After the VW Polo, the technically closely related one is now getting Seat Ibiza a facelift. The latest expansion stage of the current generation, which will be available from July, starts at 11.900 Euro. This will cost the three-door entry-level model with 55 kW / 75 horsepower around 1.000 Euro more than before. But because the air conditioning is now part of the standard equipment, the Ibiza has even become cheaper according to the Seat bill.
Not much has happened from the outside. Newly designed Schweinwerfer, new paint colors and wheel designs to keep the three- and five-door Ibiza and the ST called Kombi fresh, until in two years, the completely new model starts. Inside, there are new dashboard materials, a finer styled steering wheel and an expanded color selection.
New features in the technology range include fatigue detection, the multi-collision brake and, above all, smartphone integration. Seat has agreed a cooperation with the electronics provider Samsung. Android and Car Play from Apple will support the future phones and include them in the presentations on the touchscreen monitor.
The Ibiza engine family welcomes a whole host of new members. The former entry-level petrol engine with four cylinders and 1,2-liter displacement has given way to a three-cylinder with one liter of displacement. It produces 55 kW / 75 PS and consumes 4,8 liters per 100 kilometers. In further expansion stages, the machine will bring it to 70 kW / 95 PS and 81 kW / 110 PS. The two four-cylinder provide 66 kW / 90 PS (1,2-liter) and 110 kW / 150 PS (1,4 liter), the latter works with cylinder deactivation and is content with 4,8 liter of gasoline on 100 kilometers. The diesels are close together. The new three-cylinder engines draw from 1,4 liters displacement 55 kW / 75 PS, 66 PS / 90 kW and 77 kW / 105 PS. 3,4 to 3,6 liters of diesel require the diesels to norm.
The agility of Ibiza has increased. A finely tuned steering presents itself with the highest precision, the suspension has meanwhile been designed to be gentler, which gives the ride comfort well. As an option, Seat offers the adaptive chassis, the spring-damper detection of which can be adapted to the driver's driving style in two stages. The presetting also affects the intensity of the power steering, and always moderate and appropriate.
Author: Michael Kirchberger / SP-X