SEAT Ibiza 1.6 TDI 90 CV, Test (Engine and performance)

This week at Highmotor we got behind the wheel of the new SEAT Ibiza, a facelift of the model the brand launched just three years ago. Our test car had under its bonnet a small diesel-powered engine with a 1.6-litre displacement, capable of delivering 90 CV to the front wheels.

This Spanish city car, developed in Germany alongside the Volkswagen Polo, the Audi A1 and the Skoda Fabia, is possibly one of the best options in this market. A reliable car, not very expensive compared to its siblings, good-looking and designed with a young market in mind.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE

The 1.6 TDI CR came paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. The gearbox has very long ratios, aiming to optimise fuel consumption. For example, at 120 km/h in fifth gear we were turning at around 2,200 rpm. That said, if we want to overtake, we can press the accelerator to the floor and the Ibiza gains speed quickly.

It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.8 seconds and has a top speed of 178 km/h.

The gear lever does not allow quick shifts from one gear to another. It doesn’t have a very precise feel, but its character is not sporty and it is therefore within the norm for the segment this Seat competes in.

The powertrain is possibly the best thing about the car. For a diesel it is barely audible unless we exceed 3,000 rpm, which is completely absurd considering that from 1,500 rpm (the point at which the turbo starts working) up to 2,500 rpm is the range where the 1.6 TDI pulls best. It is precisely in this part of the rev counter that the 230 Nm of torque the engine produces are delivered. It is preferable to be in a long gear at low revs than the other way round.

HANDLING

The steering is quite precise and gives the driver enough information about what is happening on the road. In town it is quite light and never feels heavy. The leather steering wheel, in my opinion, is the perfect size for driving the car comfortably, although it could be a little thicker.

The two biggest drawbacks in this part of the test concern the tyres and the suspension. In the first case, our car was fitted with Pirelli 215/45 R16 tyres, an excessively large size with a low profile for the class of vehicle this is.

They gripped perfectly, but on the downside they transmitted a lot of irregularities into the cabin when the road surface was in poor condition. Part of the blame lies with the suspension, which is firm for a standard setup, but without being harsh. The Ibiza is not afraid of long journeys, and the driver will cover them without getting too tired.

With these tyres, the Ibiza shows great stability on the road, isolating the driver from the true sense of speed, while also providing excellent braking capacity. I haven’t been able to measure the latter, but it left me with a good impression, partly thanks to disc brakes on all four wheels as standard.

CONSUMPTION

With an average speed of 117 km/h over more than 180 km in both directions, it recorded a real average of 5.4 litres/100 km with two occupants and the boot full. I also made no particular effort to reduce consumption, that is, I drove in a relaxed manner.

In town, if we drive smoothly without sudden accelerations, we could be talking about consumption no higher than 7 litres/100 km. As soon as we make full use of the engine’s capacity at roundabouts or get stuck in traffic, we are looking at figures around 8.5 litres/100 km.

To sum up, it is a comfortable car on good roads, easy to drive, with an engine that is sufficient for day-to-day use if we are not in a hurry, although to keep consumption down we will have to make an effort every time we get behind the wheel of our little SEAT, and it is probably the case that with the standard wheels consumption will be lower.

In the second part of the test we will talk about the quality of the finish and its exterior and interior design. Don’t miss it.

Photography | Highmotor

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackSEAT Ibiza14 versions · from 18,520 €