Seat rolls out the stylish new model Ibiza

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Written by Staff Reporter

Wednesday, 15 October 2008

The arrival of the new Seat Ibiza is important for the Seat brand here in Ireland. The Ibiza has been the leading seller for Seat and so the new model is a crucial addition to the range. Ibiza competes in the supermini sector where there’s lots of competition. Michael Moroney drove the entry model 1.2 litre Seat Ibiza and here’s his report.
WHILE Seat is part of the giant Volkswagen Group its cars never seem to reach the same status as its related Volkswagen models. Scratch under the skin of the new Seat Ibiza and you’ll find lots of Volkswagen technology including Volkswagens new design platform, which will be used in many of the German branded models in the future.
We look at Seat as a Spanish car because that’s where its heritage lies and that’s where the cars are built. For those who venture towards the sunshine for their annual break, the Seat range is well recognizable. But it is a Volkswagen brand and one in which Volkswagen is having a growing input.
The new Ibiza enters a packed supermini sector with popular models from Fiat, Ford, Opel, Toyota and Volkswagen to name but a few. That’s why this new Ibiza needs something special to ensure its appeal.
I’ve had the new entry model Ibiza with its three-cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine on the road. This is just one of three petrol engine options for the Ibiza and it’s the most economical.
If you’re attracted by styling then the Ibiza will appeal. The car has a modern design style that brings it forward from the older model in leaps and bounds. The new Seat style now a feature of many of the other model in the range, ensures its aerodynamics help the new Ibiza add thrift to its esthetic appeal.
This entry model car comes with the three-cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine that’s also fitted to the entry level Volkswagen Polo. The engine uses four valves per cylinder and multipoint fuel injection to achieve what is a respectable power output of 70bhp. It is characteristically more noisy and noticeable than a four cylinder engine, while it accelerates well.
This new Ibiza delivers average results in terms of performance and acceleration, giving a 0 to 100km/hr rating of 14.2 seconds. Relative to the competition this is at the slower end of the spectrum due to slightly lower power and torque from the engine compared with some of the competition.
Seat has shaved some weight from the new car, dropping its kerb weight to 999kg despite the fact that the new car is bigger and wider. That has been just about enough to deliver a slightly better acceleration figure compared to the older model. So while it has fast car looks and its impressive Weight Watchers performance, the new Ibiza is not the fastest supermini in the 1.2 litre sector.
Smaller cars are being rated on their fuel economy and low CO2 figures. The new Ibiza shows no great economy improvement over the older model and that’s a little disappointing. Granted Seat has a new economical version on the way, but this economy feature should be incorporated into all new models as standard and it should be affordable.
In the CO2 ranking, the new Ibiza shows no improvement over the older model. The changes in the VRT and Motor Taxation work in its favour compared with the past, Seat has done little to improve the car’s emission performance compared with the older model. With a CO2 rating of 139g/km, it just creeps into the Band B for Road Tax giving an annual charge of just €150. That’s at a time when bigger cars are shaving double digits from their CO2 output figures.
To be really effective, this new Seat Ibiza needs to get the benefit of the Volkswagen Blue Motion technology. And then the Seat style will convert into real substance on the road. I’m disappointed that the new Ibiza doesn’t deliver enough improvement in terms of economy and CO2 numbers, because the car looks so well.
In terms of features, the new Ibiza has softer-to-touch plastics, a refreshed instrument panel and good seat adjustment. The boot is bigger and it’s deep. On the inside there was ample headroom for me but rear legroom seems tight.
The newly designed radio includes an integrated Bluetooth telephone system that can be activated via controls on the steering column. But setting the radio stations and changing stations is far from easy.
On the safety front, the new Ibiza is well regarded. It came through the EuroNCAP test with a maximum five stars for the passenger protection test, with a four-star rating for child protection and three stars for pedestrian protection.
The entry ‘R’ model Ibiza also comes height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat, speed-sensitive electro-hydraulic power steering, driver, front passenger and head-thorax front side airbags, ABS, electric front windows, six-speaker audio with MP3-compatible CD player and AUX input for MP3 or iPod devices, remote central locking and rolling code immobiliser. That’s the car with the €14,850 price tag.
Moving up to the S grade adds about €1,400 to the price for body-coloured door mirrors and handles, silver instrument binnacle, height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors, electric rear windows, cruise control, front fog lights with cornering function, trip computer, double headlamps, headlights with coming-home function and an alarm.
Seat has added style to the new Ibiza but the old engine technology lets it down in performance and economy terms. Ibiza drivers will wait anxiously for the new diesel powered Ecomotive model, which almost doubles that economy level. So let’s hope that the price is right.

Seat Ibiza 1.2 - Specifications
Top speed       160 km/hr
0 – 100km/hr       14.2 seconds
Economy       6.1 l/100km (47.8mpg)
CO2 emissions   139 g/km
Road Tax Band   B (€150)
Entry Price       €14,850 LX Specification

Caption: The new Seat Ibiza entry model comes with a 1.2 litre petrol engine that signals value at €14,850 before delivery charges. The car has a Band B annual motor tax rating and average economy levels.

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