SEAT Ibiza Cupra Range : UP FOR THE CUP

Expert Rating:

SEATs Cupra Brand Will Be Familiar To Most Hot Hatch Fans. Their Latest Ibiza Cupra Models More Than Live Up To The Billing. Andy Enright Reports

When you pause to think about it for a moment, SEATs should be awful. A combination of Spanish and German cultures just sounds like the most dreadful mixture but against all odds, it works. SEAT routinely seems to produce many of the most buyable cars from the entire Volkswagen Group and the latest SEAT Ibiza Cupra models are no exception.

Think about it. What Spanish/German alliance has ever worked before? The two national cultures seem diametrically opposed to each other, yet the SEAT brand goes from strength to strength. Much of this is due to the fact that SEAT have been positioned as a fashionably sporting marque within the Volkswagen Group empire, part of the Audi Brand Group. Like Audi and Lamborghini, this entitles SEAT to go racing or in this case rallying and if youre going to do that, you need to be able to offer some seriously sporty roadgoing product.

Time then, for the seriously sporty Ibizas. When this shape Ibiza was first launched, the hottest version available was a very modest diesel. We knew there would be quicker versions in due course but SEAT made us wait. And wait.

First came the promising Ibiza FR model, a 150bhp warm hatch that was but a precursor of what was to come. Now there are two Ibiza Cupra three-door hatches that have upped the ante nicely. A diesel again plays a significant part, but instead of the 130 braked horses you might expect, this one has a whopping 160bhp under the bonnet. More to the point, its well laden with torque.

The Americans, who otherwise seem to know very little about building cars, have a saying that customers buy power but drive torque. If this is the case, theyll be very happy indeed seated behind the wheel of the Ibiza Cupra 1.9 TDI as it boasts more torque than the Porsche Boxster S or a Subaru Impreza WRX. The other model in the line up features an engine thats a little more familiar.

The petrol powered turbocharged 1.8-litre powerplant has long been a Volkswagen Group staple and in 180bhp guise has seen service in the Audi A3, the Audi TT, the Skoda Octavia vRS and the SEAT Leon Cupra. Now its the turn of the Ibiza to get a share of the action and in such a small bodyshell it really flies.

"People buy power but drive torque in which case, Ibiza Cupra customers should be very happy indeed"

With a top speed of over 142mph, the 180bhp Cupra doesnt hang about. Couple that with an ability to polish off the sprint to 60mph in just 7.1 seconds and youve got a potent, if not premier league, hatch. Whats more, the diesel version is only slightly slower against the watch, making 60 in 7.

4 seconds and recording a top speed of over 136mph. Where the most powerful diesel in the hot hatch segment scores highest is in terms of fuel economy. Although the 1.8 20VT model will travel for 39.

6 miles on a gallon of fuel using the combined test method, the diesel will eke a massive 53miles from a gallon. Lets pause to think about this car for a moment. Only a few years ago, this would have been seen as Lotus Esprit performance with Mini fuel consumption. Now it hardly raises an eyebrow.

The Ibiza Cupra can be identified by its specially designed front bumper that incorporates a spoiler in one integrated moulding. Big air intakes direct cooling air into the intercooler and the front end also features a contrasting grille with intake slats sitting atop a honeycomb design underneath. 17-inch alloy wheels are fitted as standard with gumball 40 series tyres while at the rear end theres another smoothly integrated spoiler and a monster chromed tailpipe. The small roof spoiler that trails off the roof and the smoky titanium coloured tail light housings are deft touches, as is the fact that theres no external giveaway as to which engine your Ibiza Cupra is packing.

Pricewise, youll need £14,650 for the petrol engined 1.8 20VT and £15,595 for the TDi, which presents buyers with an interesting quandary. The cars details are more knowing and better integrated and the stylists have succeeded in making the car appear far smaller than it actually is, a visual trick that will appeal to many buyers. 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 interior features a red, white and black colour scheme, with the trim all black, the instruments picked out in white with red highlighting on the air vents, indicators, and stitching on the wheel, seats, headrests, gear lever and hand brake. The seats themselves feature the Cupra logo writ large into the sculpted backrest and the Cupra logo also features on the sports steering wheel. SEAT couldnt resist the inclusion of the ubiquitous metal capped pedals.

Drilled pedals, white dials, mesh front grille the Ibiza Cupra may seem a clichÃ© but its a very fun one. The Ibiza of today carries the effects of a facelift which edged the car closer to its newer SEAT stalemates on aesthetic grounds. 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. 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. The SEAT Ibiza Cupra is exactly what youd have specified from the outset with the additional bonus of that amazing diesel engine. The 1.8-litre petrol car shouldnt be overlooked but if you really want an affordable car that possesses a truly rounded repertoire of skills, the Cupra 1.

9TDI would be a very informed pick.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: SEAT Ibiza Cupra range
PRICES: £14,650-£15,595 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 16
CO2 EMISSIONS: 146-190g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.8 20VT] 0-60mph 7.1s/ Max Speed 142mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9 TDI](combined) 53mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, TCS, ESP seatbelt pre-tensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm