SEAT Ibiza running costs and reliability

Item: SEAT Ibiza (2017 onwards)
Rating: 4.2
Author: Keith Adams

2017 onwards (change model)

Running costs rating: 4.2 out of 54.2

Written by Keith Adams Updated: 26 April 2024

Miles per pound (mpp) ⓘ

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only, and typical current fuel or electricity costs.

Petrol engines	6.2 - 8.1 mpp
Diesel engines	6.8 - 7.9 mpp

What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy ⓘ

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only.

Petrol engines	42.2 - 55.4 mpg
Diesel engines	53.3 - 61.4 mpg

View mpg & specs for any version

Frugal lineup
Similar MPG regardless of power
CO2 emissions kept low

What are the running costs?

Running a SEAT Ibiza won’t cost you an arm and a leg, even if you choose one of the quicker versions available. Servicing and running costs are well contained, while all engines deliver excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions.

Interestingly, all models perform fairly similarly on WLTP-backed mpg ratings. The least powerful model (80hp) records an official 41.1-53.3mpg. The 95hp comes in with 47.9-54.3mpg, while the 110hp has a rating of 46.3-52.3mpg with a manual gearbox and 44.1mpg with the automatic.

It’s worth noting that the 80hp model will need to work harder, so you might not get as close to the claimed figures as you might hope.

Servicing and warranty

Service plans are available to keep on top of your SEAT Ibiza’s running costs, payable in one lump sum or in monthly instalments, but paying for them on a one-off basis as and when it’s needed shouldn’t prove too costly.

Insurance is an important factor for Ibiza buyers, especially as it tends to be a model favoured by younger drivers. As such, entry-level 1.0-litre 80hp models fall into insurance group 5E, while 1.0 TSI 95hp Ibizas are slightly higher in group 11E and 12E depending on the model. Move up to the 115hp 1.0 TSI you’ll step up to group 15E for insurance.

All Ibizas come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. This is pretty standard for the industry and falls way behind Toyota’s 10-year and Kia’s seven-year warranties.

Reliability

SEAT Ibiza feels solidly built, if not the highest quality
Good owners reviews scores
Two recalls

There’s good reason to expect strong reliability, as elsewhere in the range the Leon is proving to be a dependable car, while technology used – from engines to touchscreens – is proving reliable in various forms.

The Ibiza has been subject to two recalls. One relates to the rear seat belt while the other was regarding the handbrake.

Owners reviews for the SEAT Ibiza are largely good, but there have been reports of rattling interiors.