Seat Ibiza review

Most of the noise coming out of Barcelona these days surrounds the city's biggest football club and a certain Lionel Messi. But in recent times the local car brand has arguably been more successful, and the Seat Ibiza can take a lot of the credit for that.

Now in its fifth generation, the Ibiza is the Catalan brand’s small car offering, sitting below the Seat Leon hatchback and the higher-riding Arona and Ateca SUVs. However, with five doors, plenty of space inside and grown-up driving manners, the Ibiza offers plenty of big car perks for a surprisingly affordable price.

There’s a choice of three petrol engines with the most powerful offering the optional of an automatic gearbox. And you also get a long list of trim levels to choose from, including sporty FR trim and more lavishly equipped Xcellence trim.

But should rivals such as the Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo and Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, really be worried? Read on over the next few pages to find out, and we’ll also tell you which of the Seat Ibiza’s engines and trims make the most sense.

If you decide the Spanish way of life is worth some consideration, head over to our New Car Buying service to check out our latest Seat Ibiza deals and find out how much you could save on the brochure price.