SEAT Ibiza (02-09) - Review

Review by Dan Harrison on
Last Updated: 07 July 2008
The sporty Ibiza is SEAT's sister car to the Volkswagen Polo (2002-2009) and Skoda Fabia (2000-2008) - all three share the same platform and use the same components. In addition to the sharp styling, it's impressively equipped, easy to drive around town and comes with a good choice of engines. It ticks a lot of boxes for a wide range of small car buyers and as a result is a very popular used buy. Changes from Spring 2006 include subtly revised looks (new front and rear bumpers and re-designed double headlamps), a better quality trim and improved equipment. This is most noticeable on sporty FR versions that now look more like the range-topping Cupra. SEAT added a tax-dodging, low-emission model to the Ibiza range in 2008, with the 1.4-litre Ecomotive emitting under 100g/km CO2 and costing nothing to tax as a result.
3.5 out of 5

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3.5 out of 5

Equipment

The original line-up was badged S, SE, and Sport. All models have air con, tinted glass, CD stereo, player and seatbelt pre-tensioners. SE adds height adjustable seats, front foglamps, on board computer and 15-inch alloy wheels. Sport has a leather steering wheel, traction control, white instrument dials and 16-inch alloy wheels. Sporting promise wasn’t realised until the start of 2004, with the launch of the 1.8T and 1.9 TDI FR models (although the diesel had been around from launch, badged Sport). A few months later saw the introduction of 1.8T and 1.9 TDI Cupra versions with significantly more horsepower over the FR cars. Ibiza badges changed in 2004 to reflect SEAT’s new naming strategy to - Reference, S, SX, FR and Cupra. The 2006 facelift meant another tweak to the spec list. Trims are now Reference, Stylance, Sport, FR and Cupra. Reference has body-coloured bumpers and door mirrors, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, electric front windows, CD stereo, five three-point seatbelts, ABS, remote central locking and ABS. Stylance adds climate control, electric door mirrors, electric windows, front fog lights, trip computer and height-adjustable driver's seat. Sport is differentiated by sports suspension, sports seats, sports steering wheel and air-con rather than climate control. FR has a honeycomb grille, special FR styling, climate control, side airbags, MP3-compatiable CD player, six-speed gearbox and an alarm. Range-topping Cupra gains an oval tail pipe, electronic stability programme, electronic brake assist, 17-inch alloy wheels and SEAT Racing brakes.

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Compare Equipment

Trim

Equipment

Key:

Standard item

Optional item

  • 3x3 point rear seat belts
  • ABS
  • Air conditioning
  • Alarm
  • Alloy wheels
  • Audio remote
  • Body coloured bumpers
  • CD
  • Central locking
  • Climate control
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Cruise control
  • Driver`s airbag
  • Electric mirrors
  • Folding rear seats
  • Front electric windows
  • Front fog lights
  • Full size spare wheel
  • Heated mirrors
  • Height adjustable drivers seat
  • Isofix child seat anchor points
  • PAS
  • Passenger`s airbag
  • Rear electric windows
  • Remote locking
  • Service indicator
  • Side airbags
  • Space saver spare wheel
  • Sports seats
  • Steel wheels
  • Steering wheel rake adjustment
  • Steering wheel reach adjustment
  • Traction control
Standard Trim Reference S Chill Ecomotive SX Reference Sport Stylance Freerider Sportrider Cupra FR Award SE Sport DAB Formula Sport Sport (Styling Kit)
Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes
No Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes No Optional Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes No Optional No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Optional Optional Optional Optional
No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No Optional No Optional Yes No Yes Optional Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes No Optional Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes No Optional No No No No No No No No No No Yes Optional Optional Optional Optional
No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Optional Optional Optional
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No Optional No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Optional No No Optional Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Optional Optional Optional Optional
No No No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No Optional No No No Optional No Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No Optional No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Optional No No Optional Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No Optional Optional Optional Optional
No No No No No No No No No No No Optional No No No No No No
No No No No No No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Optional Optional No No No No No No No No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Optional Optional Optional Optional