| Week at the Wheel | SEAT Ibiza ST |
Key Facts
Model tested: SEAT Ibiza ST SE 1.6 TDI CR
Pricing: £14,835 on-the-road
Engine: 1.6-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder
Transmission: five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door estate
Rivals: Skoda Fabia Estate, Nissan Note, Vauxhall Meriva
CO2 emissions: 112g/km
Combined economy: 65.7mpg
Top speed: 117mph
0-62mph: 10.9 seconds
Power: 104bhp at 4,400rpm
Torque: 184lb.ft at 1,500rpm
Inside & Out:
Stare at it head on and the ST is pure SEAT Ibiza hatchback, but from the rear doors backwards it's much more practical. The estate is 18cm longer than the hatch and has a 430-litre boot with the rear seats in place. It's no contender for the largest estate on sale, but as estate-cum-hatchbacks go, it's pretty good.
There are also the usual sharp, youthful lines that set SEAT apart from its more insipid stable mates at VW. Again, as estates go, the Ibiza ST is a good looking one.
Ride & Handling:
The SEAT estate rides on softer springs than the hatch and, as a result, is very comfortable. The trade-off here is the slightly soggy feeling when the Ibiza tackles a corner, along with quite a lot of lean during bends.
Our Sport spec test car was a little sharper than your average Ibiza ST, thanks to its larger alloy wheels and marginally firmer springs, but it's still no Bocanegra. Best stick to SEAT's plentiful array of hot hatches if that's the sort of thing you're after, but the ST does its job well enough.
Engine & Transmission
Our test car was fitted with the VW Group's popular 1.6-litre TDI engine. It's not the most inspiring of powerplants, but it's strong and frugal, with impressive mid-range punch - claimed figures include 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds along with 112g/km and 65.7mpg, while the five-speed manual gearbox is smooth and easy to use. SEAT also offers a 1.2-litre TDI engine in the Ibiza ST, which, with 92g/km, is tax free, and returns a sky-high 80.7mpg. Don't expect the same willing performance as that of the 1.6 TDI, though.
Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:
The ST costs about another £1,000 on top of an equivalent five-door SEAT Ibiza and adds the extra space and roof rails. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, remote central locking, and mp3 stereo, front electric windows and height adjustable seats. The Sport version, tested here, comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, tinted windows, sports seats and lowered suspension. Our range-topping Sport model costs £15,155, which is far from extortionate for an estate in this class.