If you’ve heard of the Seat Ibiza hatchback, you’ll probably know it as a cut-price Volkswagen Polo with a welcome dose of Spanish flair. It's a small car that takes sound underpinnings and adds a dash of style and fun to appeal to younger (and young at heart) buyers. There's a reason that the Ibiza is a lot of people's first car.
You take a slight hit on quality compared with the Polo – the Ibiza’s interior plastics aren’t quite as plush – but the payoff is that lower price. And because the Ibiza’s set up to be just that little bit more agile, it's also more fun to drive.
Seat Ibiza Generations
- Seat Ibiza mk5 (2017-)
- Seat Ibiza mk4 (2008-2017)
- Seat Ibiza mk3 (2002-2008)
- Seat Ibiza mk2 (1993-1999)
- Seat Ibiza mk1 (1985-1993)
Seat Ibiza mk5 (2017-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of the Seat Ibiza mk5:
- Three-door hatchback and estate bodystyles dropped due to lack of demand
- No performance model for the first time since 1993, and diesel versions dropped in 2020
- Slicker interior and sharper driving experience meant Ibiza was closer to Polo than ever before…
- …but prices went up accordingly, and so the Ibiza was no longer the bargain it once was
The fifth generation marked something of a watershed for the Ibiza. For starters, there was a fairly considerable rationalisation of the range by Seat; neither the three-door nor estate versions survived the transition from fourth- to fifth generation, due to a lack of demand.
Even more significantly, despite a concept car proving that Seat had toyed with the idea, there was to be no high-performance Ibiza Cupra model. Or, to be more precise, no Cupra Ibiza, given Seat had by now spun-off the Cupra badge as a sub-brand in its own right. By September 2020, Seat had even culled the diesel TDi versions, too.
What was left was the core of the Ibiza range: five-door, petrol-powered TSI models that offered buyers practicality, along with the dash of youthful exuberance they’d come to know and expect from the Ibiza.
Mind you, this version was more grown-up than ever before, with a smarter interior and slick styling that meant it nudged closer to the Polo in terms of quality and desirability. The same could be said of price, however; the Ibiza was no longer the budget option it had once been.
But most motoring journalists agreed the price was worth paying, for this new Ibiza was a terrific all-rounder, endowed with just as much space and comfort as any of its rivals. It was also just as good to drive as the Ford Fiesta, which until then had been the standalone class benchmark.
Unlike the Fiesta, though, there’s no mild hybrid option to improve fuel economy and lower emissions, and by contrast with its other biggest rivals, the Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 208, you can’t get an all-electric model.
The trim line up featured the SE, SE Technology, sporty FR and FR Sport models, which have more supportive sports seats, and the top-spec Xcellence and Xcellence Lux. All have alloy wheels, satnav and modern connectivity like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher-spec models get features like adaptive cruise control and climate control.
A very mild facelift in 2021 brought with it an all-new dashboard with more upmarket plastics, and a more prominent infotainment system mounted on top of the dashboard, rather than within it as before.
Seat Ibiza mk5 review
Search for a Seat Ibiza mk5 on CarGurus
Seat Ibiza mk4 (2008-2017)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Seat Ibiza mk4:
- Sharper styling heralded a new design language for Seat
- Three-door model marketed as the Ibiza SC, or SportCoupe
- Short-lived estate model, badged Ibiza ST, joined the range
- Super-frugal Ecomotive model had an official MPG of more more than 80
When the fourth-generation Ibiza was first revealed in 2008, it looked like no Seat that had gone before. That’s because it was the first model to feature the company’s new, sharp-edged styling theme, which it was later to roll out across its whole range (and, for that matter, which it still uses today).
That meant that it looked particularly fresh – a fact upon which Seat traded in its marketing of the three-door model, which it branded SC, short for SportCoupe – to give it a more glamorous vibe. Many will agree that a used Seat Ibiza still looks fresh today.
This was around the time the downsizing bug was biting, and so the engine line-up in ordinary versions topped out with a 1.4-litre turbo, rather than the naturally aspirated 1.6 that had come before it. The Seat Ibiza FR was given a beefier version of the same engine, as was the Cupra at first, though Seat later replaced this with a 189bhp 1.8-litre turbo, mated to a DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
At the other end of the range, Seat jumped on the hyper-efficiency trend of the time with the Ecomotive version, whose super-low running costs made it a favourite with fleets and buyers on a budget.
Also significant was the arrival of an estate model, the ST. It didn’t entirely fit with Seat’s sporty image, but it did combine the Ibiza’s edgy looks with a bigger, more practical boot, and went head-to-head with the Skoda Fabia and Renault Clio estates.
A very mild facelift in 2012 brought detail changes to the exterior; of more note were the changes wrought in 2015, however. The styling was tweaked further, but under the skin the Ibiza gained a new range of engines, and an updated interior with plusher plastics and the option of a touchscreen.
Seat also softened the suspension settings to improve comfort, while the steering switched from a hydraulic to an electric power-assisted setup, with the aim of further boosting economy.
Seat Ibiza mk4 review
Search for a Seat Ibiza mk4 on CarGurus
Seat Ibiza mk3 (2002-2008)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of the Seat Ibiza mk3:
- Greater emphasis on youthful, sporty image
- Debut of lukewarm FR trim
- First diesel Cupra versions made available
The success of the second-generation Ibiza, and its obvious appeal to younger buyers looking for something with a sporty flavour, gave Seat good reason to shift its positioning from a budget brand to one with a racy edge to it.
So even entry-level third-generation Ibizas looked more aggressive than their predecessors, with gaping grilles, blacked-out headlights, slim rear clusters and more eye-catching paint colours. Mid-range cars added alloy wheels and spoilers. Because the Ibiza now drove more sweetly than ever, it felt sportier, too, even in its cheapest form.
Inside, the eyeball-style vents and swooping design set the Ibiza apart from the more staid Polo, not to mention the Skoda Fabia, with which it also now shared a platform. Despite the fact that the Ibiza was still pitched at the budget end of the market, equipment levels were now more generous, with twin airbags, air-conditioning and electric windows as standard throughout the range. The interior was now more spacious, too.
It’s a mark of just how good this generation was that it won What Car? Magazine’s Car of the Year award in 2003, with judges praising its value and excellent road manners.
In 2004, the performance models came along, and while the Cupra R’s 178bhp engine was carried over from before, it was still fairly potent compared with its rivals. It was joined by a diesel equivalent, with 168bhp, making it one of the few genuine diesel hot hatches ever to have been sold. At the same time, the plain old Cupra was rebadged FR, sparking a line of lukewarm Seats that continues to this day.
Seat Ibiza mk3 review
Search for a Seat Ibiza mk3 on CarGurus
Seat Ibiza mk2 (1993-1999)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of the Seat Ibiza mk2:
- First Ibiza to be based on same platform as VW Polo, with which it shared most of its interior
- Huge leap forward in quality and driving dynamics, and smarter styling
- Hot GTi and Cupra models set a trend for fun Seat hot hatches, and resulted in Cupra brand of today
- Enormous success in rallying earned Seat a competition pedigree
Volkswagen investment in Seat in the 1980s continued to pay dividends for the Ibiza when the second-generation model came along. VW had already had input into the Ibiza's engines, but now it was involved with the whole car.
In fact, this new Seat Ibiza laid down a template for all those that were to follow it, being based on the same platform as the upcoming fourth-generation Volkswagen Polo. While the styling was different, under the skin it was extremely similar; most of the engines and gearboxes were shared between the two cars, and even the interior was all but identical.
That said, the Ibiza’s plastics were noticeably lower quality, and it also lacked some of the sophistication and quality of the Polo. Even so, it was still a very competitive car, and at a bargain price, too, facts that ensured its popularity.
But it was the succession of performance models that were arguably the most important in the Ibiza range. First came the 113bhp 2.0-litre GTi, which teamed warm-hatch performance with a stiff chassis, pugilistic styling and a range of bright colours. And most importantly, a low price.
It was an instant hit, and was soon followed by the hotter GTi 16v, which used the 127bhp 1.8-litre 16v engine from the old mk2 Golf GTI. Buyers wanted more, though, so in 1996, the Cupra – from ‘Cup Racing’, reflecting the Ibiza’s success in the World Rally Championship – was launched, with the 148bhp 2.0-litre engine from the mk3 Golf GTI 16v.
A facelift in 1999 brought a new interior – now distinct from that of the Polo, though still slightly cheaper-feeling – as well as a range of new engines. The GTi was axed, and the Cupra gained a 154bhp 1.8-litre turbo. This was boosted to 178bhp in the Cupra R, making it one of the most potent hot hatches of its day.
Seat Ibiza mk1 (1985-1993)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
- Five-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of the Seat Ibiza mk1:
- Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Italdesign styling house
- Based on a rejected proposal for the second-generation mk2 VW Golf
- Unusual interior layout had switches and buttons behind the steering wheel instead of stalks
- Engines and gearboxes developed with Porsche, and bore ‘System Porsche’ branding
The first Seat Ibiza might look rather dated now, but in its day it was the most advanced car Seat had ever built. Until its arrival, the company had existed on lightly facelifted Fiats, handed down from its former owner and sold at a bargain price, largely to its domestic market in Spain.
While the original Ibiza was still based on the mechanical platform of the old Seat Ronda, (formerly the Fiat Ritmo), you couldn’t tell. This was thanks to a crisp, handsome body penned by Italdesign Giugiaro, a revered Italian design house also responsible for such famous models as the Lotus Esprit, Lancia Delta and first-generation Volkswagen Golf. In fact, the Ibiza was based on Giugaro’s proposal for the mk2 Volkswagen Golf, which had been rejected by Volkswagen.
This meant the Ibiza looked surprisingly modern, especially compared with the budget rivals of the time, like the Lada Samara and Skoda Favorit. It even had a Porsche badge, although only on the engine, and only because most of the Ibiza’s engines were breathed on and fettled by Porsche as part of a cooperation agreement with owners Volkswagen.
This eventually led to VW becoming a majority shareholder in 1986. The investment resulted first in an uplift in quality in 1989, and then in a major facelift in 1991, which brought smoother, more modern styling and a smarter interior. The quirky interior layour remained though, with a selection of buttons and rocker switches to control the indicators and wipers, rather than traditional column stalks.
There was even a warm hatch model; the Sportline featured a 1.7-litre petrol engine capable of producing anywhere between 97bhp and 107bhp – power ramped up through the car’s life – putting it on a par with the Ford Fiesta XR2i. Relatively few were sold in the UK, though, making it vanishingly rare today.