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Home > Motoring > 2008 SEAT IBIZA 1.6-litre
2008 SEAT IBIZA 1.6-litre
SIBLING RIVALRY SEAT has always been the Jamie Murray when compared to VW but recent evidence suggests it is going to be hard to beat down. Its new Ibiza for example, now in its fourth generation really has its eye on the ball when it comes to growth and consistency.
Its underpinnings are the same as the next generation VW Polo and its style is credit to the former Lamborghini design chief Luc Donckerwolke. Park yourself behind the wheel and you’ll note its grand equipment levels. It’s at the top of its game with safety too and you won’t need much convincing that it’s got SEAT’s spirited drivability once you’re out on the open road. But will it hold its value and reduce the cost of upkeep? This is the money shot; if ownership surveys prove that its parts are as reliable as its VW sibling then it’s on to a winner. The 2008 Ibiza has already been predicted high residual values and in addition to this, SEAT is aiming to cut maintainence costs by 9%. The initial price has always proved great value but SEAT has worked hard to be more than just a ‘cheap VW.’ Now-a-days it gets recognition as a trendy Spanish brand particuarly among motorsport fanatics. Sure there's a sunny, family friendly side to the Ibiza but ultimately the buyers want buzz and action. The new Ibiza certainly embodies this; it has an unmistakable identity and the quality looks to be following in the footsteps of Skoda which since becoming a member of the VW family have been producing cars of a very high standard. The focus isn’t all on after sales though; SEAT has also gone to town on the new Ibiza's image. The supermini now has plenty more fast, flowing lines which all propel the eye forward to its nose and give it the sense of a fast-paced, hungry, machine. The headlamps are longer and narrower and more intense and these give way to a more condensed grille. The emphasis is then drawn down to the Ibiza’s front apron with its sports-style mesh and large round fog lights. It’s great that its whole range has more street appeal as there’s definitely a big audience of first car buyers that want the sporty guise but can’t afford the insurance costs that go with a bigger engine. The high performance FR and Cupra versions will be launched a few months down the line and that will give graduates a new benchmark to aim for, once they've got their feet firmly under the table in new jobs. SEAT has been very clever in using this same Ibiza platform to attract the more philanthropic buyers too and the angelic 99g/km Ibiza Ecomotive is expected to sell like hot cakes. It will be here in the UK next year, just in time to save us from those C02 tax penalties. Right now though we have a selection of petrol engines which as well as being economical are pretty good at punching above their weight. We drove the 1.6-litre 103bhp model on the outskirts of the Lake District and although there weren’t many boy racers to impress or traffic lights to burn off from, it was heartily entertaining especially with the sports suspension. The steering although not overly delicate, pointed the car in a very exact fashion, there was no body tilt around corners and the tyres easily found their footings on dry tarmac. It did all this without the expense of your coccyx splintering and therefore warrants being used on an every day basis. One of the perks of spending a bit extra on the 1.6-litre model is that you get the seven-speed twin-clutch DSG gearbox which makes changing up or down so quick and smooth it’s unnoticeable. The top spec level which is also available on the 1.9-litre diesel gets you all kind of extras like rain sensing wipers and Xenon lights which are steering sensitive and turn on automatically. You also get tyre pressure monitoring (which will also save you on petrol) and USB connectivity. The fourth generation SEAT has the draw of more rear leg and elbow room as well. Its boot has more useable dimensions too. The older models suspension mounts ate in to a lot of the width which meant a lot of trying out equipment in the gaps, taking it apart, and re-packing the boot a number of times before going any distance. Now it has the largest boot in its class and that’s with the rear seats down so you shouldn’t need an initiative test to plug it up with gear. `FOR: Great value, street appeal, well equipped and much improved suspension. AGAINST: Nothing glaringly obvious at test drive level. VERDICT: A bit of healthy sibling rivalry from VW and Skoda has spurred on some champion attitude; if you’ve been spectating up until now then here’s your opportunity to play. SPEC: ENGINE: 1.6-litre RIVALS: Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Fiat Grande Punto, Honda Jazz, Skoda Fabia. |
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