When the Seat Ibiza was introduced in 1984, the Spanish supermini was a no-frills budget buy. Times have changed, though, and the fourth-generation model makes a compelling alternative to the VW Polo, particularly as used Ibizas are several hundred pounds cheaper.
The latest Ibiza filtered into British showrooms from May 2008, and the range gradually grew from the five-door hatchback to include a three-door hatch and a more practical estate. All three have one thing in common: distinctive, angular styling that helps the Ibiza family stand out from the supermini crowd.
Rather than just being a hatchback with two doors removed, the three-door had a lower roofline and sportier styling, and was appropriately named Ibiza SportCoupé (or SC). It struck a chord with buyers, and now a used one costs a little more than an equivalent five-door, despite it being cheaper when new.
The five-door is, of course, more practical and affords better rear-seat access and, at 292 litres, a little more boot space. The estate, known as the Ibiza ST, offers a further 138 litres of luggage space.
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Given today’s fuel prices, it is likely to be the frugal mpg figures of the Ecomotive models that catch the attention of used-car buyers.
Ecomotives use a three-cylinder turbodiesel engine to keep CO2 emissions below 100g/km for road-tax exemption, and are capable of 80mpg.
At the opposite end of the engine range, though, the SportCoupé Bocanegra has a 180bhp turbocharged petrol engine that makes it a real pocket rocket.
What should you expect from an Ibiza on a test drive? Well, Seat’s smallest car feels responsive, safe and comfortable — surprisingly, even the sports variants don’t feel overly harsh. The Ibiza may not be as fun to drive as a Ford Fiesta, but it’s still a thoroughly competent performer.
Reliability and servicing
Since Volkswagen bought a controlling stake in Seat in 1986, the German company’s influence has made itself felt in all the right ways, and Seat cars consequently feel built to last. Servicing (needed every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first) tends to be cheaper than for Volkswagens, even though the jobs and parts are mostly identical. A standard service costs about £160, a mid-range service £200 and a major service £250. Since its 2008 launch the Ibiza Mk 4 has not had any recalls, but a handful of owners have reported the battery going flat after not using the car for a few days — a fault subsequently fixed by a software upgrade.
Residuals
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Seat’s smallest holds its value better than most other cars in its category, including the highly rated Toyota Yaris. Its low insurance groups and attractive styling do catch younger buyers’ eyes, particularly if they’re looking for something a little more individual than a Fiesta or a Corsa. Be wary of bright yellow or gold Ibizas, though; you may love the idea but subsequent buyers probably won’t and will value your car accordingly.
Need to know
Filler cap: Can be fiddly to open and close but will be covered by warranty
Gearbox: 5-speed manual has nice shift. 2009-10 1.6 SE has 7-speed DSG auto available
Insurance: 1.2-litre is in group 2 for insurance; 1.6-litre petrol is only in group 5
Sport models: Larger alloy wheels give a firmer ride; check you’re okay with it by road-testing on rough surfaces
Steering column: Adjusts for reach and rake on all models, and together with seat-height adjustment means that any driver can get truly comfortable
Tyres: Front tyre wear can be rapid on Bocanegra and higher-power diesels
Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles with two years’ Europe-wide breakdown cover and 12-year bodywork corrosion cover