Who'd have thought it? SEAT, for so long the problem child of the VW Group, is flying. Sales are soaring, thanks in no small part to the brilliant Ateca SUV (with two more SUVs coming in the next twelve months), and now the Ibiza supermini has been chosen to debut the Group’s latest small car technology.
This is the first car to use the new MQB A0 small car platform, with all the lightweight and hi-tech benefits that brings.
Yes, Ibiza before Polo, A1, Fabia and a host of SUV spin-offs. That would’ve been most unlikely just a few years ago, especially as SEATs tend to be pretty much as good as their sister cars, but usually with a style and price advantage. What’s not to like?
With the new Ibiza, not much. That new platform means the car is roomier than before, in spite of being a fraction (2mm) shorter. It’s 87mm wider and a smidge lower than the old car, with the wheelbase stretched by 95mm – great in numbers and pretty impressive in reality, too. The car looks lower, wider and meaner (the old car was always a bit tall and thin), while inside there’s surprising space for a supermini.
Up front there’ll be no complaints about head, leg and shoulder room, while in the back a couple of burley friends or three kids will be very happy. Access is pretty good, too, while three-door model has been ditched (as has the ST estate version), leaving just this five-door model and the upcoming Arona SUV based on the same platform.
Miraculously, luggage space has been boosted, too, now with 355 litres. That makes it roomier for your bags than a Ford Focus, and probably much bigger than the soon-to-be-launched Fiesta. It’s an easy space to get to with a floor that can level things out for easier loading or drop for maximum capacity.
So all is looking good so far and things get even better when it comes to quality. SEAT’s Martorell factory, where the Ibiza (and the forthcoming Audi A1) will be built has been churning out some of the best-made cars in the group, including the Audi Q3. And looking at the bodywork of our test car, the sharp creases and tight panel fit are as good as you’ll get anywhere.
It’s Martorell’s ability to produce such strong quality that allows SEAT’s design team to indulge themselves with unusual slashes and lines on the bodywork – and there are plenty on the new Ibiza. Whether it’s the bold lines sliding down the bonnet or the blisters on the side of the car, they combine with triangular light units front and rear to give the car a really striking look, not unlike the bigger Leon. We can’t imagine the new Polo will look this good.
The sharp lines continue inside across the dash with its upper section used for ventilation and lower section including the rather swish 8-inch touchscreen (on SE Technology, FR and Xcellence models).
SEAT says most people will be tempted out of S and SE models into the SE Technology model with that big touchscreen and standard navigation (S gets a 5-inch black and white touchscreen that’s upgraded to colour on SE models).
The new MQB A0 platform also means there’s plenty of big-car tech available from wireless mobile phone charging to adaptive cruise control. SEAT has also teamed up with hip audio company Beats to produce a decent audio upgrade that’s yours for £304 – not bad for the depth of sound on offer.
The scrimpers have visited SEAT, though – you have to pay £150 to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on all but FR and Xcellence models.
Keeping the costs down also means some of the plastics on the dash and door tops don’t have the squishy feel you might like. They look fine, they feel okay to the touch, it’s just when you prod them that there’s no give. For us, it wouldn’t be a reason not to buy this car.
The way the car drives, though, is one of the biggest reasons to put the Ibiza on your supermini shopping list. As with every other VW Group MQB car, the Ibiza has a grown-up feel to it that this sector hasn’t seen before.
It’s quiet – very quiet. Our car had the 114bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine that’s punchy (0-62mph in 9.3secs), frugal (claimed 60.1mpg average) and refined. There’s a bit of a three-cylinder growl if you push hard, but most of the time things are really hushed.
At a cruise, you’ll hear the wind rushing past the angular door mirrors, but that’s more due to the overall silence inside rather than excessive wind noise.
The gearshift is slick and easy, while the steering is positive and secure, but without much in the way of feel – another MQB trait.
The FR trim that this engine comes with in the UK is a touch firmer than other models thanks to its 17-inch alloys and stiffer suspension, yet it’s not uncomfortable over bumps and it eliminates the tiny bit of body roll you’ll notice in other versions.
There are Normal and Sport settings, too, although in reality you’ll be hard pushed to tell the difference between the two – the FR is very much a mild hatch, bordering on the warm. You’ll eventually be able to get it with a 148bhp 1.5-litre engine, which we also tried. It’s yet to be homologated so there are no performance figures yet – or prices – but it only marginally improves performance, while lacking some of the three-cylinder motor’s charm.
Other engine options include 74 and 94bhp versions of the three-cylinder engine, while wisely diesels don’t appear on the UK price list.
Talking of which, the starting price of £13.130 is a little ahead of Ford’s new Fiesta, but about par for the course. The best seller is likely to be the £15,255 SE Technology model with the 94bhp 1.0-litre engine.
- Model: SEAT Ibiza FR 1.0 TSI 115PS
- Price: £16,630
- Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder, 114bhp
- Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel-drive
- 0-62mph/Top speed: 9.3secs/121mph
- Economy/CO2: 60.1mpg/108g/km
- Equipment: Alloy wheels, 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, CarPlay and Android Auto, LED DRLs
- On sale : Now