It’s a new platform but there is nothing novel or outstanding about the Ibiza’s powertrain. This is a 1.4-litre, 16-valve engine and five-speed manual gearbox that are as conventional as they come, with a reasonable power output of 84bhp, and torque of 97lb ft.
So we were expecting no surprises, and received none. At our test track we managed to coax it from 0-60mph in 12.3sec, which, while not overly disappointing, does mean it’s shaded by most of its rivals, which can do the same in under 12 seconds.
More significantly in daily driving, the Ibiza will get from 30-70mph in an acceptable 12.4sec if you demand lots of it, but a rather too leisurely 22.6sec if you ask fourth gear to do it for you.
Still, spinning this engine is pleasurable enough, and the five-speed gearbox shifts very sweetly, with a short throw that’s refreshingly free of notch and baulk at all speeds.
Through a quite demanding test route the Ibiza returned 35.8mpg. Better still, on our touring route, consisting mostly of motorways taken at 70mph, it returned 44.1mpg.
The Ibiza rides with a compliance that’s partly a result of its tyres’ sidewalls and its chassis, which in turn allows its springs and dampers to be tight enough to control its body movements properly. And that means on the open road, as well as around town, it comes across as a refined, mature-riding car.
Like most of its rivals, the Ibiza’s suspension is by a straightforward, affordable combination of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.
Obviously, grip levels are not particularly high, but the Ibiza does steer with precision and accuracy, and its electrically assisted rack has a pleasant freedom from stiction.
Throw in its good brakes, smooth engine and very slick gearshift and you have a car that is a relatively rewarding thing to punt along. It would be even more so if it just had a little more pace.