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SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra road test report

Bocanegra

Other than the blacked-out grille, some badging and a few trim changes, it’s hard to see how Seat can justify asking a further £700 for the Bocanegra over the standard Ibiza Cupra model. They both share the same engine, suspensions, gearbox and performance.

Road Test Reports Says 3 star rating
A front-facing image of the SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra

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ALISDAIR SAYS

Performance Performance - 3 stars

A compact, small hatch packing 178bhp and an F1-style paddle shift DSG gearbox should be about as exciting as pocket rocket hot hatches get. Yet, somehow, the Seat Ibiza Bocanegra just doesn’t manage to ignite keen drivers’ passions in the way previous quick Ibizas have. The 1.4-litre turbo- and supercharged engine produces more than enough power, covering 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds and recording a top speed of 140mpg. However, the Bocanegra, which is Spanish for ‘black mouth’ in honour of a previous Seat of the same name and blacked-out front grille, simply doesn’t feel that quick. A Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 is only a little brisker but feels much livelier. Some of this is down to the Seat’s seven-speed DSG direct shift gearbox with twin clutches. It’s too civilised in normal conditions for a peppy pint pot hatch, but when you want you want it to zing, it falters and dithers about which gear to be in. On top of this, the 1.4-litre engine doesn’t even sound especially sporting. At least it’s easy to drive in town and on the motorway.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 2 stars

The suppleness that marks out the standard Ibiza hatch models as among the better superminis your money can buy is lost in the Bocanegra. Larger 17in alloy wheels and thinner-walled tyres are largely responsible, but the firmed-up suspension must also shoulder its portion of the blame. On anything other than tautly smooth roads, the Bocanegra feels unsettled. It’s not so much a constant jiggle or thump, bump, just a continual sensation that the ride should be better than this. On twisty roads, the firmness translates into very little body roll, but again the Bocanegra doesn’t quite deliver in the way we’d like. Yes, it grips keenly and resists letting the front tyres running wide, but there’s not a great deal of sensitivity in the steering. On top of this, there isn’t the seat-of-the-pants feel you get with a Clio RS 200 or Fiesta Zetec S.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

Like all Ibizas, the Bocanegra shows that small doesn’t have to mean cheap. It’s very well screwed together and feels like a solid machine. Some of the interior plastics are hard to the touch and don’t look as classy as the construction says it should be, but we’re in no doubt that the Bocanegra will still look and feel as sound in three years as it does when new. For the mechanical package, all of the individual components have been tried and tested in other VW Group cars, so they come to the Seat with a stamp of reliability and longevity.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

There are no concerns on either front here for the Bocanegra. It comes with twin front and side airbags, with the side ones extending upwards to also perform the function of curtain airbags, so it’s a safe bet in a collision. There’s also standard ESP traction control, anti-lock brakes and electronic braking aids to keep everything pointing in the right direction in an emergency. A five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests also means the Bocanegra should survive any impact very well. Security is taken care of by an alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 3 stars

The Ibiza Bocanegra only comes as a three-door model, so it misses some of the added practicality of the five-door Ibiza models. A generous-sized boot for a supermini is more than up to a week’s shopping, while getting into the rear seats is not too tricky for adults, though lifting in a child seat could put a strain on the back muscles. There’s decent leg and shoulder room in the rear seats, but the sloping roof of the three-door Bocanegra means head space is limited for adults, so these pews are best kept for kids or short hops. Up front, it’s a much happier story as the driver and front passenger enjoy snug sports seats, and the driver has plenty of scope for moving the seat and steering wheel for the perfect driving position. All of the controls are easy to reach, though over the shoulder vision is limited due to the sweeping window line of the three-door Ibiza.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 3 stars

Other than the blacked-out grille, some badging and a few trim changes, it’s hard to see how Seat can justify asking a further £700 for the Bocanegra over the standard Ibiza Cupra model. They both share the same engine, suspensions, gearbox and performance. Only the Bocanegra’s rarity value can warrant this, and it’s not likely to be reflected a few years down the line when they are both on the used market. Yes, the Bocanegra can manage 44.1mpg combined economy and produces 148g/km of carbon dioxide emissions, which are reasonable figures for a hot hatch, but so does the cheaper Cupra model. Aside from standard metallic paint, it’s hard to see what else the Bocanegra offers buyers over the already well equipped Cupra, although Seat does point out that both models offer a DSG sequential manual gearbox at a significantly lower price, and as standard, than any of its key rivals.

Submitted: 22/12/2009 10:15:30

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