Skip advert
Advertisement

SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra vs rivals

SEAT has unleashed its Ibiza Bocanegra – but is it a hot hatch class leader? We pitch it against two rivals in four key buying areas.

header

Is this the car that will help SEAT nose ahead of hot hatch rivals? The Bocanegra pays homage to the first model to be developed from the ground up by the brand.

The 1200 Sport launched in 1975, and was nicknamed Bocanegra – Spanish for black mouth – due to its integrated black front bumper. Now, 35 years later, SEAT has applied the badge to the Ibiza Cupra – and the newcomer gets a unique bumper, with honeycomb grille and vents, finished in menacing black.

At the back, it’s marked out by dark inserts in the exhaust and a bold Bocanegra badge. Similar details feature inside, although the car is the same under the skin as the Cupra. Powered by the VW Group’s twin-charged 1.4-litre TSI unit, that model featured in our Performance Car of the Year 2009 shoot-out. Now, its flashier brother takes on two of the most talented hot hatches ever.

The Renaultsport Clio 200 is fresh from a mid-life update, and remains the benchmark for driver thrills. But if the Bocanegra is to attract image-conscious customers, it must beat the MINI Cooper S, too. Read on to see if the fresh-faced SEAT has what it takes to top the class.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Ibiza

2018 Seat

Ibiza

37,098 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £10,800
View Ibiza
Ibiza

2015 Seat

Ibiza

67,300 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £5,290
View Ibiza
Ibiza

2024 Seat

Ibiza

25,389 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £13,400
View Ibiza
Ibiza

2024 Seat

Ibiza

7,547 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £18,500
View Ibiza

The contenders

Renaultsport Clio 200
* Price: £17,481
* Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 197bhp
* 0-60mph: 8.2 seconds
* AE economy: 28.9mpg
* Claimed CO2: 195g/km
* Why: The Clio sets the hot hatch benchmark for driver thrills – and the recent update has made it better than ever!

SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra
* Price: £17,245
* Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 178bhp
* 0-60mph: 6.7 seconds
* AE economy: 34.0mpg
* Claimed CO2: 148g/km
* Why: It’s mechanically identical to the hot Ibiza Cupra, but the new Bocanegra gets a dash more style. Is it worth the extra outlay?

MINI Cooper S
* Price: £17,015
* Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 173bhp
* 0-60mph: 7.1 seconds
* AE economy: 29.5mpg
* Claimed CO2: 149g/km
* Why: The Cooper S continues to serve up storming pace, as well as quality and style, in a classic, retro-inspired package.

Verdict

The Bocanegra upholds SEAT’s reputation as a sporty brand. It shares the same grown-up personality as the Ibiza Cupra. The state-of-the-art powerplant serves up excellent performance, while the paddleshift gearbox gives the car a high-end feel.

It’s not only refined and practical, but also good value for money and generously equipped. Yet while the SEAT is very accomplished, it doesn’t offer the engaging driving experience or ultimate agility of its rivals. And even accepting the styling tweaks, its hard to justify the £700 price premium the Bocanegra carries over the Cupra. So despite its abilities, it finishes third here.

Both our other contenders can lay claim to the top spot. The MINI is a fantastic ownership prospect, and is cheaper to tax, insure and service than the Clio. A unique blend of performance, interior quality and character makes it a truly great hot hatch. It’s superbly engineered and offers polished handling. Yet the Brit can’t match the Renault’s razor-sharp reflexes. The Clio has a superb chassis, generous kit and decent practicality, too – so it wins this test by a narrow margin.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Seat Ibiza

Seat Ibiza

RRP £14,845Avg. savings £2,045 off RRP*Used from £6,995
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,448
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025