SEAT Ibiza
Diesel power appears to have the family car market well and truly sewn up - but now it looks set to sweep the performance hatchback market as well...
The final test of the Ibiza Cupra will be on Britain's harsh roads, but in Spain it was a superb driver's car. Sceptics should take a test drive before dismissing this SEAT. The new bodykit looks great, too. But at £16,000, it's no giveaway.
Diesel power appears to have the family car market well and truly sewn up - but now it looks set to sweep the performance hatchback market as well...
Don't believe us? Well, if the new SEAT Ibiza Cupra is anything to go by, it will. There won't be many performance enthusiasts who will easily turn down the amazing mix of real-world pace and excellent fuel economy.
The new Ibiza Cupra will be available with a 180bhp 1.8 turbo petrol engine or this, the 160bhp 1.9-litre turbodiesel. We tried the oil-burner - which goes on sale next month - on the winding mountain roads of southern Spain.
With 330Nm of torque on tap from only 1,900rpm (the petrol version delivers 245Nm), the Cupra has no shortage of performance. Even on steep in-clines, the powerplant keeps pulling hard, making overtaking a breeze and providing effortless mid-range urge.
The six-speed manual gearbox is smooth and slick enough, and the well spaced ratios make good use of the unit's sheer wallop. Best of all, the oil-burner seemed considerably more refined than previous SEAT PD motors we have tried. Even under hard acceleration, the cabin stayed pretty quiet.
But the icing on cake is the sheer excellence of the chassis. SEAT should be proud of the suspension set-up: it's sporty and roll-free, but the ride never gets crashy and the damping is superbly judged. Even under hard cornering, the Cupra's body is held perfectly in check. And despite wearing 17-inch wheels with low-profile tyres, it rides well on all but badly broken surfaces.
It's the amazing grip that delivers the ultimate driving thrills, though. On long mountain curves, it was possible to stay on the power and feel the car hanging on like a limpet. Keen drivers will also appreciate the weight and feel SEAT has worked into the steering. We could hardly fault the brakes, either.
Inside, the sports seats and leather-trimmed steering wheel complement an excellent driving position. Overall, this is a stylish and desirable hot hatch - no matter what fuel it runs on.
