Ibiza rocks! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Ibiza rocks!

7:35pm Friday 10th October 2008 in

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Another month. Another new SEAT. The Spanish brand might be relatively small, but it is certainly very busy.

Hot on the heels of the svelte Ibiza comes the Ibiza Sports Coupe, or SC for short.

It’s a hot-hatch, or rather a warm-hatch, which is a smart compromise between sportiness and commonsense. It’s fast enough to raise a smile but sensible enough to be high on economy and low on insurance.

Coupes are in vogue at the moment. The number of manufacturers turning out sports versions of mainstream models is expanding, with Volkswagen Passat, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Ford Mondeo, Peugeot 308 and Renault Laguna all launching (or about to launch) sports versions.

So it’s no wonder that SEAT – the sporty, edgy wing of the Volkswagen empire – was keen to add a three-door version of Ibiza to the range.

The Ibiza is a very important car for SEAT, accounting for some 45 per cent of the firm’s sales, hence its determination in the past to squeeze as many models as possible out of it, ranging from the super economical Ecomotive to the turbocharged Cupra.

With a noticeably low average age among buyers, young drivers with an eye for style but a slightly more restrictive budget are the key demographic, particularly for the three-door with its more sporty and dynamic image.

It has a range of rivals in its sights: MINI, Fiat Grande Punto, Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and others.

It’s a sportier, sleeker three-door version of the Ibiza, SEAT’s best-selling model, and it has a youthful feel to it.

Like most warm-hatches, it’s neither one thing nor the other. The 0 to 60mph time of 12.2 seconds will hardly blow your socks off but the economy is excellent. It returns 55mpg on a run and the insurance group three is very impressive.

In truth, it feels faster than it sounds. Like all SEATs it has a firmer than expected ride and a polished, well-designed cabin which owes much to its Volkswagen parentage.

It looks bigger, too. It is lower, firmer and shorter than the five-door Ibiza, but bigger than the old three-door Ibiza.

There is a better quality feel to the car, too. It could stand comparisons with some Audi or Volkswagen models, which isn’t something you could have said about older SEATs.

Two-tone interiors in the new models brighten things up no end and, while the materials are still not quite top drawer, the quality of the craftsmanship and build seems excellent. Switch gear and individual aspects such as the ventilation flaps appear to have been meticulously thought-out and crafted.

It has a wider track (which helps with ride and handling) and a much larger boot (up 17 to 284 litres).

Tested here is the 1.4 but you could go for the yet-more-sensible 1.2 petrol or more impressive 1.6. A diesel will follow next year.

The Ibiza Sport Coupe should have little trouble in meeting styling demands and, despite the apparently low specification in terms of toys for the entry-level models, the range is well-specified, too.

ESP is available on all models, including a hill-hold assist function that works up and downhill, taking some of the strain out of reverse parking.

Bi Xenon headlamps are unique in its segment, a docking station for sat-nav is a clever initiative, but it’s the seven-speed DSG gearbox that really has SEAT excited.

The first small hatchback in the UK to feature the twin clutch facility, it gives the model a real edge and will be particularly noteworthy when the sporty FR and Cupra versions break cover.

Push hard and there’s performance to be found near the top-of-the-rev range; combined with the taut and responsive chassis it makes for an enjoyable driving experience. Two suspension set-ups are available, with the Sport variant naturally sporting the firmer of the two. The stiffer ride will be available as an option on the other trim levels.

A neat piece of design and built with a particular audience in mind, the Ibiza Sport Coupe is a smart and attractive addition to the three-door hatch market.

While it’s hard to get excited about the initial selection of sensible petrol engines, it’s equally hard not to get excited about the sporty FR and Cupra versions in the pipeline. The addition of the 1.9 diesel will really round out the selection.

l The names of the model range have been simplified. Out go Reference, Stylance and Sport to be replaced by the easier to understand S, S/AC, SE and Sport.