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SEAT Ibiza FR TDI road test report

FR TDI

Ten years ago, the very idea of a diesel hot hatch would have had performance car purists snorting derisively. But a lot has changed in the car industry over the last decade, with the refinement of diesels one area that has changed almost beyond recognition. The latest variant of the Seat Ibiza, the FR TDI, is a perfect example of how far diesels have come: a supermini with a 2.0-litre oilburning engine, it even has a direct link to the Spanish carmaker’s World Touring Car Championship-winning Leon. It also manages to be a hugely practical car, without significantly compromising its performance, making it a real contender.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the SEAT Ibiza FR TDI

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CRAIG THOMAS SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

The Ibiza FR TDI link to the Leon racing car isn’t just PR hype: the two cars share what is essentially the same engine, a 2.0-litre common rail TDI unit from parent company Volkswagen, which, with its high level of refinement, is a long way from those noisy diesels of old. The Ibiza’s 141bhp output doesn’t generate anything like the 263bhp of the Leon, but it easily outstrips any diesel variant offered by competitors (the closest is the Renault Clio GT 1.5dCi’s 104bhp). And with the 0-62mph sprint achieved in 8.2 seconds (before topping out at 130mph), it could beat most of its rivals with three seconds to spare. However, nippy as it is, it would be a bit of a stretch to describe it as exciting, as it doesn’t replicate the kind of grin-inducing acceleration usually associated with the best hot hatches, the kind of force that pushes you back into your seat as the needle swings rapidly over the numbers on the speedo.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 4 stars

The diesel engine might mean that the Ibiza FR TDI isn’t exactly exciting, but the dynamics mean that it’s certainly entertaining to drive. The Ibiza’s chassis has already garnered acclaim and, on the FR variant, it’s been honed even further, with a wider track at the front (an extra 29mm), a lower body (by 15mm) and a stiffer suspension set-up. Add a clever electronic differential that works in conjunction with the ESP system, and what you end up with is a car with an agile car lots of grip and impressive body control. And while this Ibiza is on the sporty side, it also has a ride quality that although firm, doesn’t stray into the harshness that can blight some cars with similar sporting aspirations. We can’t vouch for how it will deal with the post-snow, pothole-scarred British roads, but it soaked up all the imperfections it encountered on our Spanish test route with ease.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

Seat has embraced the values of its Volkswagen parent company and builds cars with above-average reliability for the industry. The Ibiza itself is a new model, so there’s not yet any feedback from customers, but existing Seats such as the Leon and Altea are in the top half of the JD Power league table of the most reliable models. This suggests that owners shouldn’t have too many problems, especially as many of the components are shared with models such as the Polo. In terms of its quality, the Ibiza FR has a number of touches that identify it as a one of the upper trim levels, such as a pair of very comfortable and supportive front seats, and carbon fibre-alike inserts on the dashboard. The interior, in fact, is a very comfortable place to be, exuding quality and hinting at the distant relationship Seat has with fellow VW Group brand Audi.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 4 stars

The new Ibiza, which launched in 2008, has been crash-tested by Euro NCAP and achieved a five-star rating for adult occupant protection, four stars for child occupants and three stars for pedestrian protection. This is a good score and demonstrates how safe modern superminis are. Safety equipment on this well-specced FR TDI model includes a number of active and passive safety features, including ABS anti-lock brakes, TCS traction control and electronic brake assist, ESP stability control, the aforementioned XDS electronic differential, driver and passenger airbag, head and thorax airbag, hill hold assist and a tyre pressure warning system. In addition, optional equipment includes a technical package that includes parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, a Coming Home headlight function and anti-dazzle rear-view mirror, plus a winter package with heated wiper nozzles and headlight wipers. To protect your warm hatch from joyriders who fancy its sporty looks, safety equipment includes an immobiliser, central locking and alarm.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 3 stars

The Ibiza has a decent amount of space at the front, with enough head and legroom for occupants of the front seats. The driving position is also comfortable, with full adjustment of the driver’s seat and the steering wheel having reach and rake adjustment. Things aren’t so comfortable in the back, as the sporty roofline limits headroom and adult knees are going to be pressed into the backs of the front seats. The three-door SC version also makes entry and exit into the rear a bit on the tricky side, so if you’re intending to carry passengers in the back on a regular basis, the five-door version would be the better option. Bootspace is decent, with 292 litres with the split rear seats in place and a possible total of 554 litres when folded. There’s also plenty of equipment fitted as standard, including radio with MP3 connectivity, steering wheel-mounted controls, climate control, plus optional features as USB iPod port and Bluetooth telephone connection.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 5 stars

The Ibiza FR TDI really comes into its own as an ownership proposition when you consider its running costs, which are very good for a nippy little warm hatch. An official fuel consumption figure of 61.4mpg on the combined cycle is good by the standards of a 2.0-litre diesel, even before you take into account the FR TDI’s performance leanings. Likewise, CO2 emissions of 119g/km are very impressive, meaning that owners can have a very sporty diesel-powered car that costs just £35 a year in road tax. Servicing and insurance costs are also affordably good value, falling in insurance group 8 (or 19 in the new 50-grouping system). And, when it comes time to sell it on, you should be rewarded with getting a decent chunk of your original purchase price back, as the whole Ibiza range has good residuals for the supermini class.

Submitted: 29/04/2010 08:44:35

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