Car Statistics: Seat - Ibiza Series 08 (3 stars)

Styling (4 stars)

Even in a class where style is crucial, the Ibiza has what it takes to stand out from the crowd. The five-door hatch is a very smart little thing, but buyers who value looks above all else also have the option of the sharper still three-door Sport Coupe. The estate is less attractive, but still avoids the boxy image of equally practical rivals.

Handling (3 stars)

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the way the Ibiza drives or goes round corners - it's grippy, stable and very safe. Trouble is that's probably not what people want from a company that has been billed as the VW Group's equivalent of Alfa Romeo. You can't help feeling there's a bit too much VW in this Seat, because it doesn't feel sharp or provide much in the way of feedback to the driver. Even the FR and Cupra models lack sparkle.

Comfort (3 stars)

One side effect of trying to make a car feel sporty can be compromised ride quality. Even the base version seems to fidget nervously on the motorway, while the Cupra's stiff suspension struggles to keep up with changing conditions of the average British B road.

Quality (4 stars)

In this respect, there is some obvious benefit from the VW Group's influence. The Ibiza is a really well built car that uses good-quality materials, and everything resonates with the usual VW real world resilience.

Performance (4 stars)

We have no complaints at base of the Ibiza range: the 1.2 does a perfectly good job for an entry-level car, and the 1.6 makes a decent stab at being a warm hatch. The one disappointment is the 1.4, which in our experience felt rather lacklustre, and not worth the extra money over the 1.2. The FR model gets the most powerful diesel engine in its class, but is not as exciting as it might have been. The Cupra model benefits from VW's 180bhp 1.4 TSI engine, but the DSG gearbox isn't great.

Roominess (4 stars)

The Ibiza goes straight to the top of the supermini charts for accommodation. It has plenty of space in the front for a couple of six-footers in the front, and while you might struggle to get another two in the back, you could certainly get four adults in this car. The boot, too, is an excellent size, particularly on the estate version, which has a low lip on the entry for ease of loading.

Costs (4 stars)

The first three petrol models are reasonably fuel-efficient. All return more than 40mpg, with the 1.2 seeing 47.8mpg on the combined cycle. The entry model is also the cheapest to insure. Seat claims the FR 2.0 TDI is capable of 47mpg and will squeeze into Group 8. Even the range-topping Cupra should return over 40mpg thanks to its small capacity engine.

Value (4 stars)

The Ibiza range starts off at a competitive price, although you do need to spend a bit more to get air-conditioning. However, across the range the Ibiza rates well against its opposition and even the more expensive models are very competitive.

Stereo (4 stars)

Every model has a six-speaker radio/CD player that gives a decent sound, and you can specify a combined optional USB/iPod connection for less than £100. One of the neatest bits of design in the Ibiza is the optional cradle that you can specify to hold a Tom Tom sat-nav unit. This allows the portable unit to be mounted directly into the dash without leaving wires trailing all over the cabin.