Seat Ibiza FR 1.4 TSI DSG 3dr
Since parent company Volkswagen took the reigns at SEAT in 1990 it has strived to carve the Spanish brand a neat section of the market with products that are more daring and sporty than Skodas or Volkswagens. SEAT could be described then as the wild child of the family, perhaps the unruly teenager that likes to have far too much fun.
The Ibiza has been SEAT’s best-selling model for a very long time, few realise that its been about for nearly 30 years and is now in its fourth generation. Earlier this year the Polo-based hatch received a thorough reworking to keep it fresh in the face of increased opposition. Until the new Cupra (Cup Racing) comes along the sportiest model is the FR (Formula Racing) which as of 2012 is available in a number of body styles and power outputs. We test the most potent petrol model to find out if it’s any good.
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Visually it packs a real punch. Even in base trim it manages to look far sportier than most of its rivals, clearly the influence of ex Lamborghini designer Luc Donckerwolke who is responsible for the Ibiza's cracking design. The sheet metal appears taught with sharp character lines running from the headlights dropping off towards the rear where another starts sweeping around the back creating broad shoulders.
The FR we are testing only adds to the sporting character with its wide 17" wheels, aggressive front bumper and subtle rear diffuser with twin tailpipes. The SC, or Sport Coupe has a much lower roof line and smaller rear overhang that accentuates the shape further and looks particularly menacing in the Monsoon Grey metallic finish of our car.
The recent revisions focusing mainly on the front end have sorted out some of the awkward lines that detracted from the previous cars good looks; it now has aggressive dark angular headlights with integrated led daytime running lights and a wider grill. The rear also received new light clusters with an arrow shaped lighting pattern.
From the driver’s seat it’s easy to tell that you are sat in one of the more special models. The three-spoke, flat bottomed steering wheel looks great with its FR badging as do the new materials used which feel classier than ever. The dashboard itself is well designed and angled towards the driver with its buttons grouped together for ease of use. The leather seats fitted are very comfortable and well contoured for enthusiastic driving with red stitching which extends to the DSG gear shifter. There are also racy looking dials and plenty of storage spaces for oddments.
Cabin space is befitting of the Coupe name with its low roof line which reduces the amount of space in the back for taller passengers. Despite front seats that pivot and slide forward a long way to ease access once in the back legroom is severely restricted, a middle seat belt is also very optimistic.
Getting comfortable in the front is easy with plenty of seat adjustment and a two-way adjustable steering column. The passenger seat in our car also adjusts for height too. Space is also good although the passenger will find the dashboard juts out quite a bit meaning the seat needs to be pushed further back than in similar cars.
The FR comes very well equipped for the task in hand with standard fit Cruise control, LED rear light clusters, Sports suspension, ESP, 16” alloy wheels (optional 17” on our car), Digital air conditioning, Electric/heated/power fold mirrors, Portable TomTom sat nav and best of all an XDS electronic differential lock.
Intended to be a milder warm hatch compared to the 180 bhp Cupra (that’s on its way) you could be thinking the FR will fail to excite in the same way. You would be wrong. It’s actually powered by the same 1.4 litre TSi engine that is not only has a turbo but is also supercharger. It produces 30 bhp less than the Cupra but at 150 bhp is still plenty powerful.
Thanks to the ultra-high-tech 7-speed DSG (dual clutch) gearbox (the only transmission available) acceleration is rapid with 60mpg reached in just 7.6 seconds. The transmissions ability to change gear so quickly means that it feels much quicker. Power is also readily available thanks to the thoughtful changes, it’s a gearbox that always selects the right gear at the right time. Handily there is also the option of Sport Mode which makes the most of the engines rev-happy nature for even quicker progress. Drivers who want more control can also swap cogs manually by pushing the shifted forward or backwards but there is little benefit to doing this
The FR rides surprisingly well considering its Sports suspension, initial damping is excellent dealing with undulations in the road with ease. Larger road imperfections highlight the cars stiffer spring rates but it never loses composure always feeling taught and controlled.
As a result the Ibiza really handles with well contained body movements and a great feeling of fluidity through any series of corners. Turn-in is also crisp with steering that feels suitably meaty during cornering. Keen drivers will however find themselves wanting more from the steering it terms of feel but it’s almost there.
Front end grip feels endless thanks to the XDS electronic differential lock which juggles power between the front wheels. Only when pushed really hard do the limits of the chassis become obvious as the rear loses grip but everything is kept nicely in check by the standard fit stability program.
With so much power on offer from what seems like a small 1390cc engine most wouldn’t expect low running costs but the Ibiza delivers on that front also. Fuel economy is nothing short of outstanding at 47.9mph combined; we managed a pretty decent 42mpg whilst with us. Emissions are also competitive at 139g/km which equates to £110 per year in road tax. In our eyes the FR is also well priced at £15,875 on the road considering the amount of standard equipment including the truly brilliant DSG Gearbox.
Words and Photos by Rob McSorley
Price as tested: £15,875
Engine: 1.4 16v 150bhp - 0-62mph: 7.6secs - Maximum Speed: 132mph -
Economy: 37.7mpg (urban) –55.4mpg (extra-urban), 47.9mpg (combined) - Emissions: 139g/km (Band E) - VED (12 months): £110
Dimensions: Length: 4066mm - Width: 1693mm - Height: 1424mm - Wheelbase: 2469mm
*data from Seat UK
The Verdict
The Ibiza FR is a truly exciting little hatchback. In 1.4 TSi 150bhp form it offers the kind of acceleration you would expect from warm hatch and thanks to the superb 7-speed DSG gearbox the power on offer is always ready and waiting. Despite the performance running costs are low but there is still plenty of fun to be had. The handling although not as pin sharp as some rivals is still deeply impressive. We wish the steering had a little more feel but otherwise there is little to fault on the road. There will however always be purists that will yearn for a manual gearbox for the ultimate experience. Some rivals offer more interior space for rear passengers and a bigger boot but none can turn heads like the Ibiza. The FR is a high quality, fun hatchback that certainly makes you question the purpose of the marginally faster Cupra model that will be launched in the coming months.
You will like;
-High tech gearbox
-Ride/handling balance
-Economy
-Performance
-Styling
You won’t like;
-Interior space
-Lack of steering feel
All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob Mcsorley (mrrobertmcsorley@gmail.com).
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