As you probably know by now, Spanish car manufacturer Seat is back in town and its cars are named after places in Spain. The marque's compact hatch, the Ibiza is named after the party island of Ibiza, and was the second nomenclature in naming models after Spanish cities.
It's cute and somewhat familiar
That's because the Ibiza's cousin is essentially a Polo. Seat is the youthful, fun arm of the Volkwagen Group and this is obvious in the exuberant styling of the Ibiza. Staying true to Ibiza's lively spirit, the car's stylish and distinctive sharp lines create a road presence, which allows it to stand out from the crowd. The Ibiza isn't as serious-looking as the Polo, yet has a more mature vibe compared to the Mazda2.
Oh yes, it's great on the eyes but what's the situation inside?
Just like the rest of the Group's cars, design of the Ibiza's cabin is hard to fault. Almost identical to the previous generation Polo, materials used are of quality, and centre console-mounted controls are clean and pleasingly driver-centric.
The Ibiza's cabin is a comfortable place to inhabit for a family of four. The second row seats are cushy enough for two and won't be much of a problem even for one more on shorter drives.
And, a cargo capacity of 292 litres ensures enough space for grocery runs and bags for short holidays.
Sounds great thus far, but can the Ibiza make pace on our roads?
Don't underestimate the Ibiza's turbocharged 1.0-litre lump. In comparison, the Polo's turbocharged 1.2-litre, four-cylinder makes 89bhp and 160Nm. The Ibiza's heart is one cylinder and 0.2-litres of displacement short, but churns 109bhp and 200Nm.
The car takes just 9.3 seconds to complete the century sprint and in corners, is also no slouch. While it's not as sharp as the Ford Fiesta, the Ibiza is more engaging to drive than the Polo. Aside from providing a fun drive, it also remains frugal, clocking an average fuel economy reading of 15.8km/L.
Plus, you get a ton of safety features such as Electronic Brake Force Distribution as standard.
Yay or nay?
The Ibiza one of the more enjoyable and sensible compacts in town, which we've driven. If you've just started working, begun a family or just want a compact hatch to get around, this Seat makes for serious consideration.
