the most potent diesel supermini on sale, and carries on the mantle of the previous Ibiza FR TDI and Skoda Fabia vRS (which is now a petrol model). With just over 140bhp and a colossal 236lb/ft of pulling power it reaches 62mph in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 130mph.

Very long gearing allows the Ibiza to cruise at motorway speeds with barely any effort from the engine, meaning concentration is required to stick to the speed limit. The common rail fuelling technology used in the new 2-litre diesel engine is also much more refined than before, reducing noise in the cabin by around ten per cent, according to Seat.

Seat Ibiza FR gallery:

6. Running Costs 9/10

The Ibiza FR offers performance without breaking the bank. The FR TDI only emits 123g/km of CO2, placing it in one of the lowest tax bands. It also returns 60.1mpg, giving it a possible range of around 500 miles on a single tank of fuel.

7. Reliability 8/10

The Reliability Index places Seat in the middle of its manufacturer ratings. The Ibiza is a well-built car and there have been few problems with its widely used engines or gearboxes.

8. Safety 8/10

The Seat Ibiza scored the full five-stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, with four stars for child occupant protection and three out of four stars for pedestrian safety.

It’s fitted with stability control (ESP), traction control (TCS), ABS braking, low tyre pressure warning, front and side airbags and two rear ISOFIX child seat anchoring points.

9. Equipment 8/10

There’s everything most drivers will need, including: climate control, leather steering wheel, sports seats, Hill Hold Control, CD player/radio with MP3 and AUX socket, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, trip computer, remote central locking, heated door mirrors with silver surrounds, 17-inch alloy wheels, cornering fog lights and tinted rear windows.

10. X-Factor 9/10

The Seat Ibiza FR is a good-looking and enjoyable car to drive, which should also be reasonably cheap to own. If the small boot and firm ride don’t cause concern, there’s little else to fault with the car. The petrol FR is the most fun, but the diesel is better for motorway driving.

Key facts:

Model tested: Seat Ibiza FR CR TDI 5Dr 6-spd manual
On the road price: £17,020
Price range: £15,670 – £17,020
Date tested: July 2010
Road tester: Andy Goodwin