Ten Second Review

This fifth generation version of SEAT's Ibiza supermini offers small car buyers a smarter set of more eco-conscious hi-tech talents. It'll need them if it's to distance itself from its Volkswagen and Skoda design stablemates and continue as a credible alternative in this tightly fought segment.

Background

'Enjoyneering'. It's one of those marketing words of course, but it's also a rather apt description of what Spanish maker SEAT sets out to create when it brings us a new car. Something beautifully engineered: but with a bit of extra Latin sparkle. Something like this, the Iberian brand's much improved fifth generation Ibiza supermini? Perhaps.

The 'beautifully engineered' bit isn't difficult to believe. The 'Sociedad Espanola de Automoviles de Turismo' - or 'SEAT' as we better know it - is well used to injecting a little life into the mainstream market. In this case, the Spanish maker's position within the Volkswagen Group means that this car is the first of the conglomerate's supermini models to get the empire's sophisticated MQB platform, something that enables weight savings and the addition of extra electronic features borrowed from larger models. Plus SEAT reckons buyers will really notice the extra personalisation options, the smarter interior and the additional media connectivity incorporated this time round. Will it all be enough to keep this car current against more recent rivals? Let's find out.

Driving Experience

This time round, SEAT has had a good look at the engine range. It's nearly all petrol-powered, things kicking off with the old 75PS 1.0 MPI unit at the foot of the range. Try your hardest to ignore this aging unit and graduate instead to the far-preferrable (and more economic) 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder turbo powerplant which produces either 95 or 115PS. The four-cylinder 1.5 TSI with active cylinder management (ACT) develops 150PS, while its cylinder deactivation under partial load leads to impressive fuel economy. The feebler engines get a five-speed manual gearbox, with a six-speeder used further up the range, where there's also the option of 7-speed DSG auto transmission on the 1.0 TSI 115PS FR model. The diesel alternative is a 1.6-litre TDI unit with 80PS.

As for on the road driving dynamics, well SEAT says these have been improved thanks to the adoption of a hi-tech MQB platform that is 30% stiffer. As before, there's an optional 'SEAT Drive Profile' system that offers adaptive damping with two modes - comfort or sports-oriented. The Comfort/Sport selector switch also influences the feeling of the power steering and it'll alter the shift times of the DSG gearbox where automatic transmission has been specified.

Design and Build

The MK5 model version of this SEAT isn't available in three-door form any more, but the Spanish maker says it retains plenty of sporty style potential customers tend to want. From a styling perspective, it's clearly an Ibiza, but one that has undergone a process of evolution, with a so-called 'x-shaped' design that looks more dynamic than before. The front and rear overhangs are very short and at the front of the car, triangular full-LED headlights dominate. The longer wheelbase and window graphics accentuate the size of this model too. Under the skin, the car is based on the Volkswagen Group's latest MQB platform, which will also be used in next-generation versions of Volkswagen's Polo and Skoda's Fabia.

The Ibiza is also bigger this time round, 87mm wider than before, while the 2,564mm distance between the axles represents a 95mm increase. As a result, legroom in the back seats has increased by 35mm, while headroom has increased by 17mm in the back and 24mm in the front. The seats are 42mm wider and the boot area is 63-litres bigger, bringing total capacity up to a class-leading 355-litre figure. The loading height has also been lowered. Other things you'll notice inside include the fact that the controls and instruments are now more driver-orientated and the cabin feels of higher quality, thanks to colour-personalisable LED lighting, an 8-inch centre-dash touchscreen and a 'Full Link' connectivity system.

Market and Model

Prices haven't changed very much, so before our exclusive discount, expect a price span in the £13,500 to £19,500 bracket, which means that, as before, you're getting Volkswagen Polo technology for a significant saving. For now, only five-door models are on offer and the trim lines run from 'S' to 'SE', 'SE Technology', 'FR' and 'XCELLENCE'.

As for equipment, well the full-LED headlights are a highlight. Plus most models get 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'/'MirrorLink' 'phone connectivity, plus buyers can specify a premium 8-inch touchscreen and a wireless charger with a GSM amplifier. In addition, there's the chance to add in a thumping 300-watt 'Beats' Audio system with 7 speakers and an 8-channel amplifier. Other features buyers might want include keyless entry with a 'heartbeat' engine start button, front and rear parking sensors and a higher quality rear view camera. 'FR' and 'XCELLENCE' variants get colour-personalisable LED interior lighting too. Safety-wise, there's 'Front Assist' autonomous braking, Adaptive Cruise Control and a 'Traffic Jam Assist' feature that can take over the driving from you at very low traffic jam speed.

Cost of Ownership

Being able to dip into the Volkswagen Group parts bin for the niftiest tech usually means a very low overall cost of ownership and that's certainly the case here. The four cylinder 1.5-litre TSI petrol variant with 'ACT' active cylinder management should be able to manage a diesel-like figure of around 60mpg on the combined cycle and both three and four-cylinder units of course fulfil all the latest EU6 emissions standards.

The base 1.0 MPI variant manages 57.6mpg on the combined cycle and 112g/km of CO2. The 1.0-litre TSI petrol models are capable of nearly 60.1mpg on the combined cycle and a CO2 figure of as little as 106g/km - so who needs a diesel? A start/stop system, which switches off the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill, is available on all models.

What else? Well there's SEAT's usual three year/60,000 mile warranty. That's unexceptional when rivals like Toyota and Hyundai offer five years of cover as standard and Kia offers up to seven years. However, the SEAT deal is extendable, so you might be able to negotiate on that. And it includes two years of Europe-wide roadside assistance.

Summary

Ibiza's important to Spain - and this one certainly is to SEAT. Over 5.4 million examples of this car have been sold since the original first generation model's introduction back in 1984. If SEAT can promote this fifth generation car properly, then it stands a chance of gaining a place somewhere near the top of the rather over-stuffed shortlists that most browsing supermini buyers will be working through. An inherent product rightness certainly counts in this Ibiza's favour, borne from a real attention to detail that's come through development of this model line over a quarter of a century.

In summary, we're looking here at a car that, like its brand, has matured nicely. One mindful of the fact that modernday Spaniards need to balance Latin spirit with sober sense. In this Ibiza, they've a small car that does exactly that.