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IN THE HOT SEAT
Now That Genuine Hot Hatchbacks Like SEAT’s Ibiza Cupra Come With Oil-Burning Engines, The Diesel Powered Washing Machine Can Only Be Months Away, Predicts Steve Walker …

Today’s diesel engines seem to be braking down barriers with all the regularity of a 25-stone high hurdler. Once upon a time, smoky, clattering diesel power could just about be stomached by big mileage drivers like cabbies and sales reps because of the associated fuel savings. Now it’s finding its way into luxury saloons, prestige convertibles and hot hatchbacks. Buyers in the know are choosing modern diesels in preference over their petrol alternatives for reasons of performance and power delivery as well as emissions and economy. For proof, look no further than the SEAT Ibiza range where the Cupra TDI tops the pile above the Cupra 20V T.

SEAT are demonstrably not ones to underestimate the diesel engine’s appeal in the modern marketplace. From launch, their Ibiza supermini was available with a solid range of the Volkswagen Group’s accomplished TDI direct injection engines but it was still a surprise when the fire-breathing Cupra models were announced and the diesel was actually priced at a premium over the petrol model. The pricing balance was then redressed with both cars competing for custom on a level playing field but today it’s back with the TDI in the ascendancy, something which speaks volumes for how far diesel technology has come. It’s the Cupra TDI we’re examining here with its 1.9-litre TDI engine tuned to deliver a 158bhp shove in the back. The car might be down on power when compared to the 177bhp Ibiza Cupra 20V Turbo but many will prefer the characteristics of its power delivery. As tends to be the case with diesel engines, the Cupra’s TDI unit yields huge quantities of torque from very low down in the rev range. The maximum output is 330Nm – a mind-boggling amount for a car of this size – and it hits home at a lowly 1,900rpm. The Cupra 20V T can ‘only’ muster 220Nm at 2,000rpm and the difference can instantly be felt once you’ve strapped yourself into the diesel.

"The car might be down on power when compared to the 177bhp Ibiza Cupra 20V T but many will prefer the characteristics of its power delivery."

In real world driving, the TDI is a markedly more flexible performer. There’s brutal acceleration available in higher gears and at lower engine speeds than in the petrol model, which must be revved far harder for optimum performance to be extracted. The Cupra TDI hits its maximum power output at 3,750rpm whereas a Cupra 20V T driver must let the needle rise to around 5,500rpm before it’s really giving its all. The great thing about the TDI is that, despite its sporting pedigree, it can be a very relaxed car to drive. That monstrous torque reservoir keeps gear changes to a minimum because the acceleration’s always there bubbling under the surface and the car picks up strongly almost regardless of speed or ratio. The petrol Cupra has more of that traditional free-revving hot hatch character, it feels sportier and it’s marginally quicker over the ubiquitous 0-60mph sprint (7.3s instead of the TDI’s 7.6) but the diesel has a strong and different appeal. Not least amongst its abilities are CO2 emissions of 146g/km and fuel consumption that will blow any petrol-powered car of vaguely similar performance into the weeds. The Ibiza Cupra TDI (like the ‘warm hatch’ Ibiza FR TDI 130) comes with a six-speed transmission and that extra cog produces more relaxed cursing while aiding fuel economy. Otherwise, the diesel Cupra comes identically equipped to its petrol Cupra counterpart. The stiffened sports suspension sharpens up the ride and standard traction control ensures all that power is put to good use. SEAT have done a grand job of minimising body roll in the Ibiza and as a result, the Cupra is brimming with balance and poise through the bends. The steering isn’t as communicative as you’ll find in some performance hatchbacks but it’s fast enough to ensure the driver always feels well in control and the upgraded brakes also inspire confidence. The Cupra is given a big injection of attitude by its deep bumpers, rear spoiler and 17" alloy wheels. Then there’s the chromed grille frame and the fog lights at the front as well as the ‘Cupra’ branding on the tailgate. Within, there are sports seats plus tactile leather coverings on steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake cover. Safety wise, the Ibiza Cupra TDI is very well specified. ABS, brake assist and ESP stability control all combine with the aforementioned traction control to prevent any unintentional interfaces with the scenery. All three rear passengers get three-point belts, there are front airbags, side airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners all as standard. Other niceties include climate control, a six speaker CD stereo, aluminium pedals and four grab handles which, in this car, are more useful than you might imagine. Overall, the Ibiza is amongst the most pleasingly styled superminis, the model of today carries the effects of a facelift which edged the car closer to its newer SEAT stalemates on aesthetic grounds. The small front grille is framed between the wide headlight apertures and the window line rises toward the back of the car rounding into a shallow rear windscreen for a squat, powerful effect. 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. Inside, those VW Group fixtures and fittings are very much in evidence and the overall quality is impressive. Legroom in the back is not class-leading but it is adequate and the same goes for the boot. Extra cargo space can be freed-up by folding the split rear bench. Ten or even five years ago, the idea of a performance hatchback with a diesel engine would have been a massive turn off to buyers but people are coming round to the idea and so they should. The Ibiza Cupra TDI is right up with the quickest superminis around, petrol or diesel, and that’s just looking at the performance figures. In real world driving conditions it’s more impressive still. Then there’s the little matter of its miserly fuel consumption and low emissions. Other hot hatches including the petrol Cupra have more of the raw, buzz-box appeal that’s essential to the genre but the TDI’s blend of blistering performance, smooth, accessible power and low running costs provides a more sensible option. It’s just a question of whether sensible is something hot hatch buyers want.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: SEAT Ibiza Cupra TDI PRICES: £15,595 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 146g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.6s/ Max Speed 136mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (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

SPANISH FLYWEIGHT
Although SEAT Have Assiduously Cultivated A Sporting Reputation, Cars Like The Ibiza 1.4TDi Diesel Make Up Most Of Their Sales. Andy Enright Reports

Positioning yourself as a manufacturer of dynamic sporty vehicles has many advantages. Not only do you get to leather the expense account with various motorsport escapades but you also enjoy the trickledown of that image from your flagship sporty models down to the more prosaic vehicles lurking at more attainable positions in the range. For every Cupra model SEAT sell, they’re banking on selling a number of models like the Ibiza 1.4TDI, a car that’s at the sensible end of the scale.

The Ibiza is a very likeable car. Voted What Car? magazine’s Car Of The Year 2003 and ‘Supermini of The Year’ for the following two years, the 1.4-litre TDI is an integral part in a formidable model line up. Although the same engine can be yours for less in a Skoda Fabia, many will prefer the cheekier styling and youthful joie de vivre of the Ibiza. It looks good value, especially in a marketplace where attitude is conspicuous by its absence. Diesel rivals like the Ford Fiesta, Citroen C3 and Vauxhall Corsa may be very accomplished cars but they all lack a little something in sporty charisma; a quality the Ibiza seems to have oozing from every orifice. With a punchy 80bhp turbodiesel powering the compact Ibiza, you’d expect it to feel agreeably muscular and you won’t 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 powerplants in many petrol-powered warm hatchbacks. This strong torque figure means you won’t 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. Available solely in Reference Sport trim, the Ibiza 1.4TDI looks an attractive package and one that will doubtless convert more customers to the charms of Ibiza ownership. Don’t mistake it for the 1.4-litre petrol version, which boasts 75bhp, as the diesel is a far superior package.

"…the Ibiza 1.4TDi engine feels every bit as muscular as the powerplants in many petrol-powered warm hatchbacks"

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 even in the entry-level trim, but it’s round the back where most alterations have been made. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT’s 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. SEAT describe the TDI diesel as ‘a true technological jewel’, this a reference to its advanced electronically controlled pump injector system. We wouldn’t go quite that far. For a start, it’s a diesel that’s noisier than normal, a legacy perhaps of the fact that VW Group engineers have still to embrace the common rail technology now featured by virtually everyone else. Still, you can’t deny that their alternative chosen route is effective when it comes to performance. The 1.4-litre engine feels a good deal stronger than its modest capacity would suggest and is well up to the cut and thrust of the British motorway system. Should you want to travel quicker still in your diesel, SEAT can oblige in the shape of the TDI100 and TDI130 models or even the TDI160 Cupra. The TDI100 will reach 118mph and it takes 10.8s to reach 62mph from a standstill. Far more important than that is the impressive 240Nm of torque that’s on offer between 1,800 and 2,400rpm – the increment we all use for most overtaking manoeuvres. In most cases, you don’t even have to drop down a gear to get past that swaying artic. By the same token, around town, cog-swapping is kept to a minimum. As for fuel consumption, well expect to record 44mpg on the urban cycle, 69mpg on extra urban driving and 56.5mpg as a combined figure. Priced at just over £13,000, the TDI130 FR’s top speed is 129mph and rest to 62mph showing of 9.4s looks tempting, but for most the 1.4TDI will be quite enough. The SEAT Ibiza 1.4TDI isn’t a particularly sporty supermini but its styling and cheeky image allow it to mop up sales of those who feel a Skoda Fabia or a Volkswagen Polo is just that little bit too staid. In the Volkswagen’s Group network of niches, sub-niches and micro-niches, the Ibiza 1.4TDi offers a welcome breath of fresh air for anybody looking for a car that’s sensible without being invisible. Expect more awards this way soon.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: SEAT Ibiza 1.4 TDI PRICE: £10,395-£11,025 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 5 CO2 EMISSIONS: 124g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 109mph / 0-60mph 12.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 61.4 mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm

SUN, SAND AND SPORT
SEAT’s Award-Winning Supermini Just Gets Sportier And Sportier. Steve Walker Reports…

SEAT are intent on living up to their billing as the sporty one in the VW Group’s three-piece band of volume selling marques. That leaves Volkswagen themselves, acting out the role of posh and Skoda as, err, ginger? Ok, so the Spice Girls analogy doesn’t quite work but the sporty, spicy SEAT is an idea you’d better get used to. The current crop of Ibiza models go further than any before them in emphasising the dynamism and exuberance the marketing men have destined to become SEAT’s trademark.

Prospective SEAT buyers catching sight of the Leon and Altea models down at their local showroom could be forgiven for thinking that the marque have mapped out a path to sportiness founded on the principal of retailing differently-sized versions of the same car. Initial shots of an all-new Ibiza that we may be able to expect sometime in late 2008 would appear to confirm this and today’s Toledo is hardly ploughing a lone furrow on the styling front. Whatever your view on the emerging strong SEAT family resemblance, the look of the products definitely reflects the brand’s energetic direction and the current SEAT Ibiza, while not a clone to the extent of the others, carries many of the SEAT visual traits. The Ibiza of today, priced from £8,195, 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 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 it’s round the back where most alterations have been made. The more powerful engines in the line-up (those with more than 100PS) have extended exhaust pipes which are clearly visible below the rear valance. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT’s 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.

"…the Ibiza continues as one of the UK’s very top superminis"

High-performance models have an important role to play in the range of any vehicle with sporty pretensions and SEAT have the Cupra derivatives doing the business for the Ibiza. These fire-breathing shopping rockets aren’t there to sell in large numbers but rather, to cast the light of prestige and publicity down on more ordinary Ibizas, raising their desirability levels by association. The Ibiza FR derivatives could be a chief beneficiary of the Cupra’s reflected glory. They sit one rung down the ladder from the range-toppers but offer similar road presence and performance. The cars feature 17" alloys, a blacked-out area behind the front registration plate and a honeycomb grille behind the front air-intakes. The FR brand is an important one for SEAT offering ‘warm’ hatches that are more affordable to buy, run and insure than a full-blown Cupra. The Ibiza Cupra gets the two most powerful engines in the range, a 160bhp 1.9-litre TDI diesel with a standout 243lb/ft torque hit and the 180bhp 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Both turn-in sub 8-second 0-60mph sprints, which is serious stuff, with the 1.8T 0.3s quicker than the TDI at 7.3s. FR customers can pick the same two engines but in less violent states of tune. The 1.9 TDI has a still punchy 130bhp and the 1.8T is reined back to 150bhp. In spite of its pace and muscular mid-range, the diesel will still average 55.4mpg. This is only 3mpg better than the more powerful Cupra TDI but the £2,000 price differential between the two cars probably renders the 130bhp TDI FR the pick of the range. Further down the roster, we get into the powerplants that most buyers will find themselves mulling over. The 1.9 TDI engine is available here in 100bhp form, or there’s a 1.4-litre TDI that’s capable of averaging over 61mpg. The 1.9TDI is less refined than its smaller diesel counterpart but usefully quicker, hitting 60mph from standstill in 10.8s. The smaller petrol engines are 1.4 and 1.2 litres in size. The larger unit has 75bhp on tap, a 43.5mpg average economy figure and a 13.2s sprint. The 64bhp 1.2 will typically cost you £450 less: it can average 47mpg and do the 0-60mph in 14.9s. All the Ibiza’s powerplants have cropped up time and again, across the VW Group empire and tend to be solid, reliable performers. The same can be said for many of the Ibiza’s interior fixtures and fittings. The window switches, the gear knob, the ventilation controls and so on are all sourced from that bottomless well that’s disparagingly termed the VW parts bin, and are none the worse for it. The roofline is lower than we’ve 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 that’s softly abrasive but not particularly great looking. The Ibiza’s 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. The car remains impressively composed in corners and the sharp steering makes it easy to spirit around town. The stiffened suspension on the FR and Cupra models injects more sportiness into the experience but the jittery ride is less comfortable for everyday work. Well built, attractively styled and with that SEAT sporty edge now common amongst models across the range, to a greater or lesser extent, the Ibiza continues as one of the UK’s very top superminis. Some rivals may offer more innovation and style in the interior department or a more advanced engine line-up but the Ibiza just gets on with the job in hand – being a thoroughly efficient and pleasantly sporty small car.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: SEAT Ibiza range PRICES: £8,195 - £15,595 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 124-190g/km PERFORMANCE: [TDI 130] 0-60mph 9.4s/ Max Speed 129mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDI 130] (urban) 42mpg / (extra urban) 67mpg / (combined) 55.4mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm

FUNKY PRECEDENT
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 in SEAT’s 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. It’s available in Stylance and Sport trim – with the former offering a choice of manual or automatic gearbox. The engine is by no mean’s 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. Beyond this 1.4-litre option, you get into real performance territory with the 150bhp FR and then there are the Cupra models. 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 it’s round the back where most alterations have been made. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT’s 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 wasn’t proof enough, the Ibiza 1.4 provides further evidence that looking good needn’t cost the earth."

As you’d 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. It’s 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 who’d pick the Volkswagen as the better looker. The story’s much the same with the 1.4 Sport version of the Ibiza. Insurance group 5 for the Sport probably isn’t 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 you’ll 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 that’s disparagingly termed the VW parts bin, and are none the worse for it. The roofline is lower than we’ve 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 that’s 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 Ibiza’s 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 don’t 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 Ibiza’s 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 won’t 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

DIESELS WITH DRAMA
SEAT’s Promise of Real Latin Spirit In Its Latest Ibiza Supermini Is Rather Surprisingly Served Up By These TDi Models. Jonathan Crouch Reports

Ordinarily, SEAT’s Ibiza has a bit of a problem. It’s called the Skoda Fabia, a VW Group in-house rival Supermini with a similar engine line-up, a bigger body and lower prices. When it comes to diesel power the story is much the same but the SEAT has an injection of Latin flair that might prove all-important.

SEAT’s Ibiza prides itself on a much younger, sportier attitude, not only compared to the Skoda but also in comparison with most other rival Superminis. The car of today carries the effects of a facelift which edged it 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 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 it’s round the back where most alterations have been made. The more powerful engines in the line-up (those with more than 100PS) have extended exhaust pipes which are clearly visible below the rear valance. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT’s 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. As far as diesel side goes, there’s a choice of 1.9-litre units, one with 100bhp, one with 130bhp and a 160bhp version found in the Cupra. SEAT also offer the 1.4-litre TDI, good for 80bhp. Prices lie in the £10,395 to £15,595 bracket and (unlike the Fabia) there’s a choice of either three or five-door bodystyles. There are five trim levels – Reference Sport, Sport, FR and Cupra. All come well equipped with tinted glass, a body-coloured rear spoiler, a six-speaker CD stereo system, electric windows, a split-folding rear seat, electro-hydraulic power steering, a pollen filter and twin front airbags and ABS.

"The TDi 160 Ibiza is the most powerful diesel supermini you can buy – and feels it…"

Unfortunately, three-door customers will have to pay extra if they want the really useful ‘Access-Plus’ front passenger seat. Here, as the front seat is tilted, the seat cushion lifts and moves forward as the backrest folds, creating a 31cm gap from the B pillar to the back of the front seat through which rear passengers can pass. When the front seat is pulled back, everything returns to its original position. SEAT described the TDi 100bhp diesel as ‘a true technological jewel’, this a reference to its advanced electronically controlled pump injector system. We wouldn’t go quite that far. For a start, it’s a diesel that’s noisier than normal, a legacy perhaps of the fact that VW Group engineers have still to embrace the common rail technology now featured by virtually everyone else. Still, you can’t deny that their alternative chosen route is effective when it comes to performance. Top speed is 118mph and it takes 10.8s to reach 62mph from a standstill. Far more important than that is the impressive 240Nm of torque that’s on offer between 1,800 and 2,400rpm – the increment we all use for most overtaking manoeuvres. In most cases, you don’t even have to drop down a gear to get past that swaying artic. By the same token, around town, cog-swapping is kept to a minimum. As for fuel consumption, well expect to record 44mpg on the urban cycle, 69mpg on extra urban driving and 56.5mpg as a combined figure. All statistics you won’t want to sneeze at: no wonder diesels are proving so popular right at present. Mind you, given that you can almost equal these yet go an awful lot faster at the wheel of the TDI 130 variant, it’s easy to see that this Ibiza’s appeal will be great, even at prices of £13,120 in FR guise. The top speed is 129mph and rest to 62mph takes 9.4s, but here again, the bald statistics tell less than half the story. A higher compression ratio, increased fuel flow and a variable geometry turbocharger all produce great wedges of torque throughout the rev range. Torque is an exceptional 310Nm, developed at a mere 1,900rpm. The 160bhp Cupra model is the most powerful diesel supermini you can buy. And it feels it. 0-60mph takes 7.4s but an average fuel consumption of 55mpg is still possible. The 1.4-litre engine shouldn’t be overlooked, offering low 124g/km emissions and a combined fuel consumption figure of 61.4mpg. The TDi variants are without doubt the ones to go for in this rejuvenated Ibiza line-up, but stretch to the 130bhp version if you can – or petition SEAT to offer it at more affordable trim level prices. A dash of salsa in a sensible package? You might just think so.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: SEAT Ibiza TDi range PRICES: £10,395 - £15,595 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-10 CO2 EMISSIONS: 124-146g/km PERFORMANCE: [TDI 130] 0-60mph 9.4s/ Max Speed 129mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDI 130] (urban) 42mpg / (extra urban) 67mpg / (combined) 55.4mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm

REFER MADNESS
There’s A Fresh Look 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.

What’s more, there are two engines to choose from. First off the blocks is the 1.2-litre petrol. Weighing in at just £8,195, this offers supermini space at citycar pricing. It’s 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 you’re interested in all-out performance, the Ibiza isn’t going to do a great deal for you with 60mph appearing in 14.7 seconds. The top speed’s 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, we’d recommend a Suzuki Bandit motorbike, but aside from that, you’ll not find too much to touch the little SEAT. If you’re interested in minimising your fuel bills, the £10,395 Ibiza Reference Sport 1.4-litre TDi diesel will doubtless be your weapon of choice. With a punchy turbodiesel you’d expect it to feel agreeably muscular and you won’t 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 a petrol powered warm hatch.

"The Ibiza provides unequivocal evidence that looking good needn’t cost the earth"

This strong torque figure means you won’t 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 Reference Sport gains various sporty styling accessories including 15" alloy wheels. 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 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 – even on entry-level models like the Reference - but it’s round the back where most alterations have been made. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT’s 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. All the Ibiza’s powerplants have cropped up time and again, across the VW Group empire and tend to be solid, reliable performers. The same can be said for many of the Ibiza’s interior fixtures and fittings. The window switches, the gear knob, the ventilation controls and so on are all sourced from that bottomless well that’s disparagingly termed the VW parts bin, and are none the worse for it. The roofline is lower than we’ve 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 that’s softly abrasive but not particularly great looking. Compared to its predecessor, this generation 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 Ibiza’s 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 don’t 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: £8,195 - £11,025 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-5 CO2 EMISSIONS: 124-144g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.4TDI] Max Speed 109mph / 0-60mph 12.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4TDI] (combined) 61.4 mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm

THERE’S LATIN SPIRIT IN EVERY ONE
The Entry-Level SEAT Ibiza Offers Big Car Quality At Surprising Prices. Andy Enright Reports…

For a car aimed at the young and trendy, SEAT couldn’t have lucked into a better name than Ibiza. In 1.2-litre guise, it’s a car that’s still affordable even after you’ve booked your annual two-week bender in San Antonio, yet will never resemble the automotive equivalent of a bucket shop ticket.

When SEAT originally launched the Ibiza in 1984, they were hugely proud of the fact that it was their own undertaking and not merely a reheated Fiat. Okay, so they had a little hand from Porsche (and milked the subsequent PR opportunity) but as a first effort it was extremely good. At that time, Ibiza was just another buckets and spades Mediterranean destination. As the island’s resorts developed into a sort of Mecca for holiday hedonists, so the Ibiza also became big business, attracting more new buyers to the SEAT family than any other product line. The latest version offers fun, a little Latin spirit and – a notion alien to many of the spaced-out Balearic clubbers – a little sophistication. The 1.2-litre version that we examine here is 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 you’re interested in all out performance, the Ibiza isn’t going to do a great deal for you with 60mph appearing in 14.7 seconds. The top speed’s 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 we’d recommend a Suzuki Bandit motorbike, but aside from that, you’ll not find too much to touch the little SEAT.

"Compared to its predecessor, the Ibiza is a dramatic improvement."

Available solely in Reference or Reference Sport trim, the Ibiza 1.2 also offers the choice of either three or five doors in a package that starts at £8,195 for the base three-door and tops out at £9,325 for the five-door Reference Sport. Even in the Reference model that props up the Ibiza range, buyers can expect to find big car features like tinted glass, a body-coloured rear spoiler, remote central locking, a six-speaker stereo system, one touch electric windows, a split-folding rear seat, electro-hydraulic power steering, a pollen filter and twin front airbags. 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 - even on this entry-level model - but it’s round the back where most alterations have been made. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT’s 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. Inside you’ll 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 that’s disparagingly termed the VW parts bin, and are none the worse for it. The roofline is lower than we’ve 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 that’s softly abrasive but not particularly great looking. Compared to the previous generation model, the Ibiza is a dramatic improvement. Not only is it far prettier, especially with the latest facelift, it also utilises its cabin space better 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 Ibiza’s 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 don’t 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 Ibiza’s 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. But is it all wasted on a car with just 64bhp to haul it about? Not at all. Although the 1.2-litre models may not be the last word in thumping acceleration they’ve still got enough verve to appeal to the fresh-faced target clientele. Moderation and Ibiza aren’t too words that are commonly associated. Let’s set a precedent.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: SEAT Ibiza 1.2 PRICES: £8,195 - £9,325 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 2 CO2 EMISSIONS: 144g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 14.7s/ Max Speed 103mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 36.7 / (extra urban) 55.4 / (combined) 47.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm November 7th 2007

SEAT’S FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
SEAT’s Ibiza FR Series Has Had A Spruce Up In Order To Keep It Looking Sharp. Andy Enright Assesses Its Chances…

Warm hatches haven’t always enjoyed a stellar reputation, often promising a lot but delivering precious little. There are a few notable exceptions, however, and one of our favourites is SEAT’s Ibiza FR. Any Ibiza is good fun on its day, but when you turn up the wick a bit, you end up with a very enjoyable car indeed. The Ibiza FR has benefited from a few tweaks to keep it looking sharp and it remains a model that mixes modern features with a pleasantly old school feel to great effect.

It takes the old and the new car side by side to really appreciate what SEAT have done with this latest version. This FR looks more like the range-topping Cupra sports variant that’s positioned one step above in the Ibiza hierarchy, the bigger air intakes in the front spoiler now giving this previously friendly-looking vehicle a rather snarling face. SEAT claim this front end treatment evokes that of the Leon World Touring Car and the men in suits are keen to emphasise the link between the cars on the track and the cars the likes of you and I can walk into a dealership and buy. Perhaps this may be stretching things a little bit, but if it means better looking sports hatches for the masses, that’s fine by me. Twin headlamps are also fitted as standard to all Ibizas, giving the FR an intense stare. Walk round the back and you’ll spot extended exhaust pipes which are clearly visible below the rear valance. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT’s 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. The FR also features 17" alloys, a blacked-out area behind the front registration plate and a honeycomb grille behind the front air-intakes. The interior benefits from a new three-spoke steering wheel as well as a redesigned gear knob and the seats get FR logos in case you forget which model you’re ensconced within.

"Better looking but still keenly priced, the FR may be the pick of the current Ibiza line up"

Formula Racing (FR) is, in effect, SEAT’s sports diffusion line, sitting below the fiery Cupra models, broadly equivalent to how sporty Ford ST models are a notch down from RS versions. That said, there’s nothing second rate about the Ibiza FR. With 150bhp petrol or 130bhp diesel engines to punt it up the road, the car is a long way from the usual warm hatch stereotype of a car with all the sporty accoutrements but fitted with a gutless engine that will be shredded away from the lights by a skip lorry. The traditional reason for offering these warm hatch models has been because the sportier versions are often off limits to younger drivers because of their punitive insurance ratings. More recently, however, manufacturers have twigged that by offering the same safety, security and repairability as the top models, insurance ratings can be kept manageable even with a worthwhile engine on board. The Ibiza FR’s petrol powerplant is more than just worthwhile. With the turbocharged 150bhp engine to call upon, it’s capable of notching off the all-important sprint to 60mph in a respectable 8.1 seconds and it’ll then run onto a top speed of 135mph. Using the same engine fitted to the entry-level Audi TT, the Ibiza FR can even manage an average of 46mpg which means that younger drivers won’t feel the pinch every time they give the accelerator a quick prod. The diesel fares even better with super-thrifty 55mpg average fuel consumption but the 0-60mph time increases by a second. The diesel and petrol cars cost almost the same amount so buyers are left with an intriguing dilemma of which to choose. The handling on both cars has been sharpened-up to cope with the additional poke, the FR featuring stiff coil springs, a beefy front anti-roll bar and aggressive rear axle mounts. This year’s car also gets lower profile 17-inch Pirelli P Zero tyres which, whilst offering improved lateral grip, do serve to firm the ride up quite considerably. The Ibiza has long proved that that looking good needn’t cost the earth. Briton Steve Lewis was responsible for most of the car’s lines, but the final refinements were undertaken by Walter de‘Silva, the man responsible for the Alfa 156 amongst others. Suddenly the reason why the rear doors don’t 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 car’s details are more knowing and better integrated and he’s succeeded in making the car appear far smaller than it actually is, a visual trick that will appeal to many buyers. Inside, you’ll 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 that’s disparagingly termed the VW parts bin, and are none the worse for it. This Ibiza is mechanically similar to its predecessor. SEAT point to the fact that the Ibiza’s 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 don’t 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. If you are in the market for a warm hatch, the Ibiza FR is probably the best of the current crop. It’s no great secret that this is the current shape Ibiza’s swansong, an all-new model with the latest SEAT family look waiting in the wings. If you don’t get along with the styling of contemporary SEATs, this Ibiza may well be your last chance to buy into an ‘old-school’ model. It’s well worth your while.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: SEAT Ibiza FR PRICES: £12,195-£13,980 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 8-12 CO2 EMISSIONS: 138-190g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.8 20V T] 0-60mph 8.1s/ Max Speed 135mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.9 TDI] (Urban) 42mpg (Extra Urban) 67mpg (Combined) 55mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3953/1698/1441mm

UP FOR THE CUP
SEAT’s 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 you’re 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, it’s 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, they’ll 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 that’s 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 it’s 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 doesn’t hang about. Couple that with an ability to polish off the sprint to 60mph in just 7.1 seconds and you’ve got a potent, if not premier league, hatch. What’s 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. Let’s 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 there’s 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 there’s no external giveaway as to which engine your Ibiza Cupra is packing. Pricewise, you’ll need £14,650 for the petrol engined 1.8 20VT and £15,595 for the TDi, which presents buyers with an interesting quandary. The car’s 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, you’ll 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 that’s 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 couldn’t resist the inclusion of the ubiquitous metal capped pedals. Drilled pedals, white dials, mesh front grille – the Ibiza Cupra may seem a cliché but it’s 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 Ibiza’s 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 you’d have specified from the outset with the additional bonus of that amazing diesel engine. The 1.8-litre petrol car shouldn’t 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