Seat Ibiza

Model on test: 1.9 TDi 100bhp

No less than 2.7 million Ibizas have been sold since it was first introduced in 1984, with over one hundred thousand of these coming to the shores of the United Kingdom.

With Volkswagen's influence, the Seat brand has been transformed and the previously suspect build quality has been totally turned around with anything now leaving the Barcelona factory being the envy of many competitors. The new Ibiza shares many components from other Volkswagen models but it does have its own identity. The new Ibiza range starts with the entry level 1.2 three-door with an on-the-road price of £7,995 and the current flagship Ibiza Sport 1.9 TDi 130 bhp at £13,495. Five engines are available with four trim levels and a choice of three or five-door hatchbacks. The range begins with the 1.2 12v 64 bhp 3-cylinder petrol unit, which is the first 3-cylinder engine ever to feature in a Seat, capable of achieving an impressive 47 mpg (combined). There are two 1.4 16v engines, one with a power output of 75 bhp and another of a more sporty nature pumping out 100 bhp. Then there are two oil burners - the tried and trusty 1.9 TDi 100 bhp, with a variable geometry turbo-charger and inter-cooler, and an even more powerful 130 bhp unit. The differing TDi units are easily identifiable from the badge on the rear hatch. If the letter 'i' of TDi is in red, it indicates the 100 bhp engine and if the letters 'Di' are red, the 130 bhp engine is fitted. Most instructors will opt for the 1.9 TDi 100 bhp unit as the performance is ample with a top speed of 118 mph and a 0-62mph sprint time of 10.8. The engine is responsive and, mated to the crisp five-speed gearbox, it seems to please most drivers. The driver's seat features height adjustment with a simple ratchet and, with four-way adjustment of the steering column, a comfortable driving position can be obtained. As is the case with many small cars today, rear visibility is not impressive due to the high waistline and the designers packing in every litre of boot space possible. The question we must ask ourselves is: are we teaching our clients to drive a typical car by providing this type of training vehicle, or should we go for the easy option and buy the most simple to handle training car with the best visibility simply to get the client through their test? We believe that you should be teaching our future drivers a life skill! There is plenty of room up-front and even a footrest is provided for the driver. Although the instrumentation is quite clear to read, it is a matter of choice whether one likes the red instrument lighting at night. The instruments are a trifle masked from the instructor's view. Sensible grab handles have been provided and there is plenty of storage space throughout the vehicle. One tiny criticism is the shape and size of the door-mounted, electrically operated mirrors. They could be a little larger but, no doubt, design has come into the equation, not to mention the streamlining to obtain the best fuel consumption figures.
In brief, the new Ibiza will make a very good training vehicle if our criticisms are taken into account. The model enjoys a two-year manufacturers warranty, with a third year dealer warranty with a sixty thousand mile maximum. It is too early to ascertain the reliability in the driver training market, therefore it is important to keep an eye on our star rating. Training car star rating: 5

Your comments

Model Year Name Ibiza 1.2 SX (petrol) june 2004 Rob Gwilliams Excellent car, and would recommend it to anyone. Just coming up to 1 year and have had no problems over 23,000 miles. very comfy and pupils love it! Name* Email Comments* Model Year   Fields marked with * are required Please note that all entries in the forum are checked by ourselves first. This is for legal reasons, and will in no way be used to change the expressed views of readers or members.