Spanish car maker Seat has taken the wraps off what is says is the best Ibiza yet.
The fifth generation version of the supermini with be five-door only, Seat following what’s becoming a trend in the sector by dropping the three door model.
Whether there’ll be an estate version of the Ibiza as there is with the current car is also up in the air – Seat’s soon-to-be-revealed Arona small SUV may put paid to the need for one.
The supermini market is fiercely competitive, with new versions of the Nissan Micra, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo coming this year.
Seat will be hoping the Ibiza is well in the mix. It’s based on a completely new platform, and brings the model right up to date in terms of engines and technology.
The new car is a fair bit bigger than the one it replaces. Its body is 87mm wider, and its wheelbase 60mm longer, although it’s broadly the same height and length. This means there’s more front and rear-headroom, says Seat, plus more legroom in the back and a 355-litre boot – that’s up by 63 litres.
Larger seats have also been fitted to improve comfort.
From launch there will be two engines on offer, each with two power outputs. A three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo petrol comes with 94bhp or 113bhp, while a 1.6-litre diesel offers 80bhp or 94bhp. Later in 2017 Seat will also offer a four-cylinder 1.5-litre TSI with 148bhp. Expect the usual array of five- and six-speed manual and DSG automatic gearboxes.
The interior has had an extensive overhaul, with a completely new dash and centre console. There’s a large infotainment screen in the centre, with buttons and controls for the most important functions.
If Seat is true to form, a Cupra version of the new Ibiza will join the range at some point. Expect more than 200bhp under the bonnet when it does.
The new car goes on sale in the UK from July. There’s no word yet on prices but anticipate a start price of around £13,000 or slightly higher.