SEAT Ibiza FR 1.0 TSI comparison against Renault Clio Zen 120 TCE

We bring you a comparison between two of the best-selling city cars in our country: the Seat Ibiza and the Renault Clio.

Design, space and comfort

Both the FR trim of the Ibiza and the Zen trim of the Clio give both vehicles a sportier image compared to the standard versions, although, to be fair, the Seat city car offers an even more dynamic look.

In terms of interior space, the new Ibiza offers a much roomier cabin thanks to the 87 millimetres of extra width it has gained over its predecessor; the size gap with its bigger sibling – the Seat León – has been noticeably reduced. This makes the Ibiza’s interior one of the largest in its segment. Although the Clio doesn’t fall short in this respect either, its rear seats offer less legroom and headroom. The Ibiza’s boot (355 litres) is also noticeably bigger than the Clio’s (300 litres).

Performance: handling, acceleration and consumption

The new Ibiza’s three-cylinder engine has lower consumption (4.7 litres) than the Clio’s (5.4 litres), although the performance of both is very similar; both engines stand out for the strong pull they deliver at low revs.

The proportions of the new Ibiza (wider track) give the Spanish city car greater dynamic capability than its French rival. It could be said that the new Seat Ibiza is currently the benchmark for dynamism, handling and agility in its category. In addition, the FR version of the Ibiza (the one in this comparison) has stiffer (20%) and lowered (20 mm) suspension compared with the standard model. The Ibiza’s traction should also be greater than the Clio’s, since the Spanish model features an XDS limited-slip differential, an option not included on the French model.

Price and equipment

The price of these two models in their respective versions is very similar.

The FR version of the Ibiza has a sportier focus and includes rear disc brakes, sport suspension, dual-zone climate control, Seat Drive Profile (adaptive chassis control), a multifunction sport steering wheel, a new bumper design and 17-inch alloy wheels.

For its part, the Zen trim of the Clio includes hill start assist, full LED daytime running and main beam lights, a leather steering wheel and exclusive interior upholstery. Notably, for 1,000 euros more the Clio can be fitted with the R-Link Evolution package, a kit that improves its technology features and includes the following: a 7-inch screen integrated into the dashboard, Bose sound system, and a new connectivity system offering navigation with TomTom, a device including maps of all of Europe, and free Coyote alerts for one year.

The perceived quality of both interiors is good, both in the Seat and in the Clio.

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Technical specifications of the cars in this article

HatchbackRenault Clio20 versions · from 16,390 €

HatchbackSEAT Ibiza14 versions · from 18,520 €