Seat Ibiza SE 1.0 EcoTSI 95hp review

The Seat Ibiza has always been one of the more stylish models in the supermini segment and updates in 2015 brought a much-needed uplift in interior quality, more safety tech and a range of new engines, including this one, a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol.  

A new Ibiza is set to be revealed later in the year, but before it arrives we thought we’d test the current model to see if it’s still worthy of consideration.

Three-cylinder petrol

Badged EcoTSI, this turbocharged petrol comes in two guises: 95hp and 110hp. Here, we’re testing the former, which emits from just 94g/km and has a combined fuel economy of 67mpg.

Although the diesel Econetic still offers the best in terms of running costs in the range, in small cars the premium for diesel takes longer to offset, and when petrol figures are as competitive as this it’s likely this version of the Ibiza will appeal more to fleets.

Mated to a long-geared five-speed manual, the engine is surprisingly flexible and refined at cruising speeds, although it can be vocal when driving around the town. Officially the car will travel from 0-62mph in just 10.4 seconds, thanks to the 160Nm of pulling power on offer.

In the handling stakes the Ibiza cannot quite compete with the Ford Fiesta; however, the car is easy to manoeuvre, and the latest chassis updates mean it’s more comfortable over longer distances as well. The steering is a little too light, though, with limited feel, which prevents it being as fun to drive as some other cars in the segment.

Running costs for this 1.0-litre petrol stack up very well against rivals and because of the Ibiza’s low price tag, whole-life costs also stay competitive with this model’s 36.5p figure, beating the comparable Vauxhall Corsa and Fiesta and being on par with the excellent Mazda 2.    

Easy-to-use tech

In SE spec our test car comes with a variety of kit as standard including cruise control, electric windows, alloy wheels, electronically adjustable door mirrors, DAB radio and Bluetooth.

Options are cheap too. Available in the revised model is Seat’s Easy Connect with Full Link (MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) system – definitely worth considering for only £500 as part of a Technology Pack that includes satnav.

Another option we’d recommend is the Convenience Pack, which adds automatic lights and wipers and electric folding mirrors for £230.

Practical space

The Ibiza is not only stylish, it’s practical too, offering a 292-litre boot, among the biggest in its class, and lots of different storage options around the cabin.

The interior feels more luxurious than before and the materials used are of good, durable quality. It’s a little bland in comparison to its stylish exterior design, though, and there are a couple of dated features like the aircon controls, but nonetheless inside is spacious and easy to navigate around.

Often overshadowed by the Fiesta and Corsa, as an all-rounder the Ibiza ticks many boxes and will continue to appeal to many as a stylish alternative, especially with this petrol engine’s low running costs figures helping to keep overall costs to a minimum.