Seat Ibiza SC Cupra 1.4 TSI 3dr Car Review - May 2013

The SEAT Ibiza SC Cupra 1.4 TSI 3dr is powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine allied to a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, producing 178bhp and 184lb-ft of torque at 2000rpm, giving the car a 0-62mph time of a not-to-be sniffed 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 142mph. It delivers that pace with a well-controlled driving experience from supportive suspension, and although the steering is a little wooly, the Cupra is a car which can provide thrills when driven aggressively. The driving position is comfortable and the dash well-considered, although the high bottom line of the rear window does hinder the rear view.

The Ibiza SC Cupra boasts power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric windows, cruise control, leather seats, alarm and immobiliser, and a CD player with MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and satellite navigation as standard, an equipment list which compares favourably against rivals such as the Peugeot 208 GTi. That list can be added to with optional extras including electric sunroof for £490, metallic paint for £450, and rear parking sensors for just £215. The Cupra will also give its hot hatch rivals a run for their money in the looks department too, with sharp lines and a poised stance adding to its sporty credentials.

The SEAT Ibiza SC Cupra 1.4 TSI 3dr comes with driver, passenger, and front side airbags, and is fitted as standard with stability control, a feature that is an optional extra on entry level models in the Seat Ibiza SC range. Rear seat ingress and egress is a little more of an involved process than in some of its rivals, and the 236-litre boot capacity is less than that of both its rivals and other models in the Seat Ibiza SC range. It does have the redeeming feature of split folding rear seats however. The SEAT Ibiza range brings with it an above average rating from last years JD Power customer satisfaction survey, something which should give new buyers peace of mind regarding reliability and ownership experience.

The SEAT Ibiza SC Cupra boasts a sub seven second 0-62mph time, which makes its performance comparable to the similarly priced Peugeot 208 GTi. The Cupra is marginally cheaper to buy new at £18,570, and has the edge with its list of standard equipment. It's neck-and-neck on running costs, with the rivals both boasting a combined fuel economy figure of 47.9mpg and 139g/km of CO2 emissions, but crucially the SEAT edges it with a lower insurance group, 27 as opposed to the Peugeot’s 30. While there is little to separate the two, it at least means the SEAT Ibiza SC Cupra 1.4 TSI 3dr is a serious contender in its sector, but it will largely come down to a matter of personal choice.