2016 Seat Ibiza FR - First Impressions and Review #BlogPost

Overview

SEAT. The well recognised fun relative of Volkswagen. Their most notable creation of recent years is the insane Leon Cupra 280 - a sub 8 minute FWD hatchback. Their slightly tamer (but still potent) performance models come in FR guise, and it’s the refreshed Ibiza FR I’ve recently taken ownership of. The online configurator cost for a car specced as mine comes to a very reasonable £16,395 ROTR at the time of writing. The Polo equivalent comes in at £60 more expensive in the UK before options, and in similar spec comes in just shy of £20,000.

Sticking with the Ibiza, for your money you are treated to a turbocharged 1.2l 4 banger and a 6 speed manual which will keep purists happy. Don’t be put off by the small size of the engine, it packs a surprising punch which we’ll get to later. When dyno’d the 1.2TSI pushes out between 110-120hp dependent upon conditions, and the light kerbweight of only 1100kg enables you to hit 60mph in around 8.5s. The top speed isn’t as high as some competitors but is definitely enough to get you into a lot of trouble.

Option-wise, I’ve treated myself somewhat when speccing my car. The big winner for me is the Tech Pack, which gives you a 6.5” touch screen, the media system plus and a very fluid Sat Nav system. A small extra cost provides you with the Seat Sound System which is a must have if you like music. Outside, we’re looking at a lot of cosmetic options; Black Pack, 17” alloys, Tinted Windows and a Panoramic Sunroof.

Engine and Transmission

As soon as you turn the key you can hear the exhaust purring away at the rear of the car. The exhaust of the car takes a while to be run in but after the first 1,000 miles becomes one of the most enjoyable features of the car and as you pull away and release the clutch the exhaust makes an aggressive growl which is very audible inside the cabin.

The engine of the Ibiza FR is very satisfying to use. The turbo has minimal lag and encourages you to put your foot down whenever possible; kicking in at around 1,400rpm. Around town the engine acts very refined and in stop start traffic is deadly quiet. It’s in the upper rev ranges however where the engine comes alive; above 3,000rpm the volume increases and begins to scream as you approach the red line.

Selecting gears is very easy in the new 6 speed manual; the throw is short and feels mechanical. It’s certainly well ratio’d and enables you to overtake comfortably in 4th. The clutch is heavy enough to make finding the biting point easy, but light enough to make city driving less like leg day.

Economy is stated to have a combined figure of 54mpg, and on a long motorway run it is possible to achieve high 40s. City driving won’t yield such great results; stop start traffic in a busy seaside town gave me sub 30mpg.

Handling

I thought that jumping from a hydraulically steered car into one with an electronic system would be an alien experience. At very low speeds it is noticeable due to the light nature of it, however it soon comes as a blessing when parking. At higher speeds when driving spiritedly the steering has a fantastic weight to it. Every turn in is met with a weighty resistance and minor inputs are easy to calculate. You feel everything through the wheel and it is a delight to use.

The handling characteristics cannot be entirely down to the steering system however. The suspension and chassis set up on the FR model compliment each other perfectly and hunker down to create a car which is just as at home in town as it is being chucked into a progressive left hander on a pockmarked B road. Around town the ride can be a little abrupt, but it is worth putting up with as it totally makes sense on country roads. The car as a whole communicates with driver very well and it is easy to know where the limit is, and when you break the limit the vented discs allow you to correct it and form a very forgiving drive.

Aesthetics

Having owned the previous model Ibiza which was pretty soft and curved, the angular buttresses of the MkV are a welcome change. The side of the car is slashed with angular jawlines to create an immensely handsome car indeed. The standard wheels that come with the FR model are slightly understated, and as such an upgrade is a must. The 17” Tagus alloy wheels I’ve opted for are great to look at and compliment the angular bodywork perfectly. In addition, the black pack (consisting of black wheels, black mirrors and black ‘lipstick’) is a great contrast to the bright red paintwork. The FR model is also treated to a honeycomb front grill, rear black number plate surround and twin tailpipe. The rear lights on the Ibiza are a work of perfection, and make the car look angry at night.

Jumping inside, the standard cloth seats in the FR model are sculpted to give you ample support and hold you in during fast cornering; a feat they achieve well. The steering wheel is one of the main focal points of the interior, dominated only by the large infotainment system. The flat bottomed steering wheel is chunky, and the top bulges guide your hands into the 9 and 3 o clock positions. Because Racecar.

The steering wheel just touches on the attention to detail in the cabin of the car. Red stitching graces all fabrics in the interior; seats, handbrake, gear gaitor etc. The small FR badge on the base of the steering wheel enhances the experience, and also the infotainment system flashes up with an FR badge when you start the car. The small details found inside the car make it a very nice place to sit, and I wouldn’t hesitate to plough through long motorway journeys in the cabin.

The infotainment system is probably the piece de resistance of the car, and makes buying the new refreshed model totally worthwhile over the 2015 and older models. It’s fluid to use, and the colours are pleasing to the eye. The sheer range of media available is great too; 2 SD cards, USB, Bluetooth, Aux and a hidden CD player in the glovebox make it very easy to play whatever form of music you might have. The full link technology is a pleasure to use, and although I’ve only used Android Auto so far I am sold with the concept.

Verdict

The Seat Ibiza is arguably the most popular model of Seat currently available. The manufacturer has once again proven how great usability and performance can come in a reasonably priced and very attractive package. I won’t argue that this is a hot hatch at all, that mantle is left for the new Cupra to take. No, this is a warm hatch; and a thumping good one at that. It would provide a great stepping stone for anyone wishing to move from econobox to hot hatch, without the high costs of a hot hatch (insurance alone on this car was 1/3 cheaper than that on a Fiesta ST with the same details).

If a great looking car with driving dynamics to put a wide grin on your face is what you’re looking for then look no further.

Thanks for reading CTZens - all feedback welcome and appreciated!