Used Seat Ibiza 2008-2017 review

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The Seat Ibiza is good-looking and spacious supermini – is it time to buy a used example?

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The Seat Ibiza of 2008-2017 was far more than a Volkswagen Polo in a fancy outfit: it balanced refinement, spaciousness, performance and style to make it a front-runner in the dog-eat-dog supermini class.

The fourth-generation Ibiza ushered in an entirely new design language for Seat, being the first model sketched under the direction of Luc Donckerwolke, the man behind the Lamborghini Murciélago and Gallardo.

It was far more stylish than its bug-eyed predecessor. Sharp lines and an aggressive-looking front end endowed the Mk4 Ibiza with sufficient kerb appeal to rival the Ford Fiesta – and for a car that landed 16 years ago, it still looks contemporary today.

Riding on the Volkswagen Group’s modular PQ25 platform – which also underpinned the Polo and Audi A1 – the Mk4 Ibiza was 99mm longer than the car it replaced, to the benefit of interior space and practicality.

You could fit three adults across the rear seats without issue and the boot, while oddly shaped in places, was big enough for a 4.0m-long car.

The interior was streets ahead of the Mk3’s. Rather than inheriting the austere internals of the Polo, the Ibiza had a far brighter cabin that was both refined and distinctive.

The fit and finish was acceptable for its class, and there were enough soft-touch materials to make it comfortable and pleasant to ride in.

Factor in the logically organised dashboard, AUX ports and handy TomTom sat-nav dashboard mount and the Ibiza had all the hallmarks of a class-leading supermini.

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Its chassis and suspension set-up was tuned for keener drivers too, with precise steering and a composed ride. When we first road tested the model in 2008, we were impressed by its body control.

Related Seat Ibiza 2008-2017 reviews

The dampers confidently brushed aside ruts and imperfections on both rural back roads and at slower speeds around town.

While the car lacked the verve of the Mazda 2 and the maturity of the Renault Clio, the Ibiza’s smooth engine, slick gearshift and solid brakes ensured it was a relatively rewarding car to drive.

Avoid models with larger wheels and lower-profile tyres, though, because these conspire to tarnish the ride comfort.

It’s a shame the Ibiza’s engines were a little staid in terms of performance. Of the petrols, the early 1.2-litre triple was a little too sedate from 0-60mph; the 84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre had more gusto at the cost of higher emissions.

The 1.2-litre three-pot diesel was unrefined and clattery but the trade-off was its impressive 60mpg real-world economy.

So we would ignore the early petrols and opt instead for the brilliant 1.2-litre TSI petrol – smooth, torquey and capable of 50mpg in the real world.

In 2015, the Ibiza gained a revised look, improved interior technology and plusher cabin materials as part of a mild facelift. Seat rolled out a raft of new engines too, with a trio of 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrols joining the line-up.

Of these, go for one of the turbocharged EcoTSI triples with either 94bhp or 109bhp, because these deliver on both performance and economy.

After the facelift, the only diesel option was the 1.4-litre, which could be had in ultra-efficient Ecomotive form, matching the impressive 70-80mpg economy figure of the Polo Bluemotion. These are a little harder to find used, though.

Ultimately, the Ibiza gets all the basics right, majoring on space, refinement and efficiency.

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Engines and trim aside, this is a solid supermini that’s likeable and stylish – and given you can have one for less than £1000, it’s the bargain of the used supermini class

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RELIABILITY

Is the Seat Ibiza reliable?

While there are known issues with the Ibiza (see below), reliabilty shouldn't be a cause for concern. That being said, the Ibiza was below-average in What Car?'s reliabilty index, while Seat as a brand performed better with a 'good' rating overall placing it ahead of Volkswagen. 

With a large dealer network and a number of independent specialists, sourcing parts for an Ibiza won't be an issue. 

Engine: The 1.2 TSI is driven by a chain, which needs to be replaced every 40,000-60,000 miles. Listen out for any rattling because this could be an early indicator of the chain or tensioner failing.

Be wary of the TDI’s diesel particulate filters and exhaust gas recirculation valves getting blocked. Take any potential buy for a long test drive and check it doesn’t go into limp mode.

A loss of power, an oil leak, smoke or overheating can all be signs of turbo failure and affect cars with more than 70k miles.Early petrol models can suffer from coil pack failure. A rough idle is a clear indicator and only a replacement can solve it.

The ‘twin-charger’ 1.4 of the Cupra and Bocanegra suffers from turbo failure, misfires and oil problems.

Gearbox: If considering a car with the DSG automatic, ensure the gearbox oil has been changed every 40,000 miles and check it shifts up through the gears smoothly.

Body: The Ibiza is popular with first-time drivers, commuters and families alike so check the bodywork carefully for bumps and scars.

Air conditioning: Condensers and radiators can leak, causing a loss of pressure. Listen out for any hissing and make sure you get an icy blast of cold air when turning it on.

Windows: Electric motors can fail. Swapping the motor is the only cure.

Rear wipers: The pipe that feeds the rear wiper washer can come away from its housing and leak fluid into the boot. Simply reconnecting the pipe sorts it.

An expert's view

Mark Williams, The Lion Garage: “The most trouble we’ve ever had with the smaller-capacity, turbocharged Ibizas is the actuator, which is electronic. It can fail if water gets into the plug, or the arm between the actuator and the turbo itself can seize, putting the car into limp mode. Overall, they’re pretty bulletproof cars, though. My favourite engine would be the 1.4 TSI. They tend to be pretty good, but then there’s nothing wrong with the late-generation 1.2. FR trim is probably the best.”

Also worth knowing

The fourth-gen Ibiza came in three bodystyles: five-door hatchback, three-door Sport Coupé (SC) and ST estate.

If you’re after a warmed-up Ibiza, go for the Cupra, with its turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-litre petrol sending 178bhp to the front wheels.

Seat also fitted this engine to the super-stylish Bocanegra (identifiable, appropriately, by a black ‘mouth’).

DESIGN & STYLING

Seat Ibiza rear

The mk4 Seat Ibiza was the first Seat designed under the direction of Luc Donckerwolke, formerly of Lamborghini. It was also meant to represent something of a change of direction for Seat, upping the ante to fulfil Seat’s emotive, dynamic ethos.

Certainly, the sharper edges to the side strakes gave it more tension than Seat’s other monobox-style designs. Arguably the look was better suited to the three-door model than the cooking five-door.

Mid-2015 saw the Ibiza given a large facelift, which saw its exterior matched closely its bigger sibling - the Leon, chief among which was the new grille, LED day-running-lights and numerous reworked powerplants.

Styling alterations were deliberately brash on the Cupra, starting with a black honeycomb grille.

Black wing mirrors, a large, black rear diffuser and central exhaust gave it a much more dramatic look than the standard Ibiza three-door Sport Coupé. ‘Cupra’ badging also helped to differentiate the most sporting Ibiza from the standard Sport Coupé.

An optional tinted sunroof added to the dramatic styling and interior ambience. A heavily tinted rear windscreen and side glass didn't help visibility but added to the theme of black styling cues contrasting with the bright Cupra colours.

INTERIOR

Seat Ibiza interior

Seat Ibizas used to get lumbered with interiors derived from other VW Group products. But this wasn't the case with the fourth-generation Ibiza, which had its distinctive trim.

Fit and finish was certainly good and there were enough soft-touch surfaces, though there was a slightly bewildering mix of trim graining.

The traditional, random leather-like texture was still on a few surfaces, but the Ibiza also featured what manufacturers liked to call a technical grain. Then there was the steering wheel, which had four different textures, so it was anything but a dull cabin.

More logical was the layout of the dials and some very neat touches. There were also two auxiliary ports for a portable music player and a slot for one to sit in.

Cabin space was as good as you could reasonably expect from a 4m-long supermini. In the front there was no shortage of range for the height-adjustable driver’s seat and reach and rake-adjustable steering wheel. Space in the rear was a little tighter, but you could seat four adults in this car without worry.

On the equipment front, the SOL trimmed Ibizas came with 15in alloy wheels, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, a 5.0in touchscreen infotainment system and air conditioning as standard, while upgrading to SE Technology added twin halogen headlights, split folding seats and Seat's 6.5in touchscreen infotainment system complete with sat nav and smartphone integration.

The mid-range FR-Technology cars were fitted with sports seats, sports suspension, auto lights and wipers, twin exhaust system and an electronic locking differential, while the Red Edition added red trim and decals to the interior and exterior.

Those after more performance could opt for the Cupra models, with the standard car adding adaptive bi-xenon headlights, gloss black details, a race-tuned exhaust and climate control, while the Cupra Black models got Seat's full infotainment offering, black alloy wheels and red brake calipers.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

Seat Ibiza side profile

Of the cooking engines offered by Seat in the Ibiza, the best option was the 1.4-litre TSI, 16-valve unit with six-speed manual gearbox. It was as conventional as they come, with a reasonable power output and torque.

The 1.4-litre diesel engine was a solid choice for those who regularly travel long distances. In Ecomotive form its claimed average mpg matched that of the Polo Bluemotion, while the CO2 figure was also low.

The Ecomotive's 80.7mpg claimed average and 92g/km stand out
Matt Prior
Editor-at-large

You’ll wouldn't get anywhere in a hurry, though, as a 0-62mph time shy of 14secs proves. The 1.4 was also a little agricultural, especially at low speeds.

Tempting as the Ecomotive was to anyone looking to cut their motoring costs, the standard 1.4 diesel was almost as fuel efficient, but its emissions mean you have to pay road tax.

It was also the best-selling engine on the estate, providing just enough power to haul the car along when fully laden.

The high-revving 188bhp 1.8 TSI engine was the most successful and enjoyable aspect of the Cupra.

Our acceleration figures showed that a 0-60mph time of 6.7sec was entirely achievable even with two occupants, but outright speed wasn't its greatest achievement. The 1.8 TSI’s real success was in its usability.

RIDE & HANDLING

Seat Ibiza cornering

The Seat Ibiza, whichever body style you go for, rode with a compliance that’s partly a result of its tyres’ sidewalls and its chassis, which in turn allowed its springs and dampers to be tight enough to control its body movements properly.

And that meant on the open road, as well as around town, it came across as a refined, mature-riding car.

Like most of its rivals, the Ibiza’s suspension was by a straightforward, affordable combination of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.

Obviously, grip levels were not particularly high, but the Ibiza did steer with precision and accuracy, and its electrically assisted rack had a pleasant freedom from stiction.

Throw in its good brakes, smooth engine and very slick gearshift and you had a car that was a relatively rewarding thing to punt along. It would be even more so if it just had a little more pace.

Disappointingly for a company that claims its products are defined by their dynamism, the Seat was less competitive in the performance sector. 

The Cupra’s chassis and engine combination worked well enough. It responded quickly and had ample grip for both road and track driving.

But the experience was let down by inconsistent steering weight from the electrically assisted power steering, which reduced the resistance too much at slow speeds, resulting in a lack of feel and precision.

This improveved at higher speeds as the specially adapted servo weights up the steering, but there was never a real sense of connection. 

The Cupra’s handling may not be all that inspiring, but it had a supple ride which bettered that of most of its rivals at the time. 

The well controlled suspension was caught out by sharp intrusions, but generally it absorbed the worst breaks and undulations with little more than a muffled thump in the cabin.

MPG & RUNNING COSTS

Seat Ibiza

The Ibiz should prove to be relatively inexpensive to run, with low CO2 emissions and competitive insurance groupings across the ranges.

The Ecomotive will return exceptionally good economy and the financial benefits that come with a low CO2 figure. 

The Ibiza is a good choice for those looking for a safe car
Nic Cackett
Road tester

The Ibiza is also one of the safest superminis you can buy. It scored an excellent five stars for adult protection in Euro NCAP’s crash tests, plus four stars for child protection, and three stars for pedestrian safety.

 

VERDICT

Seat Ibiza rear quarter

With the Ibiza, Seat created a distinctive, no-nonsense supermini that was handsome, practical, and rewarding to drive.

Put simply, the Ibiza got all the basics right. It was entirely adequately spacious, well finished inside and out, its performance was strong enough and it was frugal – especially so in Ecomotive form. 

The Ibiza ticks all the boxes, but it lacks the driving engagement of the class best
Nic Cackett
Road tester

Seat Ibiza news

Seat Ibiza and Arona to gain hybrid power as brand commits to ICE
Seat Ibiza and Arona to gain hybrid power as brand commits to ICE
Seat confirms plans to launch €20k electric car below Cupra
Seat confirms plans to launch €20k electric car below Cupra
Big investment in Seat brand brings revamped Ibiza and Arona
Big investment in Seat brand brings revamped Ibiza and Arona
Take it or leave it: second hand picks for 25 March
Take it or leave it: second hand picks for 25 March

Better still for those who like driving, it was rather more engaging than similarly powered versions of the Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio or even its sibling, the Volkswagen Polo. 

It didn't quite have the verve of a Mazda 2 or a Ford Fiesta, but there was both composure and brio to the Ibiza’s chassis.

 

Sam Phillips

Sam Phillips
Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website. 

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport. 

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.

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