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It's no coincidence that the launch of this updated Seat Ibiza was soundtracked by Alphaville's hit Forever Young.

This fifth-generation car first arrived in 2017 and shot straight to the top of its class, scoring highly for refinement, comfort and practicality, but it has since survived on a series of light updates.

Seat insiders reckon the 'Ibiza' name is more recognisable than the brand to which it is attached, so it's going nowhere.
Charlie Martin
Staff Writer

And so it proves once again: with much of the competition having been killed off in recent years, Seat is hoping that another carefully considered nip and tuck is all the Ibiza needs to keep it feeling fresh.

Verdict

Model tested:

Rating:

Seat Ibiza

Refreshingly simple both to operate and drive, and well priced to boot. Shame it’s a bit gloomy to sit in.

Good

Exceptionally simple to drive

Responsive and refined three-cylinder engine

Intuitive user interface with loads of buttons

Bad

Steering feedback isn't stellar

Boring interior design

Updates are minimal; could Seat have done more?

DESIGN & STYLING

Pros

New look feels fresh without spoiling the Ibiza's pleasant design

Great bucket seats in FR trim

Cons

Still fundamentally the same car as it always was

Restrained design tweaks might date rather quickly

The exterior changes on the new Ibiza amount to slightly sharper contours around the front and rear bumpers and new LED lights at either end.

It's an angrier, sportier look that Seat says is supposed to capture a new and younger audience.

In grey, the Ibiza does a good impression of a baby Cupra.
Charlie Martin
Staff Writer

Inside, the Ibiza gets some new soft-touch materials and, in the range-topping FR trim we've tested so far, a set of supportive and well-cushioned bucket seats.

While the changes are restrained, in this case that’s not cause for criticism.

INTERIOR

Pros

Remarkably intuitive, with loads of buttons and dials...

...which are satisfyingly clicky and placed where you expect them to be

Well-padded and supportive bucket seats in FR trim

Cons

Boring to sit in; is a splash of colour too much to ask for?

Infotainment touchscreen is slow to respond to input

Access to ADAS controls isn't clearly signposted

The Ibiza’s old-school feel means it’s among the most intuitive cars around, with clicky buttons and dials for the climate controls and on the steering wheel – which is actually round.

If you have any gripes with the interior design trends of late, the restrained Ibiza is well worth a look.

The Ibiza's buttons and dials have a satisfying click to them, serving up a reminder of how excellent the Volkswagen Group's interiors were a generation ago.
Charlie Martin
Staff Writer

The driving position is sound too, even for those plumper of waist, with well-placed pedals, plenty of room for your legs and all the other controls situated where you intuitively expect them to be.

The assault of black plastics creates a dour ambience, but there isn’t a single creak or rattle. Given that Seat is being repositioned as the Volkswagen Group’s entry-level brand, this feels up to par.

The only real glitches are the infotainment touchscreen’s laggy responses and the lack of clear access to the ADAS menu: it’s buried in the digital instrument panel, with access to it provided by the steering wheel buttons, and there aren't any markers on those buttons to tell as you as much.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

Pros

Turbo triple has plenty of grunt for a car of this size

Good all-round refinement, particularly in town

Automatic gearbox makes rapid and well-timed upshifts

Cons

Automatic gearbox hesitates on kickdown

Three-cylinder engine ultimately lacks the charisma of rivals' powerplants

2026 Seat Ibiza front quarter tracking grey

Initially, only one engine will be offered in the UK: a 1.0-litre turbo triple. It can be had with 94bhp and a five-speed manual gearbox or 113bhp and either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

It’s a perfectly sufficient combination: torquey and refined at town speeds, with enough grunt to get up to motorway pace within the length of a slip road.

Mild-hybrid engines are due to join the line-up in 2027, when the Euro 7 emissions regulations come into force.
Charlie Martin
Staff Writer

It isn't as charismatic as the three-cylinder powerplant found in the rival Peugeot 208 or Citroën C3, though, lacking those engines' signature growl in favour of lower noise and vibration.

The auto’s upshifts are rapid and well timed to make the most of the narrow torque band, although it takes a moment to kick down under a heavy throttle.

We've yet to try the 94bhp unit or the manual gearboxes after the Ibiza's latest update, but they haven't been altered.

Previous experience with them suggest we should expect them too to feel sufficient, if not quite as brisk at the top-end as the full-fat option.

The five-speed manual is particularly long-geared, capable of hitting the national speed limit in its second ratio.

European buyers are offered a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder with 148bhp, but this isn't available in the UK. Our experience with this unit in the Seat Arona crossover suggests it's slightly more refined at normal speeds but markedly louder when pushed hard, and that it doesn't feel significantly punchier in normal driving.

Refreshingly, the ADAS functions aren’t that intrusive in the Ibiza. Even the speed warning buzzer isn’t too annoying, sounding just once when you exceed the detected limit.

RIDE & HANDLING

Pros

Accurate and precise steering

Does a great job of taking the sting out of potholes

Body is well controlled even on tight, fast back roads

Cons

Steering has about as much texture as chocolate mousse

Lack of steering weight at higher speeds can betray an otherwise assured drive

The Ibiza’s air of overall competence is aided by its handling.

The steering is accurate and precise and body movements are well controlled both vertically and laterally, instilling a sense of confidence on twistier back roads.

It feels as though this chassis has unrealised potential, which makes the decision not to build a Cupra Ibiza hot hatch all the more disappointing.
Charlie Martin
Staff Writer

It doesn’t deliver much feedback, however, and feels too light even in the FR’s Sport mode.

This isn’t a fun car: it simply isn’t communicative enough to immerse a keen driver, nor is the engine all that charismatic. But it is very effective at making progress without fuss.

The ride remains composed when crossing expansion joints at speed and larger obstacles don’t send a jolt into the cabin: they’re nicely rounded off.

Cars in lower trims (with smaller alloys than the FR’s 17s) should prove even comfier, although we have yet to sample these following the Ibiza's facelift.

MPG & RUNNING COSTS

Pros

Exceeds its entry-level billing

Doesn't use much fuel

Cons

Cheaper alternatives are available

The Ibiza is priced competitively against its rivals, being cheaper than the closely related Volkswagen Polo and offering a decent standard kit list.

It has been undercut by a new breed of cut-price options such as the C3, but its mature, relaxed driving experience and well-built interior justify the extra cost.

Seat is being repositioned as the Volkswagen Group's entry-level brand, but it remains to be seen how that will affect pricing and residual values in the long term.
Charlie Martin
Staff Writer

The Ibiza should also prove one of the more frugal options in its class, with its official fuel economy rating of 54.3mpg closely matched in the real world.

Around 50mpg should be possible on a longer run with a light throttle, but it dips somewhat trundling around town.

VERDICT

Verdict

Model tested:

Rating:

Seat Ibiza

Refreshingly simple both to operate and drive, and well priced to boot. Shame it’s a bit gloomy to sit in.

Good

Exceptionally simple to drive

Responsive and refined three-cylinder engine

Intuitive user interface with loads of buttons

Bad

Steering feedback isn't stellar

Boring interior design

Updates are minimal; could Seat have done more?

The Ibiza is as strong as it ever was. As key rivals fall by the wayside (the Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio and ‘real’ Mazda 2 have died and the Renault Clio is about to go on hiatus until 2027), it seems set to grasp a new lease of life.

Indeed, by resisting the temptation to follow the crowd and introduce a massive touchscreen, or to shear the interior of its buttons, Seat has produced one of the most inuitive cars on the market today.

Seat deserves praise for sticking with its guns and keeping the Ibiza the same simple, easy-going option that it always was.
Charlie Martin
Staff Writer

Whether this latest round of updates will be enough to sustain the Ibiza's success as time marches on and an entirely new generation of rivals comes to the fore, only time will tell.

But for now, it's a comfortable, relaxing and decently affordable option that stands out for its simplicity.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Model tested:

Seat Ibiza 1.0 TSI 115 FR DSG

Price:

£24,500 (est)

Engine:

3 cyls in line, 999cc, turbo, petrol

Transmission:

7-spd dual-clutch automatic, FWD

Model tested

Seat Ibiza 1.0 TSI 115 FR DSG

Price

£24,500 (est)

Engine

3 cyls in line, 999cc, turbo, petrol

View all specs and rivals

Transmission

7-spd dual-clutch automatic, FWD

Power

113bhp at 5500rpm

Torque

148lb ft at 2000-3500rpm

Kerb weight

1178kg

0-62mph - claimed

9.9sec

Top speed (claimed)

124mph

Fuel economy

54.3mpg

CO2

117-131g/km

BIK tax band

29-32%

Rivals Hyundai i20 Renault Clio Peugeot 208

Power

113bhp at 5500rpm

Torque

148lb ft at 2000-3500rpm

Kerb weight

1178kg

0-62mph - claimed

9.9sec

Top speed (claimed)

124mph

Fuel economy

54.3mpg

CO2

117-131g/km

BIK tax band

29-32%

Rivals Hyundai i20 Renault Clio Peugeot 208

Charlie Martin

Title: Staff Writer

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, creating content for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

He is the proud owner of a Mk4 Mazda MX-5 but still feels pangs of guilt over selling his first car, a Fiat Panda 100HP.