SEAT IBIZA 1.4 RANGE
The
SEAT Ibiza 1.4 Aims To Offer Some Big Car Touches At Decidedly Compact Prices. Andy Enright Reports
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.
Two 1.4-litre engines used to be offered, but SEAT have replaced the 100bhp unit with a 115bhp 2.0-litre engine, leaving just the 75bhp version of the 16-valve four-cylinder powerplant, available in Reference, S and SX trim - although S comes only with the automatic gearbox. The Reference trim level is good for a CD player, electric front windows, a two way adjustable steering wheel, body coloured bumpers and a rear spoiler.
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While safety equipment runs to ABS with brake assist, twin front airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners. The S model adds air-conditioning, an immobiliser and remote central locking while the SX chips in with alloy wheels, climate control and front fog lights. The engine is by no means sluggish, with 60mph appearing in 13.2 seconds on the way to a top end of 108mph.
The 43mpg fuel return is also class competitive. Should you hanker after more horsepower, the 2.0-litre car is usefully quicker and trimmed with a more aggressive Sport pack. Beyond that you get into real performance territory with the 150bhp FR and then there are the Cupra models.
"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 that rides on the latest Polo platform. Its only when you realise that the Polo 1.4 S retails at over £10,000 that the asking price for the SEAT Ibiza 1.4 Reference of £8,000 on the nose 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 SX version of the Ibiza. Available with three or five doors, the more family friendly five-door car retails at £9,400, around £500 less than an equivalent
Skoda Fabia.
Insurance group 4 for the Reference and 5 for the SX 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. If the current state of Christina Aguilera wasnt proof enough, the Ibiza 1.4 provides further evidence that looking good neednt cost the earth.
Briton Steve Lewis was responsible for most of the Ibizas lines, but the final refinements were undertaken by Walter deSilva, the man responsible for the Alfa 156 amongst others. Suddenly the reason why the rear doors dont uglify the car significantly becomes apparent. Much of the interior design was undertaken by Simona Falcinela another who jumped ship from Alfa to work for SEAT. The cars details are more knowing and better integrated and hes 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 roofline is lower than weve become used to in Polo and Fabia variants, but otherwise the cabin holds few surprises other than a rather novel textured plastic thats softly abrasive but not particularly great looking. Other features are very slick.
The dials are recessed individually into the facia in traditional racing style, giving the cabin a sportier feel. 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. As a natural supermini middleweight this 75bhp car is well up to the task. We had high expectations for the Ibiza and the 1.
4-litre versions certainly wont disappoint.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Ibiza 1.4 range
PRICES: £8,000 - £9,400 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-5
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
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