Seat is a manufacturer that saw the potential in SUV-market, so they introduced the Ateca, Tarraco and Arona, and they've...
all been incredibly successful. Especially in our country. However, because of that, it's easy to forget about what Seat used to produce.
Cars like this, the Seat Ibiza. And the Ibiza has received a facelift. In the company's history, the Ibiza is still Seat's best-selling car.
It still sells very well, so Seat keeps it in production. Despite the Arona outselling the Ibiza, because people want crossovers nowadays.
Anyway, I'd always prefer a car like this. Let's take a look at the history. The Ibiza has changed quite often per generation.
I think that the previous generation was marketed a tad too simple. It felt a little cheap and seemed to be a competitor to the Skoda,
and it didn't sell as well as its predecessor. You know, the one with Cupra-diesels, which was a really good car back then.
But with this generation Ibiza, Seat has clearly taken a step forward. It's a car that offers a lot of value for money. All of the technology from...
the Polo for a slightly lower price and a slightly more dynamic flavour.
It didn't feel as cheap anymore, it became a little more spacious and because of that, Seat hasn't changed too much in this facelift.
Seat has mainly focused on technological gadgets and design updates. At the front, it's clear that it's now more in line with the Leon and...
Tarraco, and at the back, the name is now written in that nice font. Also, LED-lights at the back.
If we move to the inside, there are some changes to talk about as well. For example, it now has the new-style dashboard.
There's a digital instrument cluster now, which you're able to customize to your own liking. Just like in Audi's and Volkswagens.
The multimedia screen has been moved to here and it's a newer version of the system we already know from the Volkswagen Group.
And as a whole, the dashboard looks a little less plasticky than before. The materials are softer for example, and a strip like this...
makes it look a little better.
Also, on longer distances, it's nice and quiet, and that's a very good thing.
If we look at the engine range, it's incredibly wide here in Spain. From a 1.5-litre TSI with 150 horsepower to a version that runs on natural gas.
However, in the Netherlands, you can only get one engine. A 1.0-litre 3-cylinder TSI, which is called Eco TSI now, and it's available in two flavours.
One with 95 horsepower and a manual gearbox and one with 110 horsepower and a DSG-gearbox. That's all that we're going to get.
It doesn't seem to be a very extensive range and sure, 150 horsepower is great, but that used to be hot hatch territory and 110 horsepower...
is more than enough for a car like this in the Netherlands. Especially if you don't have to drive through the Alps with a fully loaded car.
I already mentioned that the interior space is still very good. It's much better than the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa or Ford Fiesta.
Only the Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia and Renault Clio are more spacious. However, that does mean that the Ibiza moves away from the Fiesta...
in the dynamic part of the segment, because the Fiesta is much less usable because of its cramped space.
When you start driving the new Ibiza, it immediately stands out that it's a very grown-up car.
There's a lot of space around you and when you're behind the wheel, the car doesn't feel small around you. Especially on longer distances that's nice.
That's because it offers a lot of comfort whilst still being pretty dynamic. Also, it's very quiet and it has a very good audio system,
if you select a more expensive trim level. The same goes for the multimedia system. Don't get me wrong, we still don't like the new Volkswagen...
Group-system, because it's a tad slow and way too extensive. It's very modern, but it doesn't work that well.
But when it comes to appearance, it all looks good. The same goes for the climate control. And when it was facelifted, the Ibiza received...
additional safety features. Blind spot detection, automatic cruise control, automatic high beam, all kinds of features that make driving a car easier.
Especially on boring pieces of road in heavy traffic or traffic jams or something.
When it comes to the engine, the Netherlands will only have the 1.0-litre with two power outputs. 95 and 110 horsepower, and I'm...
driving the latter, and you'll always get a DSG-gearbox as standard with that version. If you want a manual, you should get the 95 horsepower.
And it's a more than decent little engine. There's a nice amount of torque at low revs. And like I said, unless you're driving through the Alps...
with five people and all of their luggage, you won't complain about the power output. But 110 horsepower in this segment is still a lot.
I used to drive a 75 horsepower Clio for years, so it's not that bad. Also, an Ibiza weighs a lot less than all of the crossovers of today.
And that brings me to the point I'm trying to make here. Everybody is buying Arona's in this segment. And I can get behind elderly people...
because they can actually use the high entry. But if you're younger or if you're just starting a family, why not consider this Ibiza?
Just look at the space in the back and the boot, and it still offers a lot of driving pleasure. Sure, it won't be as much fun as a Fiesta,
that's of a different level, but the usability as whole is better in this Ibiza than in the Fiesta. So as a first car, that's very important.
Enginewise and chassiswise they haven't changed a lot, because it was already at the top of its segment. And why change a winning team?