SEAT IBIZA REFERENCE RANGE
Theres A Fresh Name For Entry Level Ibizas. Andy Enright Sets His Sights On The Reference Models
The
SEAT Ibiza has long held a place in the hearts of spirited value seekers and the Reference models will appeal to those looking for fun without the financial penalty. As the latest name for the entry-level variants, the Reference models are decidedly inexpensive but SEAT have endowed them with a decent range of kit.
Whats more, there are three engines to choose from. First off the blocks is the 1.2-litre petrol. Weighing in at just £8,000, this offers supermini space at citycar pricing.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
|
| Economy |
|
| Equipment |
 |
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
 |
| Styling |
|
| Value |
|
Its fitted with a high-tech three-cylinder lightweight alloy engine that generates a modest 64bhp. This equates to a specific capacity of 53bhp per litre, not a whole hill of beans for a modern engine but this does go some way to endowing the little
SEAT with an exceptional fuel economy average of some 47.1mpg and a guaranteed place in the lowest carbon dioxide emissions taxation band. If youre interested in all-out performance, the Ibiza isnt going to do a great deal for you with 60mph appearing in 14.
7 seconds. The top speeds a respectable 103mph, but this is a modern supermini with the commensurate safety features that all tend to add weight. If you want a quicker 1.2, wed recommend a
Suzuki Bandit motorbike, but aside from that, youll not find too much to touch the little SEAT.
This would doubtless be the most popular engine in the Reference range were it not for the fact that in a rather bizarre pricing decision, SEAT have priced the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre models at exactly the same price. If the concept of getting more engine at no upfront cost appeals, by all means opt for the 1.
4-litre petrol-engined Reference model that cranks out 74bhp. Still costing £8,000, the Reference 1.4 has a fair bit of zip, with 60mph appearing in 13.2 seconds on the way to a top end of 108mph.
The 43mpg fuel return is also class-competitive. If youre interested in minimising your fuel bills, the £9,200 Ibiza Reference 1.4-litre TDi diesel will doubtless be your weapon of choice.
"The Ibiza provides unequivocal evidence that looking good neednt cost the earth"
With a punchy turbodiesel youd expect it to feel agreeably muscular and you wont be disappointed. The engine has a delightfully elastic feel to it, the turbocharger spooling up to provide if not a gale then a stiff breeze of midrange torque. In fact with 144lb/ft of torque on tap at an easily accessible 2,200rpm, the Ibiza 1.4TDi engine feels every bit as muscular as the powerplant in, say, a
Peugeot 206GTi.
This strong torque figure means you wont need to gun the engine every time you want to make decent progress. This translates into a fuel economy figure of 61.4mpg and low emissions of just 124g/km. 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.
While safety equipment runs to ABS with brake assist, twin front airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners. The Ibiza provides unequivocal 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 than in compact SEATs of the past 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, this 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.
Value seekers have long gravitated to the SEAT brand in general and the Ibiza model in particular as its quality-to-cost ratio seems a curiously generous way of getting one over on the
Volkswagen Group. The Reference models do nothing to change this opinion and now that diesel power is available for significantly less than £10,000, it would seem an act of financial recklessness not to give the Ibiza Reference serious consideration.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Ibiza Reference range
PRICES: £8,000 - £9,200 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 124-156g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.4 petrol] 0-60mph 13.2s/ Max Speed 108mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4 petrol] (combined) 47mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm
<< Back to SEAT car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used SEAT Cars For Sale UK
