SEAT Ibiza Hatchback (2008 - 2017) 1.4 TDI Ecomotive 5d (2010/10) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That you value the appearance of a car over other attributes (such as practicality). That you don't want / can't afford a VW Polo.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They all seem to like it. Everyone else in my family has a VW, so it was treated with a bit of suspicion at first (particularly as SEATs tend to be seen as a poor man's VW), but nearly everyone has been won over.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I would have another Ibiza, but not the Ecomotive as it's too underpowered.

What are you likely to buy next?

I'd probably go for the 1.6 TDI Ibiza in Sport or SE spec. I'd also choose either the 3 door hatch, which is the best looking Ibiza or more likely the ST estate which is more practical and (I think) more attractive than the 5 door hatch.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

January 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

The Ibiza seemed to be a bit more stylish than most of the other cars in this segment. The reported VW-group reliability and build quality.

What was the dealer like?

What's it like to drive?

Very slow, which I assume is the price you pay for such high MPG (55+ or 60+ if driven carefully). The gearbox is only 5 speed, and I think that to achieve good motorway MPG SEAT have geared it very high. This means that on motorways and A-roads you have to change down even for a slight incline. Refinement is pretty mixed: The diesel engine is VERY rough and noisy at idle, but is perfectly quiet at higher and motorway speeds. The ride is firm (as with most SEATs), but not overly hard. The wing mirrors are big, so give a decent view, but make everything seem really far away. This has resulted in a few hair-raising moments on the motorway, particulary as the car takes so long to gain speed.

What's it like to park?

Ok: I've driven bigger cars that are much easier to park. Bay parking is no problem, but parallel parking is tricky - particularly being as the wing mirrors aren't electrically adjustable.

Have you had any problems with the car?

No, and it doesn't lead a particularly charmed life.

What's most practical about your car?

The boot is big for a car of this size. This is countered by the fact that the car doesn't have any clever cubby holes (unless they're so clever that I can't find them) or other storage areas. Even the glovebox is tiny.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

I've never had a car with an aux input socket before. The Ecomotive spec is fairly basic, but has the essentials (air contitioning, remote locking, front electric windows and a CD player). My car has SEAT alloys, but there's an Ecomotive spec Ibiza up the road from me that has plastic hubcabs, so maybe the alloys were optional when new.