BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE? (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY JONATHAN CROUCH

Introductionword count: 41

SEAT's Ibiza is a longstanding favourite in the supermini sector. It delivers Volkswagen build quality for less and in fourth generation guise, features distinctive, edgy styling. Beneath the sharp suit is some advanced engineering while perceived quality has been tightened up.

Modelsword count: 12

Models Covered: (1.2, 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol, 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel)

Historyword count: 125

The Ibiza supermini we first saw in 2007 was a massively important car for SEAT. Parent company Volkswagen was pushing for a massive increase in the Spanish maker's annual sales at the time and much depended on this crucial model. SEAT's marketing issue was to convince the buying public that here was a supermini that had all the build quality of the VW Polo it was based upon, but which also delivered a bit of extra flair, both from a driving and a design perspective. This, after all, is all that sets an Ibiza apart from the VW Group's other superminis, the Skoda Fabia and the Volkswagen Polo. Hence the importance of sportier Ibiza variants like the SportCoupe (SC) three-door and the Cupra hot hatch.

What You Getword count: 284

Underneath the Ibiza styling is the core of the car, the small car platform from the Volkswagen Group. The variety of bodystyle alternatives include three and five-door hatch, an ST estate version and the more aggressive three-door Sport Coupe. The car's looks mark it out, with swooping bodywork strakes along the sides, slanting headlights and a busy front end underneath the slight smile that is the SEAT grille. Inside, although the cabin is a quality product, it doesn't really have the same styling impact of the exterior styling. In fact, it's here that the roots of the Volkswagen influence most clearly show through. The dash is quite staid and there is a lot of the grey plastic that drivers of German cars will be familiar with. Basic equipment is good, with the entry-level models featuring everything from a steering wheel that has adjustment for height as well as for reach, a height-adjustable driver's seat, electric front windows, remote central locking and a six-speaker CD system. There's also the AUX input for your iPod in later models, plus the SE version adds electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, as well as electric rear windows, cruise control, air conditioning and alloy wheels. The Sport adds stiffened sports suspension and sports seats as well as leather interior trim and 16 inch alloy wheels. There's a surprising amount of space inside for four adults and for rear seat passengers especially, who tend to draw the short straw when it comes to head and legroom in cars of this size. Luggage space is good too, with 292-litres of space in the boot of the five-door car and almost as much, 284-litres, in the boot of the three door model.

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