Seat Ibiza TDI Sport 130 Review

Good Points
Torquey Motor
Fuel economy
Value

Bad Points
Sounds like a tractor at idle
Handling could be sportier

General Comments
It's hard to fault my Seat Ibiza tdi sport 130 as a day to day car. It has all the toys and safety features i need.



The performance is breathtaking for a car that has averaged 50.4 mpg over the last 10000 miles (that works out to 8.5 pence per mile at current fuel prices). 0-60 in 9.3 seconds is not too impressive, but I can assure you it feels much quicker! This is thanks to the massive amount of torque, peaking at a lowly 1900 rpm, which gives good in gear acceleration vital for safe overtaking manoeuvres. Unlike many over diesels there is still meaningful acceleration right up to 4000rpm making it a little easier switching from a petrol car.



Fuel economy is helped along by the high ratio 6th gear. Cruising along at 75 mph needs just 2000rpm.



Levels of grip are impressive especially pulling away on slippery surfaces, where the electronic dif-loc (EDL) sends power to the wheel with most available traction, enabling full throttle, even out of wet roundabouts. Unfortunately, when cornering grip runs out it does so at the front. This leads to safe, predictable, but dull understeer. The way to avoid this if you drive 'sportily' is to reduce your speed into a corner, then rely on the (EDL), to pull you out of the corner at a high rate of knots with just a flicker from the traction control light.



The car still looks good alongside much newer cars, sporty but understated with just the 16-inch alloys hinting at the performance.



Overall, the only real annoyances are the hard plastic surfaces inside the car and the odd niggling trim rattle that you would not expect in the equivalent VW, Audi or Skoda.

Would I change it? Yes, I want the Cupra version!