SEAT is one of the few manufacturers to produce a supermini estate. The Ibiza ST (or Sports Tourer) is 18cm longer than either of the hatchbacks in the range, and all of the extra bodywork is behind the rear wheels, giving the car a rear-heavy look as well as more luggage space than you get in the Leon hatch.

The choice of engines is broadly the same as that for the hatchbacks, though there is no equivalent of the 178bhp unit in the three-door SC Cupra. The most powerful available is the 138bhp 1.4 TSI turbo petrol with cylinder-on-demand technology. The other petrols and diesels in the range have power outputs between 74bhp and 104bhp.

DSG semi-automatic transmission is available with the 1.2 TSI engine. Otherwise, all Ibiza STs have manual gearboxes.

Performance

The only vaguely performance-oriented ST is the one with the 1.4 TSI engine. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and continue to a top speed of 130mph.

No other ST can do the 0-62mph run in under ten seconds, and some take as much as 13. Overtaking on a single-carriageway road in any of the less powerful versions requires forward planning and a certain gung-ho spirit.

SEAT is clearly aiming to provide a combination of practicality and low running costs. If there were a greater demand for small high-performance estates, the company would be building more of them.

Ride and Handling

The handling is as good as it needs to be, since no version has enough power to upset the chassis to any great extent.

There is noticeably more rear suspension movement in the ST (at least when it's not fully laden) than there is in the hatchbacks, but apart from that the ride quality is good. The handling is as good as it needs to be, since no version has enough power to upset the chassis to any great extent. Ibizas are generally pleasant to drive, with a characteristic Volkswagen Group feel to all the major controls, and the ST is no different.

Interior and Equipment

There was also an estate version of the first-generation SEAT Ibiza, though it didn't have that name. It was instead called the SEAT Cordoba Vario.

In terms of luggage space, the ST loses out badly to both the Skoda Fabia estate and the much cheaper Dacia Logan MCV. But in its own right it's quite practical, with a load volume of 430 litres with the rear seats up and 1,164 litres to roof level when they're folded down. The Leon hatchback manages only 380 litres despite being slightly longer, though it does have more back-seat space, which is rather limited in the Ibiza. The trim levels are called S A/C, SE, Toca, I-TECH and FR. Air-conditioning is standard on all of them, while satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity are included from Toca onwards.

Cost

The S A/C and SE fitted with the 74bhp 1.2 TDI diesel engine achieve 80.7mpg officially (though in our experience 60mpg is more likely in real life).

Despite the contrast in body shapes, there is no official difference in fuel economy and CO2 emissions between equivalent models in the ST and five-door ranges. The S A/C and SE fitted with the 74bhp 1.2 TDI diesel engine achieve 80.7mpg officially (though in our experience 60mpg is more likely in real life), and their 92g/km CO2 ratings mean that you don't have to pay any Vehicle Excise Duty. The most powerful model, the 138bhp 1.4 TSI FR, also has the second best CO2 emissions of 109g/km thank to its cylinder-on-demand technology which makes a big difference in test conditions. Conversely, the 1.4 non-turbo petrol engine is the second least powerful available, with just 84bhp, but will also have the highest running costs. Combined fuel economy and CO2 emissions are the worst in the range at 47.9mpg and 139g/km. In SE form, however, it's the cheapest ST there is, at just under £14,000, and may prove to be the best choice if you're looking for an inexpensive version which you won't be using for long journeys.

Our Verdict

Although the choice of small estate cars is limited, you can still find much roomier examples than the ST, often at considerably lower cost. That said, this one is still quite practical, as well as being quite economical, in most cases, and very pleasant to drive. As a small car with the load volume of a larger one, it works very well.