SEAT Ibiza

Europe's funkiest car maker got just about everything right when it launched the Ibiza. And as a result, it's had a popular small car on its hands; one that's desirable without being unaffordable. In addition to its sharp styling, it's impressively equipped, is easy to drive around town and comes with a diverse choice of engines. It ticks a lot of boxes for a wide range of small car buyers and as a result is a very popular used buy. Changes from Spring 2006 include subtly revised looks (new front and rear bumpers and re-designed double headlamps), better quality trim and improved equipment. This is most noticeable on sporty FR versions that now look more like the range-topping Cupra.

S, SX, SPORT, SE, TDI, FR

The original line-up was badged S, SE, and Sport. All models have air con, tinted glass, radio/CD player and seatbelt pre-tensioners. SE adds height adjustable seats, front foglamps, on board computer and 15-inch alloy wheels. Sport has a leather steering wheel, traction control, white instrument dials and 16-inch alloy wheels. Sporting promise wasn’t realised until the start of 2004, with the launch of the 1.8T and 1.9TDi FR models (although the diesel had been around from launch, badged Sport). A few months later saw the introduction of 1.8T and 1.9TDI Cupra versions with significantly more horsepower over the FR cars. Ibiza badges changed in 2004 to reflect SEAT’s new naming strategy to: Reference, S, SX, FR and Cupra. The 2006 facelift meant another tweak to the spec list. Trims are now: Reference, Stylance, Sport, FR and Cupra. Reference has body-coloured bumpers and door mirrors, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, electric front windows, radio/CD player, five three-point seatbelts, ABS, remote central locking and ABS. Stylance adds climate control, electric door mirrors, electric windows (five-door models), front fog lights, trip computer and height-adjustable driver's seat. Sport is priced similarly to Stylance, but is differentiated by sports suspension, sports seats, sports steering wheel and air-con rather than climate control. FR has a honeycomb grille, special FR badging and styling, climate control, side airbags, MP3-compatiable CD player, six-speed gearbox and an alarm. Range-topping Cupra gains an oval tail pipe, Cupra badging, electronic stability programme, electronic brake assist, 17-inch alloy wheels and SEAT Racing brakes.

2.0 SPORT