SEAT Ibiza 1.4
For those still unwilling to convert to the charms of squashing heavy oil and indifferent to the prospect of hot-hatch ownership, the 1.4-litre petrol model represents a decent, affordable fall back option in SEATs Ibiza range.
Two 1.4-litre engines used to be offered, but SEAT trimmed-back the range leaving just the 75bhp version of the 16-valve four-cylinder powerplant. Its available in Stylance and Sport trim with the former offering a choice of manual or automatic gearbox. The engine is by no means sluggish, with 60mph appearing in 13.
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The Ibiza of today carries the effects of a facelift which edged the car closer to its newer SEAT stalemates on aesthetic grounds. Aggressive air-intakes are now evident, carved into the lower reaches of the front bumper. These evoke the ones on the SEAT Leon World Touring Car and emphasise the link that that the brand is always keen to make between its production models and motorsport ventures. Twin headlamps are also fitted as standard to all Ibizas, as are wheels of at least 15" in diameter, but its round the back where most alterations have been made. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEATs motorsport activities. As with all modern SEATs, the Ibiza displays its name centrally on its tailgate, below the large SEAT badge which doubles as the boot release.
"If the current state of Christina Aguilera wasnt proof enough, the Ibiza 1.4 provides further evidence that looking good neednt cost the earth."
As youd expect from SEAT, prices are on the cheap side of reasonable, especially when you bear in mind that this is a proper VW Group product. Its only when you realise that the Polo 1.4 S retails at nearly £10,000 that the asking price for the SEAT Ibiza 1.4 Stylance of £9,395 is put into perspective.
Put the two cars back to back and there would be few whod pick the Volkswagen as the better looker. The storys much the same with the 1.4 Sport version of the Ibiza. Insurance group 5 for the Sport probably isnt going to punch big holes in most buyers budgets either.
A number of big car options are also available for the Ibiza including a satellite navigation upgrade. Inside youll spot a number of VW Group parts, reappearing like old faces at a school reunion. The window switches, the gear knob, the ventilation controls and so on are all sourced from that bottomless well thats disparagingly termed the VW parts bin, and are none the worse for it. The roofline is lower than weve become used to in Polo and Fabia variants and the rear legroom is less, but otherwise the cabin holds few surprises other than a rather novel textured plastic thats softly abrasive but not particularly great looking.
Compared to its predecessor, the Ibiza is a dramatic improvement. Not only is it far prettier, it also utilises its cabin space better, the engine range is far more economical and the perceived quality has been ratcheted up a good few notches. None of these factors, however, differentiate it hugely from its rivals. SEAT point to the fact that the Ibizas based around the Agile Chassis concept developed in house.
This combines suspension settings tuned for the keen driver with an intelligent power steering system that not only adjusts the amount of assistance according to driving speed nothing particularly novel there but also considers the position of the wheels and how quickly the steering wheel is being turned. Other small cars with power steering often incur pumping loss when being driven enthusiastically, that is the inability of the engine-driven power steering pump to keep up with the demands the driver places on the steering. This leads to inconsistent steering feel and the helm weighting up just when you dont want it to. The Ibiza, by contrast, uses an electric pump that runs independently of the engine to power the steering.
The result? Better feedback and keener reactions when you up want to up the ante. The Ibizas driving experience has won praise from all quarters since its 2003 launch and was central to it collecting no fewer than three WhatCar? Supermini of the Year awards over the proceeding three years. As a natural supermini middleweight this 75bhp car is well up to the task. You should have high expectations for the Ibiza and the 1.
4-litre versions certainly wont disappoint.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Ibiza 1.4
PRICES: £9,395-£10,025 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 156g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 13.2s/ Max Speed 108mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 47mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm
