301 SEAT Ibiza cars for sale

Used SEAT Ibiza for sale: everything you need to know

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.

Should you buy a SEAT Ibiza?

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.

What’s the best used SEAT Ibiza model to buy?

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.

Used SEAT Ibiza fuel economy and performance

• SEAT Ibiza 1.0 MPI 80: With a non-turbocharged 1-litre three-cylinder petrol the Ibiza isn’t that powerful, at 80PS, which explains a 0-62mph time of 15.3 seconds. Economy is pretty good though, at 53.3mpg combined.
• SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95: The same 1-litre engine but turbocharged boosts power to 95PS, and brings the 0-62mph time down to 10.9 seconds. Economy actually improves, at 54.3mpg.
• SEAT Ibiza 1.0 TSI 110: The most powerful 1-litre Ibiza produces 110PS, and gets either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 0-62mph drops to 10.3 seconds while combined economy is up to 52.3mpg in the manual.
• SEAT Ibiza 1.5 TSI: Dropped from the range in 2018, the 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI made 150PS, making it the most powerful Ibiza of this generation. 0-62mph took only 7.9 seconds, while on the older NEDC fuel economy test, economy was quoted at 57mpg.
• SEAT Ibiza 1.6 TDI 80: Another engine dropped from the range several years ago, the 80PS 1.6-litre TDI had claimed economy of 74mpg, and could reach 62mph from rest in 12.9 seconds.
• SEAT Ibiza 1.6 TDI 95: The more powerful version of the 1.6 TDI developed 95PS, for an 11.3-second 0-62mph time. Economy was the same as the 80PS car, at 74mpg.

What used SEAT Ibiza trim levels are available?

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 was the entry-level model at launch but was later dropped. It does get toys like air conditioning, electric front windows, Bluetooth, and automatic headlights, but leaves enough on the table that most buyers opted for something better-specified.
• The SEAT Ibiza SE is the current entry point to the range, and includes a touchscrfeen infotainment system and alloy wheels, among other features.
• The SEAT Ibiza SE Technology builds upon the SE with a large screen for the infotainment system, built-in navigation, and larger alloy wheels.
• The SEAT Ibiza FR is where the sporty Ibizas start, with larger wheels again and sports seats, plus a wider range of engines than the cheaper models in the range.
• The SEAT Ibiza FR Sport is the sporty version of the sporty version - 18 inch alloy wheels, microsuede trim, and other toys.
• The SEAT Ibiza Xcellence has a more upmarket feel, including dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, and machined-finish alloy wheels.
• The SEAT Ibiza Xcellence Lux gets more features still, with adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, and a rear-view camera.

Used SEAT Ibiza dimensions and boot size

The SEAT Ibiza’s exterior dimensions are:

• Length: 4059mm
• Width: 1780mm
• Height: 1444mm

The SEAT Ibiza’s boot size is:

• 355 litres
• 823 litres with rear seats folded

Used SEAT Ibiza road tax

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.

How much is it to insure a SEAT Ibiza?

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.