SEAT Ibiza review - a stylish and spacious supermini

Verdict - is the SEAT Ibiza a good car?

While it may not be as much of a household name as some of its rival small cars and superminis, including the closely related Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio, the SEAT Ibiza should be worthy of your consideration thanks to its unique looks, spacious interior and familiar, easy-to-use infotainment system. Keep an eye out and attractive deals often pop up on the SEAT Ibiza, too, making it an even more appealing choice.

SEAT Ibiza models, specs and alternatives

Superminis have been a popular choice among British buyers for a long time, although the segment is now shrinking with many opting for small SUVs based on similar underpinnings instead. The SEAT Ibiza has long lived in the shadow of rival superminis such as the now-discontinued Ford Fiesta, the Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa and the Volkswagen Polo, the last of which it shares many of its components with. Other rivals include the value-focused Skoda Fabia (which is also a close relative) and Dacia Sandero, the Peugeot 208, and Hyundai i20.

We think the SEAT Ibiza deserves a little more recognition, though – it arguably offers more style and flair than the Polo, and as it’s a less common sight on UK roads, it tends to stand out a little more. A refresh in 2021 brought a subtle exterior makeover, and the interior got a substantial overhaul, too, bringing a much slicker infotainment setup. 

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Whereas the old SEAT Ibiza was offered in an ST estate body style, the current model comes solely as a five-door hatchback, but it’s slightly larger than the old car, making it more practical all-round. It offers a fairly sizeable boot for a supermini, plus generous interior space, so it covers most of the most important bases for buyers.

Delve into the driving experience and you may wonder if you need a bigger car. Even the small-sounding 1.0-litre petrol is more than willing when a turbocharger is fitted in the TSI versions, although you may want the 108bhp version if you often drive with the car fully loaded. The suspension is supple enough to deal with poor road surfaces but firm enough to keep the Ibiza level through corners. The steering is a little lacking in feedback but the Ibiza feels so secure and refined on the move, that it’s very easy to forget you’re driving a supermini at all.

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The story is similar inside, where there’s an appreciable air of maturity. It’s far from revolutionary but the arrival of SEAT’s Digital Cockpit instrument panel adds to the Ibiza’s contemporary feel – it's available in FR Sport and Xcellence Lux trims. Material quality and ergonomics have been improved for the facelifted Ibiza, thanks to more soft-touch materials and an infotainment screen that's now raised from the dashboard, making it easier to see and use.

The SEAT Ibiza comes with a choice of engines, though this has been heavily slimmed down since launch. The entry-level 1.0-litre MPI engine has been discontinued, but it was somewhat sluggish to drive anyway, and the 1.5-litre 148bhp petrol engine was only offered for a brief period of time. The remaining options are a turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI engine with 94bhp or 108bhp, either of which should be peppy enough for most supermini drivers. Back when the latest Ibiza was launched it was even offered with a 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine which was better suited to drivers covering lots of motorway miles, but was discontinued in 2020.

With either version of the 1.0-litre TSI petrol, you’ll get mpg figures in the early 50s, regardless of power output, though specifying the 108bhp unit with an automatic gearbox does reduce this by about 4mpg.

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Entry-level SE trim includes Bluetooth, DAB radio, air-conditioning and front electric windows, along with LED running lights, alloy wheels and an 8.25-inch colour infotainment screen that's a big upgrade from the 6.5-inch screen in the pre-facelift version of the car. This even gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unlike rivals, you can also choose a metallic paint colour for no extra cost, so the Ibiza feels quite well-equipped. For just £1,000 more SE Technology adds a larger touchscreen with sat nav, air conditioning and larger alloy wheels, which we think is the best choice for most buyers, though you’re definitely catered for by the higher trims should you want to add more niceties.

An Anniversary Edition to celebrate the Ibiza’s 40th birthday gets a Graphene Grey paint finish and figure-hugging sports seats, adding desirability but not changing up the recipe too drastically.

Overall, the latest SEAT Ibiza is a well-rounded package that sits near the top of its class. In our favourite SE Technology trim with a 1.0-litre TSI 94bhp petrol engine, it's a well-equipped, thrifty and fun-to-drive supermini, and one that's definitely worthy of consideration.