I’ve always liked the SEAT Ibiza. Not because I own one, but because it’s a car that simply clicked with me. In fact, it happened long before my current car — my very first car was a first-generation Ibiza.
Yes, it was old. Really old. A 1989 model. I sorted out the mechanical issues, the body was still in decent shape, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed as a first car to learn proper driving.
But after just a few days, I realised there was something more. Call it chemistry, if you like. Sometimes a car just feels right, and it’s hard to explain why. The way it holds the road, the suspension, the engine, and, above all, its honest simplicity.
I realised there was something more. Call it chemistry
Years have passed, and today I still drive an Ibiza — this time a fourth-generation model. It has a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre BXW engine producing 85 hp, paired with a manual gearbox. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. There’s no turbo to worry about because there isn’t one. A full annual service costs me around €100.
Sure, on the motorway I can feel that the engine isn’t particularly powerful. But around 80% of my driving is in the city or the suburbs, where it feels perfectly adequate. Even in winter, fuel consumption stays between 6.0 and 6.5 litres per 100 km.
What’s more, my wife and I have taken it on proper road trips. Whether it was Italy, around 2,700 kilometres away, or Norway, roughly 3,400 kilometres, our Ibiza handled both journeys without any drama.
One more thing. I believe the SEAT Ibiza has its own character and philosophy. Perhaps that’s why each generation stays in production for so long — typically eight or nine years. The current fifth-generation Ibiza has been around since 2017, and SEAT doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to replace it.
It’s also a surprisingly conservative car. No electric version, no hybrid, and none of those fashionable touchscreen-heavy interiors that replace almost every physical control. It’s simple, practical, welcoming, and hardworking. And maybe that’s exactly why I like it so much.