Skip advert
Advertisement

SEAT Ibiza FR

Does latest Spanish flier live up to the badge? We reveal all

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£4,423 off RRP*
Find your SEAT Ibiza
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

There are faster, more raucous hot hatches on the market, but the Ibiza FR makes a lot of sense. It’s cheaper to buy, insure and run than the Cupra and Bocanegra, yet still offers plenty of thrills. The turbo and supercharged 1.4-litre engine provides a seamless band of torque, while the handling is as sporty as we expect from a SEAT. Buyers wanting a practical but involving hatch should take a closer look.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Punchy thrills at a budget price. That’s what SEAT’s new Ibiza FR promises, as it features the VW Group’s 1.4-litre TSI engine.

We hit the road in the warm supermini to see if it delivers.

The FR retains the sharp lines of the standard Ibiza, but adds a chunkier front bumper and honeycomb grille. A subtle spoiler on the rear helps to complete the sporty edge.

The engine is boosted by a turbocharger and a supercharger, so there’s lots of power from low revs. With 148bhp on tap, the FR sprints from 0-60mph in 7.7 seconds.

Equally impressive is the soundtrack – a terrific bassy thrum from the exhaust that encourages you to hang on to the gears a little longer. Power is fed through the DSG dual-clutch transmission.

This works well by itself in Drive or Sport mode, but when you switch to control it through the steering wheel paddles, changes are jerky. A conventional box would suit the car better.

Inside, the cabin is durable and well put together. As with other Ibizas, soft-touch plastics and familiar switchgear from the Volkswagen parts bin feature, but the newcomer gets FR logos on the sports seats and adjacent to the dials.

Throw the car into a bend and it clings on with gusto. Yet there’s more body roll than you’d find in the faster Ibiza Cupra and Bocanegra.

Then again, the FR isn’t designed to be as focused as the higher-spec models. Not only does it have 30bhp less power, its suspension isn’t as firm, and so it rides more smoothly.

As a result, it sits in insurance group 11 – three below the Cupra and Bocanegra. And at £14,995, it costs £1,000 and £1,700 respectively less to buy. That’s great value, and will help this latest warm Ibiza appeal to young drivers in the market for a sporty hatch.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Seat Ibiza

Seat Ibiza

RRP £14,980Avg. savings £4,423 off RRP*Used from £8,299
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,480Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £6,495
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,921 off RRP*Used from £8,844
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £4,794 off RRP*Used from £6,320
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3…
News
18 Jul 2025
Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake - front action

Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop

The second of Merc’s new-era EVs is here in the form of an attractive estate with a huge range
News
14 Jul 2025