SEAT Ibiza Hatchback (08 on) - Review

The most popular engine in the Ibiza line-up is the 1.4-litre, which produces 85bhp and offers decent pulling power. It will reach 62mph from rest in a brisk 12.2 seconds and its reasonable pulling power is put to good use when changing down a gear for a bit of extra shove. There is also a three-cylinder 70bhp 1.2-litre engine in the base version of the car and takes a more leisurely 15 seconds to hit 62mph from rest. Although this sounds slow, the engine is not without its charm and the 1.2 will chug away willingly when faced with a hill or required to overtake slower traffic. The 1.6-litre is a more livelier prospect completing the 0-62mph dash in just over 10 seconds and is capable of running on to a maximum of 116mph. It's also available with the excellent DSG automatic gearbox which uses two clutches to deliver supremely quick shifts. If you're after a diesel, there was originally a 1.9 TDI (carried over from the previous Ibiza) with 105bhp. It's punchy and pulls well from low revs, but it's noisy and pretty coarse. This was effectively replaced by two engines. The most economical is the 1.4 TDI that's available in the Ecomotive model. It's adequate in terms of pace, but where it excels is in economy - averaging an incredible 76mpg. Emissions of just 89g/km of CO2 means road tax is free too, making it great for those looking to save money. The same engine is available in standard trim but with emissions of 114g/km of CO2. A 1.6 TDI was introduced in July 2009 but unlike previous SEAT diesels, this is a common rail engine, which means it is smoother and quieter. 0-62mph takes 10.7 seconds - making it almost as quick as the 1.6-litre petrol but with economy of 67mpg. In November 2010, a new 1.2-litre TSI was added to the engine line-up. The 103bhp engine offers impressive performance for its size. It comes with a choice of five-speed manual gearbox (this will complete the zero to 62mph sprint in 9.8 seconds) and seven-speed DSG automatic (reaching the benchmark in 9.7 seconds.) The manual gearbox is reassuringly slick, while the DSG is very smooth and comes at a small premium over the manual option. For a blend of economy and performance it’s the pick of the bunch.

A wider stance and slightly longer wheelbase, combined with lower weight than on the previous version of the Ibiza makes this model feel more agile and responsive on the road. Now measuring more than four metres long - in common with the contemporary Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Peugeot 207 and Fiat Grande Punto - the Ibiza is a more visibly imposing car, but it hasn't compromised how it feels to drive. It's still one of the more engaging cars in this class when on a twisty road, with good body control and a composed ride. The light steering is lacking a little feel but is precise and pretty direct.