Seat Ibiza (1999 on)

According to the nice salesperson at my – fairly – local SEAT dealership, this year the SEAT has, for the first time ever, outsold Volkswagen in Germany. Here in the UK they are lucky to get a 5% market-share and are still considered ‘exotic’. To me the SEAT has never been ‘exotic’. My mother owned two SEATs before she had to give up driving due to deteriorating health. The SEAT range comprises a number of Superminis and larger family cars. One of the best known of them all is probably the Ibiza – voted Supermini of the year three years running (What Car? Magazine 2003-2005). SEAT cars are generally named after Spanish places (Toledo, Cordoba) as ...  Read the complete review

~ ~ This car from Spanish car manufacturers Seat is one of the most stylish and exciting to drive in the “supermini” class of vehicles. It’s hard to believe that the Seat Ibiza has been around now for seventeen years, the very first rolling off the production line as far back as April, 1984. Since then over 2.5 million Ibiza’s have been produced at Seat’s ultra-modern factory in Martorell, which is the largest manufacturing plant in the whole of Spain, and the second largest passenger vehicle factory in the whole of Europe. ~ ~ Ever since the very first version hit the streets all those years ago, the Ibiza has enjoyed a ...  Read the complete review

Okay, okay. I know it was very naughty, and maybe I shouldn't have succumbed to temptation but I did take, what I thought to be, proper precautions - honest! But it was that feeling, the familiar urge. I just had to do it. I couldn't resist. I was on a motorway, the road was empty, so I gently squeezed my foot on the accelerator until ... zzoooommmm ... I topped 100 mph. I had a silent(ish) whoop and then slowed down to seventy again with a big, ear to ear, grin on my face. Oh come on, you'd have done the same, wouldn't you? I mean if the brochure says it does over a ton you've got to make sure they aren't telling ...  Read the complete review

The Seat Ibiza 1.2 is pretty much everything you could want or expect from any car at the price. It combines the German build quality of a Volkswagen (I'm led to believe its basically a Polo with a Seat body) with that touch of sportiness and flair you get from the Spanish Seat. I have the 3 door version. The cost is less than most of it's similar class competitors, and I've been very happy with what I've got for it (I bought mine 2nd hand at 2 and a half years old for around £4500) The gear ratios are excellent allowing for smooth changes, the engine seems to have a bit more pep than a 1.2 really should have, and it runs so smoothly it's like a ...  Read the complete review

Performance - The cars lack of grunt shows up on motorways, although it has good punch at around 50 to 60 mph. However, from a 1.2 3 cylinder engine you don't expect it to be a race car! The handling is impressive, with nice thick tyres for the size of car grip around bends will impress you, and this is partly down to it having stiffer suspension than rivals such as the VW Polo. Comfort - The ride is firm, you certainly feel bumps in the road and added to that the soundproofing is poor, at speeds on rough roads you can barely hear yourself think. The driving position is customisable with the adjustable steering wheel height, although you cannot raise the ...  Read the complete review