Testing the turn signals
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SEAT used to have one of the youngest customer bases of any brand, and it was cars like the Ibiza that helped achieve that. The Balearic name might have had something to do with that, but the cars were also fun to drive, stylish, and offered great value for money - and several of those characteristics carry over to the most recent generation launched in 2017.
It’s no longer quite the youthful car it once was - you can’t get bright yellow paint any more, for starters - but the Ibiza has arguably become a better car as it’s grown up, and still has a sportier image than stablemates like the Volkswagen Polo. There’s a range of efficient engines, plenty of trim levels, and a spacious cabin. Buy used, and you can also save money on the cost of a new one.
Under the skin the SEAT Ibiza is very similar to the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia, and it’s just as easy to recommend as those two cars. While the Polo has the VW image on its side and the Fabia is the sensible, value proposition though, the Ibiza has a sportier look and feel - even though there’s no longer a true hot hatchback version like SEAT offered in the past.
The Ibiza is among the larger superminis and this pays dividends for interior space - it’s not difficult fitting adults in either the front or rear seats, and a 355-litre boot is competitive in this class too. The interior doesn’t quite match the Polo’s feeling of quality but it’s still well-built, and most models pack the kind of technology buyers now expect in cars like this, including an infotainment system that’s fairly easy to fathom.
The sporty looks translate into the way the Ibiza drives too, though only slightly. Some other superminis are still more fun, but in FR trim especially the Ibiza feels nimble, and the firmer setup still isn’t what you’d call uncomfortable. There’s a sophisticated feel that carries through to the 1-litre TSI petrol engines too, which are peppy and frugal. You’ll need to look at an older Ibiza if you want diesel or a more powerful 150PS 1.5-litre engine though. Keep an eye out for post-facelift 2021-on cars, which are the best of the bunch.
For fun, the Ford Fiesta and MINI 5-door hatchback are hard to beat in this class, and the oft-forgotten Mazda 2 is pretty good too. The Renault Clio meanwhile feels even more grown-up than the Ibiza, while the Peugeot 208 has more striking styling. Don’t forget the Polo and Fabia either, nor the more premium Audi A1, another car that shares its underpinnings with the Ibiza.
It’s an easy choice for us when it comes to the best Ibiza engine: you’ll want one of the 1-litre TSI petrols, in either 95PS or 110PS form (or the earlier 115PS car). They perform well and don’t use much fuel, and while they’re not as frugal as the diesels offered early on, some of that cost difference is made up from petrol being cheaper at the pumps. The TSI is quieter and more pleasant to use than the TDIs, too. The Ibiza has a sporty image, so we’d be tempted to look for a car in FR or FR Sport trim too.
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As the latest Ibiza has been on sale since 2017, SEAT has had time to adjust the trim level lineup according to what sells and what doesn’t - which is why the basic S model didn’t last very long. There’s a good mix though, and all models are fairly well-equipped for a car of this type - importantly, air conditioning is standard across the range, and most later cars will have an infotainment screen. Post-2021 cars get slightly different styling and equipment levels.
The SEAT Ibiza’s exterior dimensions are:
The SEAT Ibiza’s boot size is:
The vast majority, if not all current-generation Ibizas, should have a flat rate of VED, currently set at £190 per year for the 2024/2025 tax year. Some very early 2017 models may just sneak into the CO2-based system with cheaper rates, but there’s no electric or hybrid model to take the figures down further.
At the very bottom of the range a 1-litre MPI Ibiza starts in just group 3 insurance, so it should be among the cheaper cars on the market to insure, short of the likes of the smaller SEAT Mii. FR models start in group 4, while opting for the 95PS TSI means group 9 insurance and above, depending on trim level.
£9,990
£20,340
What is the most popular colour for SEAT Ibiza ?
What is the most popular gearbox for SEAT Ibiza ?
What is the most popular fuel type for SEAT Ibiza ?
What is the most popular engine for SEAT Ibiza ?
What is the average mileage for SEAT Ibiza ?
16756
How many SEAT Ibiza cars are available for sale?
435
