Category: Superminis 
Price Range: No data available
Fine handling; five-star Euro NCAP score; good ride; DSG option; Ecomotive version on the way
Noisy and unrefined engines; iffy quality; sense of cost-cutting
Nice chassis, good safety, shame about the engines. Disappointing.
Seat is following the lead of Mercedes in calling its three-door Ibiza hatchback a Sport Coupe - and as with the C-Class, it's a bit of a misnomer. It's not a real coupe, for a start - and neither is it particularly sporty, at least as yet, as its all-new, responsive and well-engineered chassis is let down by the selection of dated and underpowered engines on offer.
However, though the three-door Ibiza will be available with only the 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines from launch (September 2008), next year come the much-anticipated hotted up FR (150bhp-plus) and Cupra (200bhp-plus) versions, both featuring the turbocharged, direct-injection 1.4 TFSI engine. Also on the way are 1.4 TDI and 1.9 TDI diesels, including an Ecomotive version delivering less than 100g/km of carbon dioxide.
The Ibiza shares its underpinnings with the latest Skoda Fabia and next year's Volkswagen Polo, and as with the Fabia range, there will be a mini-estate (2010). Seat is also considering an Ibiza roadster or convertible, which should put some pizazz into an otherwise underwhelming line-up.
