SEAT Ibiza cars for sale

Frequently asked questions about the SEAT Ibiza

• What is a SEAT Ibiza?
• Despite being a brand that few Britons had heard of less than four decades ago, the SEAT Ibiza has become the Spanish marque’s most popular model – and deservedly so. It's closely related to the Volkswagen Polo and Audi A1, and once the next-generation Skoda Fabia hits the roads, it will be the same case for the Czech supermini.
  
  SEAT Has always pitched the Ibiza right in the supermini heartland and it’s no different for the Mk5 Ibiza, making life hard for the Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo among several other possibilities. The current version is so good, we awarded it with Best First Car in the 2018 Parkers new car awards, a title it held on to in the 2019 list. So, clearly we like the Ibiza.

• Which versions of the SEAT Ibiza are available?
• As with many of its competitors – and with the Volkswagen Polo it shares its underpinnings with – the Mk5 Ibiza is only available as a five-door hatchback. Three-door models have dwindled in popularity and the short-lived previous-generation Ibiza ST was a victim of the fact few buyers want a small estate. Known by insiders as the Typ 6J Ibiza, the SEAT supermini also forms the basis of its SUV cousin, the Arona, not that the latter is much taller or especially rugged as an example of its genre. So far we’ve not seen an out-and-out performance version of the current Ibiza, with the lukewarm FR trim level filling the sporty brief, for now at least. Other trim levels are SE and Xcellence, with additional packs available of bundled options also available, called Technology, Lux and Sport. Despite being launched in 2017, SEAT’s kept the engine range fairly narrow so far: non-turbo (80hp) and turbo (95hp-115hp) petrol engines are all three-cylinder 1.0-litre units, while the 80hp and 95hp diesels are four-cylinder 1.6-litre motors.

• What is the SEAT Ibiza Cupra?
• Since 1997, mid-way through the Mk2’s lifecycle, the hottest versions in the range have been badged SEAT Ibiza Cupra. Until that point the GTi name had been applied to the quickest models. For the Mk4 Ibiza, the Cupra trim was only available with the three-door SC bodystyle, with a range topped by the limited edition Cupra Bocanegra – Spanish for ‘black mouth’ – with the nose of the car painted said colour. Will there be a Cupra version of the Mk5 Ibiza? Yes, it’s highly likely there will be, but not badged as a SEAT. Starting with the quickest version of the Ateca SUV, the trim level has now been turned into a brand itself, meaning the forthcoming production car will be titled Cupra Ibiza.

• What's under the skin?
• While the Mk5 Ibiza shares all of its underpinnings and mechanical components with the VW Polo (the pair have been linked this way since the 1993 Mk2), the two superminis don’t look remotely alike. SEAT rather cleverly has imbued its five-door-only Ibiza with many of the sharper styling elements found on its predecessor’s three-door SC body, making it look sportier than the more upright Polo. Under the skin, the cars are similar, but changes to the Ibiza's suspension set-up mean it's a sportier drive, while inside, although much of the tech is shared, clever styling changes give them very different characters. And that's why the Ibiza has such a youthful appeal… There are roomier superminis out there, but that’s not to say that the Ibiza’s cramped and the cabin – at last! – is rather good to look at, even though the plastics used for the dashboard and other mouldings are hard and unyielding.

• Is the SEAT Ibiza good to drive?
• Firmer in its ride quality than its Polo sister car, but not uncomfortably so, the Ibiza typifies SEAT’s brief of being the sportier of the Volkswagen Group’s mainstream brands. It also feels more responsive in corners, and has sharper steering – meaning it's runs the Ford Fiesta a close second as the supermini of choice for keen drivers. Clearly on a base-spec, non-turbo 80hp model, you’re not going to be making short shrift of long cross-country journeys, but the 115hp TSI petrol is a sprightly performer that enables drivers to make the most of the Ibiza’s zesty handling, proving that you don't need huge amounts of power to have fun on B-roads and in town.

• How much does the SEAT Ibiza cost?
• SEATs have long been good-value propositions – that’s not to say cheap, but a sensible asking price for a fine combination of equipment and quality. In Mk5 guise, the Ibiza continues this theme. You’ll get a good deal buying one outright, but there’s more of a bargain to be had obtaining one through a tempting personal leasing or PCP finance arrangement. Many of the Ibiza’s rivals can’t come close to matching it. In large part it was the finance that cemented the Ibiza being a two-time Parkers award winner.