Performance & drive
What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is
Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox
The cheapest engine in the Seat Ibiza line-up, badged the 1.0 MPI 80, has only 79bhp and no turbocharger to boost performance at low revs. It needs working really hard if you want any kind of respectable acceleration and that soon becomes tiring. We’d advise avoiding this engine and going for the next step up the ladder, the 1.0 TSI 95.
In fact, that engine is our pick of the three on offer. It has 94bhp and is turbocharged so it pulls more eagerly from low revs than the MPI and whisks the Ibiza up to speed in a reasonably brisk fashion. In our tests it managed 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds.
Opting for FR Sport trim brings the largest wheels on offer, measuring 18in. That makes the ride even firmer, something to bear in mind before you’re seduced by the sporty looks.

Handling
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Ibiza is how composed and sophisticated it is to drive. In fact, it’s one of the best-handling cars in the class.
The Ibiza’s steering works well both in town and at faster speeds, starting off light during slower driving and manoeuvres, before progressively weighting up well when you find yourself on a twisty country road. It’s impressive how much feedback you get from the front tyres so you’re always aware of how much grip there is.
Body lean is well controlled, especially if you opt for FR trim with the sports suspension. Even so, the Ibiza isn’t quite as much fun to drive as the Fiesta.