SEAT Ibiza Review 2024

While there’s much talk about how well many small hatches handle corners, the truth is most of us want a comfortable car and the SEAT Ibiza delivers here. Its supple suspension copes very well with the punches thrown at it by most road surfaces, leaving its occupants unruffled and ready for the day ahead when they reach their destination.

This refined nature is further helped in the Ibiza by engines that are hushed and perform well, while the cabin itself serves up more space than you’ll find in almost any other small hatch. It means the SEAT works as the only car for families thanks to plenty of room in the back seats and the boot.

You cannot discuss rivals to the SEAT Ibiza without mentioning the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa or Volkswagen Polo. The Ibiza shares much of its base with the Polo but has more affordable prices, while the Fiesta is sharper to drive and the Corsa very much on a par with the SEAT for comfort. However, you must also bear in mind the Ford is only available now as a used car.

Others to think about in this class are the Skoda Fabia and Kia Rio if you want similar space and comfort to the Ibiza. Or the Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2 and Honda Jazz deliver on quality. We’d also consider the French contingent in the forms of the Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio.

On first acquaintance, the pre-facelift SEAT Ibiza’s cabin does not have the same initial appeal as some rivals due to the mix of hard-finished plastics. However, this is an issue of style rather than substance as all of the materials are sturdy and put together with close attention to fit, finish and panel gaps.

This high level of construction shows itself in the absence of rattle or squeaks as you drive the Ibiza, even along poorly tarmacked roads or speed bumps.

The plastics are also neatly moulded and finished, so you won’t find any sharp or rough edges even when reaching under the seats. While the appearance of the Ibiza’s plastic is not the most classy, there is some relief with dash trim inserts in different colours to give the interior a lift.

As for the controls, all have a satisfyingly positive, substantial feel when used and even the infotainment’s touchscreen rewards with a click as you press on its icons for the various functions. It’s the same story with the seat adjusters, which operate fluidly and leave the impression they will last for a very long time.

Perceived quality was clearly a key consideration for SEAT's designers when the Ibiza was refreshed in 2021. There are now more soft-touch finishes bringing it in line with newer rivals, while features like LED interior lighting add to the upmarket vibe.

On the latest examples of the SEAT Ibiza, all models come with a new infotainment system positioned high up on the dashboard. This is perfectly placed for glancing at while on the move, with an 8.25-inch display as standard on the SEAT Ibiza SE, and a 9.2-inch system on pricier models. With relatively rapid responses and sharp graphics, it's good to use, and there are shortcut buttons on hand to make things easier. You'll still find some physical buttons for the climate control, too.

All trim levels come with Full Link smartphone integration, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SEAT Connect, including a 12-month subscription to things like online map updates and traffic information, is included on the SEAT Ibiza SE Technology and above, while FR Sport and XCellence Lux models feature a smart Digital Cockpit with 10-inch display. 

Earlier SEAT Ibiza models came with a touchscreen infotainment screen integrated into the centre of the dash. Basic SE models featured a 6.5-inch display that uses Full Link to pair easily with your smartphone using MirrorLink to access either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. There’s also Bluetooth for hands-free calling, while the icons on the screen are big, bold and easy to select while driving.

Move up to the SE Technology and trims beyond this and the Ibiza gained an 8-inch touchscreen that has navigation included in its armoury. For many, this will be redundant as they will use the sat-nav from their phone, but at least it’s there as an alternative. This uprated system also comes with a 3D map display, CD stereo, voice control, and an extra USB port for connecting or charging.

The high roof line of the SEAT Ibiza means everyone in the car is blessed with good headroom, even adults sitting in the back seats of the car. A wide bench makes the most of the extra width of this Ibiza over its predecessor, so a pair of adults can sit next to each other in here without feeling too intimate or hemmed in.

This sensation is helped by the Ibiza’s rear door window line not kicking up until it reaches the back of the door where it meets the rear three-quarter window. The result is an airy feel to the hind quarters that also means children will not feel they are languishing in a dark hole as they can in some other small hatchbacks.

Fitting child seats is no problem thanks the wide-opening rear doors and good-sized aperture, while a pair of Isofix mounts mean child seats are securely positioned. A trio of three-point seat belts keep all of the rear occupants safe and the Ibiza is able to hold a trio of children where most of its rivals will struggle to carry more than two without the risk of a mid-journey argument.

Step round to the back of the Ibiza and the boot has a wide opening when the tailgate is raised. The load sill is about the same height as most small hatches, so there’s a bit of lift to get heavier bags in and a drop to the load floor, but nothing too obstructive. As for the cargo bay, it’s a simple rectangular shape with four hooks to strap down delicate items.

Folding the 60/40 split and tip rear seat expands the boot from a very generous 355-litres that beats most small hatches and even small hatches to a maximum of 823-litres. With the seats hinged forward, there’s a little intrusion at the sides from the rear suspension and the seats don’t fold completely flat, but the SEAT is better here than most rivals to make it a very practical, versatile choice. There is also the option of a space-saver spare wheel in place of the puncture repair kit that lives under the boot floor.

In terms of exterior dimensions, the SEAT Ibiza is 4059mm long, 1780mm wide and 1444mm tall.

The engine line-up initially spanned three petrols and one diesel, with the entry-level three-cylinder 1.0 MPI engine being the weakest link in the chain. With just 75PS, the non-turbocharged petrol is painfully slow, propelling the Ibiza from 0-62mph in a lumbering 14.7 seconds. While this might not seem a big problem for town driving, it is a constant irritation when trying to keep up with the ebb of traffic.

The turbocharged 1.0 TSI is far superior, with more low gear pull and lower running costs. Both the 95PS and 115PS version (later downgraded to 110PS and then back to 115PS) of the 1.0 TSI will return a real-world 50mpg. This is the sweet spot of the engine range and we’d take the more powerful version for its more relaxed ability on the motorway and peppier pace on other roads.

SEAT dropped the 150PS 1.5 TSI Evo petrol engine in 2021, which was used in various other Volkswagen Group cars. The four-cylinder petrol offered a significant power boost, with more low-rev shove available from earlier in the rev range, and was limited to FR models only with claimed economy of 57.6mpg.

The most-efficient powertrain is the 1.6 TDI, which was also dropped in the 2021 reshuffle. The four-cylinder diesel produces 80PS or 95PS and claimed economy peaks at 61.4mpg.

Depending on which engine and trim level you choose, the Ibiza gets a five-speed or six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed dual-clutch DSG-auto gearbox is available as an option for the more powerful 1.0 TSI engine. The smooth manual 'boxes do a sufficient job, which means we'd recommend sticking with the manuals unless your preference or driving licence demands otherwise. 

In line with its efforts to make the Ibiza feel like a larger, more cosseting car, SEAT has produced a small hatch with superlative refinement. There’s a perfectly damped feel to the suspension that’s backed up with very little noise making its way from the road and tyres into the cabin. It pushes the SEAT right to the top of its class in this respect and makes it a car ideally suited to long days behind the wheel.

Wind noise is also kept to a distant minimum, while the engine range also play their part in keeping the Ibiza’s cabin assuredly quiet and free from buzzes from under the bonnet. 

The three-cylinder petrol engines can be heard when they are revved hard, but it’s more of a happy burr than anything intrusive or irritating. Even the turbodiesel engine remains very smooth and hushed at higher speeds or when pressed closer to its rev limit when pulling away sharply out of junctions.

On top of all this, the major controls of the Ibiza all work in a harmonious fashion. The pedals have well thought-through weighting to underline the sense of the Ibiza being a bigger, more comfortable car than most of its opposition.

This is an area where the SEAT Ibiza impresses greatly as every model in the range comes with autonomous emergency braking as standard. This Emergency Brake Assist and Front Assist system can spot hazards in the road and perform a full-on stop if the driver does not react quickly enough to avoid a collision or limit the impact.

Further helping with keeping clear of an accident are ABS anti-lock brakes and ESP traction and stability control. SEAT goes further with a Multi-collision braking system that helps slow the car to a safe halt after hitting another vehicle or obstacle, and there's a driver fatigue alert. A tyre pressure monitoring set-up is included, too, and will warn the driver if one or more of the tyres is under- or over-inflated.

All of the Ibiza range get twin front, side and full-length curtain airbags, as well as anti-whiplash headrests and three-point belts for all five occupants. As well as this, there are two Isofix child seat mounting points in the two outer rear seats.

With all this kit, it’s little wonder the SEAT Ibiza scored a five-star rating from Euro NCAP with a very impressive 95 cent rating for adult occupant safety and 77 per cent score for children. It all adds up to make the SEAT one of the most protective cars in the small hatch sector.

The SEAT Ibiza is proving itself to be a very reliable little car. We've heard of very few issues with this model, even though it's been on sale since 2017. Some Volkswagen Group cars have been affected by hesitation problems with the 1.5 TSI engine. Fortunately, very few SEAT Ibizas were sold with this motor, and the popular 1.0-litre TSI petrol seems to be very dependable.

If you’re looking for a small hatch with low-cost insurance, the SEAT Ibiza is the car for you. It sits in group 2 at its most affordable with the 1.0 MPI engine and this is for the SE and SE Technology trims.

It’s more likely you’ll choose the 1.0 TSI turbo petrol engine, in which case insurance is calculated on a group 11 ranking for the less powerful version. Take the 115PS motor over its 95PS sister and you’ll be paying a premium based on a group rating of 15 or 16 depending on trim level. That makes this the most expensive model to get insurance for, though much of this is also down to the engine only being offered in the higher trim levels.

Al  of the SEAT Ibiza models sit in the £220 first-year road tax band with emissions ranging from 117- to 128g/km of carbon dioxide.

After the first year’s Vehicle Excise Duty, every Ibiza will cost £180 per year for this tax.

The range starts with the SEAT Ibiza SE, which features 15-inch alloy wheels and electrically adjusted door mirrors. Inside, it has a 8.25-inch colour touchscreen, cloth upholstery, air conditioning and electric front windows. Before the 2021 update, the SEAT Ibiza SE had a 6.5-inch media system. Post-2021 cars also have an 8-inch digital dash display in this trim.

The SEAT Ibiza SE Technology adds 16-inch alloys and a 9.2-inch infotainment screen with navigation (8-inch up to 2021), 3D map display, voice control, and CD player.

The SEAT Ibiza FR features 17-inch alloy wheels, firmer suspension, rear privacy glass, twin exhaust pipes, and rear privacy glass. Inside, there’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, and SEAT Drive Profile that has Normal, Sport, Eco and Individual modes for the steering, accelerator and gear shift. Dual zone climate control and automatic wipers are included, too.

The Ibiza FR Sport comes with its own 18-inch alloy design, climate control, Microsuede upholstery, and the 10-inch Digital Cockpit dash screen.

Highlights of the SEAT Ibiza Xcellence over the SE Technology include 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior styling, interior ambient lighting, burgundy-coloured air vent surrounds, rear privacy glass, and keyless entry/start.

The SEAT Ibiza Xcellence Lux features a Digital Cockpit, adaptive cruise control, rear-view camera, front parking sensors, high beam assist, and SEAT drive profiles.