Seat Ibiza Sport Coupe Expert Reviews

The attraction of Seat’s supermini centres on its good looks, keen pricing, low running costs, a decent amount of safety kit and relatively generous specifications. Yet you can expect to get a great discount off the recommended retail price.

There's a wide range of petrol and diesel engines for Ibiza buyers to pick, from the three-cylinder petrol to the sporty 2.0-litre diesel. There are different suspension set-ups to choose from, too, but the Ibiza just isn’t as fun to drive as rivals such as the Ford Fiesta.

However, most models get a decent amount of standard equipment that puts some manufacturers to shame, while safety features include twin front and side airbags. The Ibiza has scored a maximum five stars from Euro NCAP for crash protection.

What We Recommend You Get

Whichever Ibiza bodystyle you choose - five-door hatch, ST estate or this sportier three-door SC, it won't at first glance appear to have changed very much over the original versions of this MK4 model. But then few changes were needed. The original angular 'arrowhead' shape was penned by stylist Luc Donckerwolke (the same guy who did the Lamborghini Gallardo supercar) and it's matured nicely, changes here being limited to subtle differences. If you've owned an original fourth generation Ibiza model before, it'll be a bit like seeing an old friend who's had Botox on the sly. The key tweaks were made around the headlights and grille, this Ibiza wearing the 'eagle eye' lamps that fitted in with the SEAT corporate look, offered with single or twin-bulb halogens or with striking Bi-Xenon lamps incorporating LED daytime running lights. In addition, the familiar trapezoidal grille was narrowed and sharpened in a bid to add a bit of visual width and purpose to the overall shape. This sat above a re-styled bumper with strong creases intended to naturally draw the eye down the car's flanks. At the rear, there was a smarter bumper, but otherwise few changes, the large SEAT logo still doubling as a boot release. Punch it and the rear hatch of this three-door SC variant opens to reveal 284-litres of luggage space, marginally less than the 292-litre total offered by the five-door bodystyle. If you want more, the ST estate model ups that total to 430-litres. That's around 50-litres less than Skoda's comparable but boxier Fabia estate. Still, if you need more space from your ST, there's always the option of freeing up as much as 1,164-litre by pushing forward the split-folding rear bench - enough to carry two bicycles with the front wheels removed. This SEAT is practical then inside, even if the look and feel of the cabin isn't especially exciting. This has long been an issue with Ibiza models, sporty styling outside but an interior nothing to write home about once you slipped behind the wheel. That still holds true here, but with this improved MK4 model, SEAT at least made some effort to improve the perception of quality. Though there's still quite a lot of black plastic on display and the focus remains on functionality, soft-touch finishes are used in all the crucial areas and Ibiza regulars will notice the smarter steering wheel, the revised instrument graphics, the higher tone paint surfaces, the improved seat materials and, where fitted, the sleeker finish to the Climatronic climate control system. Buyers also got a significantly larger 10.7-litre glove compartment too, boasting space for a lot more than just the usual owners manual, mobile charger and bag of gummy bears. In the back, the three-door Ibiza SC's swooping roofline will make headroom an issue for taller folk, but five-door and ST estate models should seat two adults and/or three children quite comfortably.