SEAT Ibiza 2018 1.0 MPI Reference Plus test: minimum agreement

This week in Highmotor’s road test section we have with us one of the most recognised and best-rated models on the domestic market.

The city car Ibiza from SEAT has reached maturity in its new generation, and we put it to the test in its 1.0 MPI version with Reference Plus trim.

Exterior design

The Ibiza is a very well-known model, especially in Europe, its main market. The Spanish city car, with over 30 years of history, has adapted well to the times, evolving from a basic model with a purely functional approach into one of the most advanced and complete city cars in its segment.

The new Ibiza, presented in early 2017, cannot – nor does it want to – hide its DNA: its exterior design clearly draws on the lines of its bigger sibling, the León compact. This “growing up” process is not unique to the Ibiza, as most city cars are shifting their designs towards lines more similar to those of the C segment.

The front of the Ibiza is possibly the part most similar to the León. The nose of the new Ibiza has more presence than ever, with a grille already characteristic of the brand and headlight units practically identical to those of the León which, depending on the trim, can for the first time on the Spanish brand’s model be equipped with Full LED technology.

With a very wraparound bumper, the vertical mouldings at the ends add visual width to the whole, also housing the fog light units. The attractive pattern of the mouldings and air intakes stands out, which enhances the sense of quality of the overall design.

The side profile of the Ibiza is similar to that of its predecessor, featuring two very pronounced tension lines that converge at the height of the door handles, plus a third rising line positioned at the lower part of the doors, with an upward trend.

The glasshouse, again with an upward appearance, has shapes similar to those of its predecessor, giving the cabin ample light and ending in a third window section at the C-pillar. The alloy wheels, on our 15-inch unit, are simple and functional, with up to 18″ available as an option. The exterior mirrors, practically identical to those of the León, integrate side indicators for the first time on this model.

The new Ibiza is just as long (4.06 metres), but the wheelbase has grown 10 cm to 2.56 metres

The rear of the Ibiza is again very similar to that of its predecessor, with slightly more pronounced and angular shapes. The light units remain the same in both shape and position, although depending on the trim they can incorporate LED technology. A generously sized rear windscreen ensures good rear visibility.

The bumper also integrates a false diffuser that gives the rear a very pleasing sporty touch. In this version, the exhaust outlets are hidden, and we don’t even have mouldings imitating them, which will be a plus point for certain buyers.

Interior design

The cabin of the new SEAT Ibiza has taken a big step forward in terms of image. Where the previous one had a somewhat bland, flat design, the new one has evolved to a maturity that will win over users looking for something more serious and formal. Without a doubt, this is good news for the brand.

The straight, defined lines of the exterior are carried over into the interior, where we find a dashboard angled slightly towards the driver, with a simple-to-use control layout in which the ergonomics have been studied to allow easy use of all the vehicle’s systems.

The build quality is good, as no rattles are heard and the panel gaps are correct. However, the new Ibiza does not have any padded plastic trim in its interior: the whole cabin is built from hard plastics, with a poor visual feel. To be fair, the front door armrests have a padded synthetic material; beyond that the comforts end, at least in this Reference version.

This visual impression becomes even poorer on this trim level due to the use of rough hard plastic also for the dashboard fascia, which on other trims may be painted. Furthermore, our unit had a plastic steering wheel and knobs, as well as black plastic door handles, giving a sense of simplicity, of a “cheap car”.

The aforementioned cheap-car feel of the dashboard trim is offset by details such as the smoothness with which all the controls operate, especially the stalk controls for the indicators and wipers. The seats, upholstered in grey and black fabric, are sufficient for short journeys, but the lack of padding and shaping at the sides means long trips are not as comfortable as they could be.

The Ibiza also falls short in a few comfort details. One example is the absence of a reading light for the rear seats, as well as the lack of grab handles on the roof, not even at the front. Of course, neither the door frames nor the boot surround are lined, leaving the painted sheet metal exposed.

The instrumentation is very simple, with two large analogue dials and digital displays for the rev counter and speedometer. A monochrome central screen serves as the on-board computer, offering information about the journey or the state of the vehicle.

Interior space is good, and the change of platform compared with the previous version is noticeable. The rear seats are now more comfortable and more spacious, both in legroom and in headroom. The boot, meanwhile, grows to 355 litres, placing it among the most capacious in its segment. In addition, the rear seatbacks can be folded down, although the loading surface is not completely flat.

Driving dynamics

The Ibiza hides under its bodywork a new modular platform called MQB A0. This platform is derived from the MQB used by numerous models in the Volkswagen Group, although suitably configured for smaller vehicles. The Ibiza was, in fact, the first model in the group to use it, followed by the recently launched Polo as well.

Mechanically, “our” Ibiza was equipped with the entry-level engine, a 75 CV 1.0 MPI with 95 Nm, a simple and reliable unit with a three-cylinder inline layout, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. It is true that the performance is not brilliant, but the smoothness of this engine is more than noteworthy, especially for a three-cylinder unit, which is more prone to vibration due to its very design.

The official figures speak for themselves: 0 to 100 km/h in 14.7 seconds, with a top speed of 167 km/h. Consumption is, at least the homologated figures, quite low, with an urban figure of 6.0 l/100 km, 4.3 l/100 km on the extra-urban cycle and a combined figure of 4.9 l/100 km. In our case, after 1,500 km of testing in all kinds of conditions, the vehicle returned an on-board computer average consumption of 6.1 l/100 km, while driving carefree at all times.

The new platform has suited the Ibiza very well, which is now a more stable and settled vehicle. It indeed feels like a C-segment car. The agility of its chassis is evident at all times, with well-calibrated damping that offers comfort without losing enjoyment. A pity that, at least on this occasion, the engine did not quite keep up.

Operation of all the Ibiza’s mechanical components is very smooth, whether we talk about the steering (electric power assistance) or the braking system, along with a gearbox with a good feel and short throws, which benefits the agility of progress since, with this engine, the gearbox must be used frequently.

Once under way, the Ibiza shows that the chassis, formed by a monocoque noticeably stiffer than its predecessor and suspension with front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam, is well ahead of the engine, which only delivers its best once past 3,000 rpm. The short gear ratios help maintain speed, although at times it is unavoidable to lose momentum and speed if we don’t reach for the gearbox.

The good lighting provided by its halogen headlights, both for dipped and main beam, is surprising, as is the very well-achieved sound insulation, which makes the engine noise at 120 km/h imperceptible, and we will not be able to detect it at idle either.

Range and versions: how much does the unit you see cost?

The Ibiza is one of SEAT’s most important products, and the Spanish firm knows it. That is why it looks after its flagship model by configuring a wide range with diesel, petrol and natural gas engines. In petrol there are four options to choose from: 1.0 MPI 75 CV, 1.0 EcoTSI with 95 and 115 CV and, finally, the newly launched 1.5 TSI Evo with 150 CV, reserved for FR versions.

In diesel there are three options available, all based on the same four-cylinder 1.6 TDI block, which can be chosen with 80, 95 or 115 CV. In addition, a unit capable of running on compressed natural gas, called 1.0 TGI, with 90 CV of power, can be chosen. Manual gearboxes with 5 and 6 ratios are available, as well as a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The Ibiza’s equipment has also evolved noticeably in this new generation. Among the most notable elements, all of them new, are a new infotainment system with a touchscreen of up to 8″, a Beats sound system, active cruise control, ambient interior lighting and Full LED headlights.

Our version, with Reference Plus trim, came as standard with air conditioning, central locking with remote control, light sensor, ESP, on-board computer, USB connection and automatic emergency city braking with pedestrian detection.

Starting from €11,760 (discounts included), our unit was equipped, as optional extras, with the Winter Pack (€350), cruise control + fatigue detector (€160), fog lights with cornering function (€190), 15″ wheels (€400), two-piece folding rear seat (€120), Pirineos Grey metallic paint (€430), rear parking sensor (€250) and rear electric windows (€150), resulting in a final price of €13,840.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackSEAT Ibiza14 versions · from 18,520 €