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By Jonathan Crouch

SEAT's improved MK5 model Ibiza supermini features a range of strong engines, including an efficient 1.0 TSI three-cylinder unit. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 35

SEAT's Ibiza, now in its fifth generation, has been a budget alternative to the Volkswagen Polo for over 20 years. It's now smarter, better equipped and more sophisticated, especially in frugal 1.0 TSI petrol guise.

Backgroundword count: 117

SEAT's Ibiza has always been quite an endearing little supermini, provided you could stretch to the more sophisticated engines fitted to plusher, more powerful models. If budget or circumstance restricted you to an entry-level variant, things were very different. The cheapest versions of this model have often been saddled with the lowest-tech engineering offerings that the Volkswagen Group had to offer. But not now. In more recent times, Ibiza buyers have had access to one of the most sophisticated engines the Volkswagen empire makes, a three cylinder 1.0 TSI petrol unit. It's an engine also used in Volkswagen's Polo, Skoda's Fabia and Audi's A1 and offers the kind of performance you'd expect from a much bigger powerplant.

Driving Experienceword count: 231

The 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine is perfectly suited to the Ibiza. Its power begins to come in low down in the rev range and it pulls the hatchback strongly for such a compact unit. The three-cylinder engine produces either 95PS and 160Nm of torque. Or 110PS and 200Nm in the higher powered sportier FR model which can be ordered with optional DSG automatic transmission. For such a reasonably priced car, these figures are impressive. On the road, the numbers translate into very easy progress. The torque is provided at a lowly 1500rpm, meaning even at very low revs, the Ibiza 1.0 TSI pulls well. It doesn't have much of a top end though, so to maintain swift progress, it's better to change gear early and ride the swell of torque. In the 95PS version, 62mph from rest takes 10.4s en route to 119mph. On the move in this Ibiza, SEAT hopes one of the first things you'll notice is this model's 'big car' feel, something particularly evident in its rigid, rattle-free roadgoing demeanour. In part, this comes courtesy of the stiff MQB A0 chassis. That in turn means flat cornering and benefits ride quality that's un-bettered in this class. We're slightly less sure about SEAT's decision to extend that same 'big car' feel to the steering which, as a consequence, is a tough lighter than some really enthusiastic drivers might like.

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