Buyer’s guide to the Seat Ibiza

Buyer’s guide to the Seat Ibiza

Seat’s compact supermini is packed with features, but what else do you need to know?

Seat’s Ibiza supermini has been a mainstay of the Spanish firm’s line-up for decades. Offering affordable yet practical motoring, the Ibiza might be the smallest car Seat offers, but it really does bring big-car value.

Now more technology-packed than ever, the Ibiza benefits from many of the features usually reserved for more premium models. There’s a lot to talk about, in fact, so let’s dive in and see what you need to know. 


What powertrains are available?

It’s a reasonably compact list when it comes to engine options for the Ibiza. They’re all small-capacity petrol units, but this really does reflect what the Ibiza is - and always has - been about, offering nippy and efficient performance. 

Things kick off with a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre petrol engine, which pushes out 79bhp and drives the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s reasonably efficient, offering 51.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 125g/km. 

After this, we move up to a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine which is available with a variety of power outputs. The initial output is 94bhp and is linked to a five-speed manual, offering 54.3mpg combined and emissions of 118g/km CO2. 

Then, there’s a 108bhp version, driven through a six-speed manual. This does a claimed 52.4mpg combined whole emitting 123g/km CO2. This engine can also be paired with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, but doing so does harm economy figures slightly, dropping consumption back 48.6mpg and increasing emissions to 132g/km CO2. 

What trim levels are offered?

SE - £16,790

Things kick off with SE-grade Ibiza models. It gets a generous amount of equipment, including an 8.25-inch touchscreen system with Seat’s Full Link technology, which allows you to seamlessly mirror your smartphone’s display on the car’s readout. 

You also get air conditioning as standard on this grade, ensuring you can get the car’s cabin to the perfect temperature. 


SE Technology - £17,735

Upgrade to SE Technology and the bulk of the changes reside around that touchscreen infotainment system. It’s now increased in size to 9.2 inches, meaning that it’s slightly easier to see and control on the move. 

You still get Full Link, so you’re able to mirror your smartphone’s display by connecting it to the system via a USB connection. 

FR - £19,050

Things take a sporty turn with FR. You get 17-inch alloys, while inside FR sport seats offer a huge amount of support and give the cabin a particularly performance-inspired look. 

Cruise control is added as standard too, as are full-LED headlights which give a huge amount of visibility at night.  

FR Sport - £19,915

Opt for FR Sport and things get beefed up with larger 18-inch ‘Performance’ alloy wheels and sport suspension for a more dynamic look. 

Inside, the seats have been trimmed in Microsuede, while a digital cockpit now replaces the conventional dials. They’re clear to read and can be configured to show a variety of different readouts, too. 

XCellence - £19,795

XCellence brings a high level of standard equipment, including dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights. 

A notable inclusion here is keyless entry, which allows you to unlock, start and lock your vehicle without having to push a button on the key. 

XCellence Lux - £20,655

Finally, we have XCellence Lux. This packs all of the creature comforts you might find on the regular XCellence trim, but adds a digital cockpit and a rear view camera - the latter being a real plus for those who want added help when parking. 

You can also use the car’s driving profiles to tailor how it responds. 

 

What about personalisation?

 

You’ve got a good amount of scope for personalisation with the Ibiza. There are plenty of exterior colours to choose from, while many specifications offer a variety of alloy wheel choices. 

If it’s impact you’re looking for, it’ll be FR trims you’ll want - they bring larger alloy wheels and, because of the fitment of sport suspension, have a more purposeful look on the road. 

Enquire on a new Seat Ibiza