Ibiza 1.4 SE - a terrible car?

[naxtek]

While the engine was being replaced in my Bocanegra I had a facelifted 1.4 SE as a courtesy car. I was shocked by what a terrible car it was!?! No wonder SEAT are in trouble...

You might think I'm used to the Bocanegra so it's not surprising I didn't like it, but I also regularly drive my girlfriend's Hyundai i20 1.4 Active and that's a FAR better car than the standard Ibiza. She nearly got a 1.4 Ibiza SE when she ended up getting her Hyundai and I'm really glad she got the latter after driving the former for a week.

The 1.4 in the Hyundai produces more peak power (100ps vs 85ps) but it also has much more torque low end compared to the Ibiza meaning it's a much nicer car to drive. Pulling onto roundabouts while still moving in 2nd is a breeze in the Hyundai. In the Ibiza it's scary because the engine just doesn't pick up at all from low revs. The Hyundai is more comfortable, has more features (folding heated mirrors, bluetooth). I know it's subjective but I much prefer the feel to the steering and major controls in the Hyundai too.

The gear knob and handbrake lever in the SEAT... what were they thinking? It's like one team designed the interior, but a separate team altogether was tasked with designing the gear knob and hand brake lever and they weren't allowed to talk to each other. And rather than actually design it, they just slacked off on a friday afternoon and got some "classy" Richbrook items from Halfords.

The only thing I liked about the SEAT was the feel of some of the materials (particularly the leather steering wheel) is a little bit nicer. That's it.

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone who has got one, but it's one of the most disappointing cars I've ever driven...

 

[matthab]

No wonder SEAT are in trouble...

Abit of a sweeping statement. Seat are actually doing very well at the moment.

You are comparing a base spec Seat with a middle/high ground Korean hatch. Its like comparing Apples with Oranges. The Seat is base spec and doesnt sell its self for anything more. Just because its not as fast isnt a reason. Many people drive with far less. However if you compare a middle spec Seat Ibiza with the i20 it will piss all over it, that is of course forgetting the price difference.

Ive driven the i20 and its a terrible car. Yes it has a lot of kit but my god after 2 hours in it I wanted to kill my self. No i didnt have my Cupra then, I still had my MK4. The Koreans have really upped their game but the cars they produce still have flaws and funny quirks.

 

[lawrieIbizaMk4]

I had an i20 courtesy car once and hated every single second of it! Not driven the base spec Ibiza so can't compare to that. But as said above, seat are definitely not in trouble lol

 

[Bobanegra]

I haven't driven an Ibiza 1.4 SE to be able to comment but I've had a couple of Hyundais (i20 & i30) as courtesy cars and they were up there with the worst cars I've had the displeasure of driving.

 

[naxtek]

Interesting comments. Maybe I'm wrong about SEAT being in trouble... last I heard they weren't doing anywhere near as well as their VAG stablemates.

Anyway I don't think I'm comparing apples with oranges. Both are in the same class size-wise. Both are very similar money to buy (about 9 grand after discounts when we were looking a few months back). The SE spec Ibiza is not base. If you look at the range:

E
S A/C
Ecomoitive
SE
FR
Cupra

It's slap bang in the middle. If you take out the "sporty" ones (FR and Cupra) it's actually the highest of the "normal" spec cars.

If you look at the Hyundai range, the Active model is the mid-level trim. So not really different in my books...


Also, I don't mind it not being fast. The Ibiza was perfectly spritely enough when you wound it up - but it just didn't have the low down torque or response of the i20 to get you out of trouble when you need it! It felt like such an old fashioned engine in its power delivery.


I'd be interested to know why nobody liked the i20? What are the quirks you mention? I know some early Kias and Hyundais had the indicator and wiper stalks the wrong way round, but that hasn't been the case for a long time...

 

[naxtek]

I should add that the Ibiza, while being less powerful and responsive, is also in a higher tax band and is less economical.

 

[lucifer666]

I completely agree........I had an SE COPA as a courtesy car which was made out to be a more stylish SE. Did a review of it on here about a year ago. Think i recall using the words "gutless" "outdated" "dull" to describe it. And on my well driven route(230miles) it achieved 2mpg less than my 1.4tsi.(and no i wasn't thrashing it). Only decent thing was the boot space and rear seat space for the little one and the handling felt quite good too.

 

[The Pielander]

I had a 1.4 Ibiza as a courtesy car for 2 weeks last August while my Cupra had a new engine fitted and it was the enjoyment I had from driving a 'back to basics' car that prompted me to trade the Cupra in albeit for a 1.2 tsi Ibiza ST. OK it isn't the same as the 1.4 85 BHP Ibiza but I find myself enjoying driving it more than I did the Cupra. There's nothing to prove, no hassle and making progress is all about keeping up momentum rather than out and out power. I think the smaller engined car is a more fun drive.

 

[lucifer666]

my father has a 1.2tsi fabia monte carlo.....................200% better than the 1.4 in the SE. Its quick to spool and is a nippy little thing. Its only at higher speeds you notice the size of the engine.

 

[naxtek]

I had a 1.4 Ibiza as a courtesy car for 2 weeks last August while my Cupra had a new engine fitted and it was the enjoyment I had from driving a 'back to basics' car that prompted me to trade the Cupra in albeit for a 1.2 tsi Ibiza ST. OK it isn't the same as the 1.4 85 BHP Ibiza but I find myself enjoying driving it more than I did the Cupra. There's nothing to prove, no hassle and making progress is all about keeping up momentum rather than out and out power. I think the smaller engined car is a more fun drive.

Completely agree about the smaller engines being fun thing. You really can have just as much fun as in a high power car - sometimes more! I loved some of the old bangers my girlfriend had while she was a student - a mk1 Clio 1.2, Fiesta 1.25 etc.

But I still stand by the fact that the 1.4 Ibiza is poor.

As someone else said, I think the 1.2 TSI will be a different beast altogether. I've never driven one, but if it's anything like other modern turbo engines I've driven recently, there will be loads of useful power available right through the rev range. And that's my biggest gripe about the 1.4 Ibiza - power delivery is terrible. It does nothing unless you get half way up the rev range.

 

[deanz cupra tdi]

I can't see the point in them making the 1.4 now they do the 1.2tsi it's an amazing little engine. For all of you that haven't driven the 1.2tsi you will be surprised

 

[Copey]

The 1.2tsi is a much better blend of perfotmance and economy, the 1.4n/a has allways been a pretty dull engine for VAG group cars, no torque and poor on fuel.

Im sorry but there aint no replacement for pure power, allways puts smile on my face anyway.

 

[Ben-ibizaFR]

Seat had there best year in 2012 !!

 

[t.oldaker]

I LOVE my 1.4 SC Ibiza

 

[Wimbledonian]

I have driven an 'S' trim Ibiza and an Altea with that BXW (same year) engine and would actually say it felt worse in the lighter car!

 

[ayacoub92]

a boy had one of these at college. had a shot of it and it felt a bit sluggish. still liked it though. is it an 8v engine? always felt 85bhp was very poor from a 1.4. my x reg 1.4 clio had 97bhp and felt like a rocket compared to the ibiza lol

 

[t.oldaker]

a boy had one of these at college. had a shot of it and it felt a bit sluggish. still liked it though. is it an 8v engine? always felt 85bhp was very poor from a 1.4. my x reg 1.4 clio had 97bhp and felt like a rocket compared to the ibiza lol

Think its a 16v by memory and yeh it has first gear lag which is annoying until you get used to it.

 

[G.P]

It felt like such an old fashioned engine in its power delivery.


I'd be interested to know why nobody liked the i20?

To be fair, it is an old engine, that said, it's a reliable unit.

For me the I20 seat just does not suit me or my wife, Koreans don't quite get the lumber support in the correct place, the car also gives the impression your sat on the car and not in it as the seat does not adjust very low down within the car, also doesn't quite corner as well as others...

 

[insanejim69]

a boy had one of these at college. had a shot of it and it felt a bit sluggish. still liked it though. is it an 8v engine? always felt 85bhp was very poor from a 1.4. my x reg 1.4 clio had 97bhp and felt like a rocket compared to the ibiza lol

Got to agree, I can't believe that 1.4 only produces 85ps ..... But TBF ..... I have driven a new style corsa with a 1.4 n/a engine and jesus how slow. I couldn't believe the lack of power or any kind of movement in the car unless the throttle was fully pressed.

Yet I remember around 8 year ago now, when I worked at a Jaguar dealership we had a pool car , and was a 2002 Nissan Micra 1.2 S ..... and what a cracking little fun car that was, engine was revvy as hell, and the wee thing got literally thrashed everywhere and never ever had a single issue in the 3 years the garage had the car. Was also really really fun to just throw around town. And the best part was it wasn't trying to be something it wasn't. It was a cheap fun car that was cheap to run, that was it.

James

 

[jaybro187]

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone who has got one, but it's one of the most disappointing cars I've ever driven...

ive got a 10 plate 1.4 5dr sport 85 ps and you havent offended me you couldnt be more wrong. i love to look at it especially the mods ive done but the power and petrol consumption is ridiculous. ive mentioned it before so wont go on but for that its the worse car ive ever had. my previous was 1.2 clio turbo 100ps and that had bite and means i could drive it harder and faster and even that had better mpg