Seat Ibiza Cupra long-term test review: first report

Compared with the regular car, it gets a bigger 6.5in infotainment system, black alloy wheels, black door mirror covers and red brake calipers.

The Black’s infotainment system also comes as standard with satellite navigation and Full Link smartphone connectivity, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

These systems are available as an option on the standard car.

All Ibiza Cupras get automatic wipers, automatic lights and 17in alloy wheels as standard. Alcantara trim, a panoramic glass roof and ambient lighting are optional extras.

Interestingly, the Cupra is now only available with a six-speed manual gearbox — the old car’s DSG dual-clutch auto is no longer offered.

Seat cites the UK’s preference for three pedals in this category as the reason for the switch.

First impressions of our new long-termer are largely positive. Having covered 1300 miles, most of which have been in town, it’s clear that the Ibiza is more refined than some of its rivals when clambering over speed bumps and potholes.

The ride is quite firm, giving a sense of purpose even at low speed, but it’s far from crashy and significantly more comfortable than the more harshly sprung Fiesta ST, for example.

When the car was delivered to us with less than 70 miles on the clock, the engine felt muscular but slightly breathless at the top of its range. But it is now noticeably happier to rev towards its redline, although the engine’s best performance is still felt through the mid-range.

At first, the Ibiza Cupra didn’t feel particularly fast off the line because the revs surged through the engine’s strongest point in a couple of seconds and quickly arrived in that less potent top end.

But I’ve learned to ignore the last third of the rev counter and keep the engine spinning through its torque laden mid-range, with the full 236lb ft available from 1450rpm to 4250rpm.

It does take some time to adapt to this short-shift style of driving and I don’t doubt that a more rev-hungry motor would be significantly more enjoyable to employ on the right B-road, but when powering off from motorway slip roads or out of busy junctions, the immediacy of that torque makes the Ibiza Cupra feel particularly potent.

Throttle response is also impressively quick for a blown engine, which makes heel-and-toe blips of the throttle all the more satisfying.

It’s helped by well placed pedals that allow you to roll your right foot off the brake and onto the accelerator, rather than requiring a full twist of the heel.

The Ibiza’s six-speed manual ’box has a positive movement through the gate and it’s happy dealing with fast changes, but a lack of feel can make it hard to be accurate when really working it.

The clutch pedal is also very light and has a high biting point, which feels a little unnatural in a hot hatch.

That said, there’s a lot to be excited about in our new long-termer.

I’m looking forward to stretching its legs on more demanding country roads this summer, to really test the effects of its Sport damper setting — selectable via a button on the dashboard.