There have been many threads about this and I read all of them before I picked a 1.4, I then spent 3 years wondering (and still reading) about the difference and whether I'd made the right choice. So when the 3 years was up I changed it for a 1.8. I've now been driving this for 7 months and thought I'd share what seems to be a rare perspective from someone who has done more than just a dealer test drive in each.
For completeness, the 1.4 was a 2015 FR ACT 150 technology;
The 1.8 is a 2018 (so post facelift) FR 180 technology. Both were 5 door manuals with 18" rims.
I live in Cornwall so most of my driving is country roads.
Brakes: The 1.8 has bigger brakes, apparently, I've never noticed the difference.
Suspension: The 1.8 has multi link rear suspension, the 1.4 a torsion beam. I've not noticed the difference even on the rough country roads, in fact the 1.8 seems stiffer over the town centre speed bumps.
Engine: The 1.4 is a beautifully refined and surprisingly powerful emgine. It pulls from low revs up to around 4000RPM, after this it feels a bit breathless and drops off. The 1.8 feels much quicker, it pulls up to the red line and beyond and revs so freely that it can catch me out when overtaking. When I realise, it's still quite happily accelerating. The 1.8 is a bit louder and it makes a beautiful noise the harder you rev it, the 1.4 is so refined you can barely hear it. The 1.4 was probably slightly nippier around town as the power came in a little earlier.
Economy: I got a long term average of 41.x mpg in the 1.4. I currently have a long term average of 36.x in the 1.8.
Verdict: On paper there's hardly any difference, in practice the 1.8 feels quicker and more fun to drive and makes a better noise! You pay the price in fuel economy so it really depends what you want. The 1.4 is probably the best all rounder, with both reasonable performance and economy. The 1.4 was a great car but didn't quite scratch my itch, if I had to choose again it would be the 1.8 (or the new 2.0 190).
Maybe I should have just gone for a Cupra!
For completeness, the 1.4 was a 2015 FR ACT 150 technology;
The 1.8 is a 2018 (so post facelift) FR 180 technology. Both were 5 door manuals with 18" rims.
I live in Cornwall so most of my driving is country roads.
Brakes: The 1.8 has bigger brakes, apparently, I've never noticed the difference.
Suspension: The 1.8 has multi link rear suspension, the 1.4 a torsion beam. I've not noticed the difference even on the rough country roads, in fact the 1.8 seems stiffer over the town centre speed bumps.
Engine: The 1.4 is a beautifully refined and surprisingly powerful emgine. It pulls from low revs up to around 4000RPM, after this it feels a bit breathless and drops off. The 1.8 feels much quicker, it pulls up to the red line and beyond and revs so freely that it can catch me out when overtaking. When I realise, it's still quite happily accelerating. The 1.8 is a bit louder and it makes a beautiful noise the harder you rev it, the 1.4 is so refined you can barely hear it. The 1.4 was probably slightly nippier around town as the power came in a little earlier.
Economy: I got a long term average of 41.x mpg in the 1.4. I currently have a long term average of 36.x in the 1.8.
Verdict: On paper there's hardly any difference, in practice the 1.8 feels quicker and more fun to drive and makes a better noise! You pay the price in fuel economy so it really depends what you want. The 1.4 is probably the best all rounder, with both reasonable performance and economy. The 1.4 was a great car but didn't quite scratch my itch, if I had to choose again it would be the 1.8 (or the new 2.0 190).
Maybe I should have just gone for a Cupra!