Seat Ibiza review
The SEAT Ibiza is a stylish, fun-to-drive, and surprisingly practical supermini that gives its main rivals a real run for their money.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
7th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
The SEAT Ibiza has long been the cool, stylish choice in the supermini world, and this fifth-generation model, launched in 2017, is the best yet. It’s a brilliant all-rounder that blends sharp looks and a fun driving experience with a level of practicality that might just surprise you. It’s so good, in fact, that it’s a serious alternative to class-leaders like the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. Built on the same modern foundations as the VW Polo and Audi A1, the Ibiza feels like a much bigger and more grown-up car than its compact size suggests. It’s comfortable and refined on the motorway, yet still feels agile and exciting on a twisty road. With a spacious cabin, a huge boot for its class, and generous levels of tech, the Ibiza is one of the most complete and desirable superminis you can buy.
Pros
- Impressively practical with a large boot and roomy cabin
- Fantastic to drive, with a great balance of fun and comfort
- Stylish looks, especially in sporty FR trim
Cons
- The interior quality could be a little better in places
- It can be more expensive than some rivals
- There’s no high-performance hot hatch version
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The Ibiza’s interior has a sharp, modern design that’s very user-friendly. While it might not have the plush, soft-touch materials of its cousin, the VW Polo, it’s a very well-equipped and easy-to-live-with cabin. The highlight is the touchscreen infotainment system, which is excellent.
Even entry-level SE models get a 6.5-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a fantastic feature to have as standard. Higher-spec models get an even better 8-inch screen with built-in satellite navigation. On the very latest FR Sport and Xcellence Lux models, you can also get a stunning 10.25-inch digital cockpit display, which adds a real high-tech feel.
Comfort
The Ibiza is an impressively comfortable car for its size. It manages to feel refined and composed on the motorway, which is a quality you’d normally expect from a larger car. The ride is well-judged, soaking up bumps nicely, although models with the larger 17- or 18-inch wheels can feel a little firmer.
There’s plenty of room in the cabin for four adults to travel in comfort, which is great for a supermini. It’s this blend of a comfortable ride and a spacious interior that makes the Ibiza such a great all-rounder.
Quality
The interior of the Ibiza is solidly built and feels like it will stand up to the rigours of daily life. While the design is smart, you will find some harder, scratchier plastics around the cabin, which means it doesn’t feel quite as premium as a VW Polo. However, everything is well laid out, the switchgear feels robust, and the overall impression is of a high-quality and durable car.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
Spaciousness is one of the Ibiza’s biggest strengths. Thanks to its clever design, it feels surprisingly roomy inside. There’s plenty of space in the front, and, unlike many superminis, there’s also enough room in the back for adults to sit comfortably without feeling squashed. Combined with its five-door-only body style, it’s one of the most accommodating and family-friendly cars in its class.
Boot space
The Ibiza’s boot is another standout feature. At 355 litres, it’s one of the largest in the supermini class, offering more space than most of its key rivals. It’s easily big enough for a large weekly shop or a couple of suitcases for a weekend away. It's this impressive practicality that makes the Ibiza feel like a car from the class above.
Versatility
With its roomy cabin and large boot, the Ibiza is an incredibly versatile small car. It’s practical enough to work as a small family car, with plenty of room for child seats and all the gear that comes with them. It’s a car that can easily handle the daily commute, the school run, and weekend adventures with ease.
Driving
Driving experience
The SEAT Ibiza is a fantastic all-rounder to drive. It strikes an excellent balance between being fun and exciting on a country road and being comfortable and refined for everyday driving. The steering is light and accurate, which makes it easy to drive around town, but it still provides enough feedback to make you feel connected to the road.
While it might not be quite as sharp or engaging as the Ford Fiesta, it’s more comfortable and refined. It feels composed and secure at high speeds, making it a great car for long journeys. It’s a car that does everything well, making it very easy to recommend.
Performance
The Ibiza is offered with a great range of efficient petrol engines and a single diesel option. The entry-level 79bhp 1.0-litre petrol is fine for city driving but can feel a bit sluggish on faster roads. The pick of the range is the turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, which is available with either 94bhp or 113bhp. It’s a punchy and characterful engine that provides a great blend of performance and economy.
For a short time, a powerful 1.5-litre petrol engine with 148bhp was also available, which offered near hot-hatch performance. The sole diesel option is a 94bhp 1.6-litre unit, which is a great choice for high-mileage drivers.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
All of the engines in the Ibiza are very efficient, so it should be an affordable car to run. The most economical is the 1.6-litre diesel, which has a claimed fuel economy figure of over 60mpg. The popular 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines are also very frugal, capable of around 50mpg in official tests.
Value for money
The Ibiza is competitively priced, although it can seem expensive compared to some rivals because SEAT doesn’t offer a basic, low-spec version. The upside is that all models come with an excellent level of standard equipment, including alloy wheels and a touchscreen with smartphone connectivity. On the used market, the Ibiza represents fantastic value, with nearly-new models often available with thousands of pounds off the list price.
Reliability & Warranty
SEAT has a good reputation for reliability, and as it shares many of its parts with other Volkswagen Group products like the VW Polo, it should prove to be a dependable choice. From new, all SEATs come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is standard for the class. Insurance costs are also affordable, with the entry-level petrol engine sitting in a low insurance group 2, making it a great choice for new drivers.
Safety
Safety features
The SEAT Ibiza is a very safe car, achieving the maximum five-star safety rating when it was crash-tested by the experts at Euro NCAP. It received particularly high scores for adult occupant protection.
All models come with autonomous emergency braking as standard, which is a fantastic feature that can help to prevent a collision. Higher-spec FR and Xcellence models add features like a tiredness recognition system and adaptive cruise control for even greater peace of mind.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The Ibiza range is straightforward, with a choice of trims that cater for comfort or sporty style. The range starts with SE, which is very well-equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and air conditioning. SE Technology adds an 8-inch screen with navigation.
The sporty-looking FR trim is a popular choice, adding a sportier body kit, 17-inch alloy wheels, twin exhaust pipes, and sports seats. FR Sport adds larger 18-inch wheels and a digital cockpit. The Xcellence and Xcellence Lux trims focus on comfort and luxury, with features like keyless entry and Alcantara upholstery.
Engines
The engine range is focused on small, efficient petrol units. The range starts with a 1.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine with 79bhp. The most popular engines are the 1.0-litre TSI turbocharged units, with either 94bhp or 113bhp. A 1.6-litre TDI diesel with 94bhp is also available. Most engines come with a five-speed manual gearbox, but the more powerful 113bhp petrol gets a six-speed manual or an optional seven-speed DSG automatic.