Supermini Estates aren't that common but still manage to make sense.
Motors went to Barcelona to test drive the third variation in the SEAT Ibiza range, the ST, which is SEAT-speak for an estate car. The standard five-door Ibiza is a good little machine and the three-door version is quite sporty looking, too, so how will an estate version be received?
It's very hard to make a small estate look desirable and while SEAT has done a good job with the little Ibiza ST, it is hardly as attractive as, say, an Audi Avant when compared to its siblings.
But the ST does have a few design features that are pleasing to the eye.
The ST is longer than the hatchback at 4.23m (+18cm); it's the same height and features wider opening rear doors for easier access. The rear-end of the ST features a wide tailgate that opens to reveal a low loading floor (59cm off the ground) and 430 litres of standard boot space - that's very good for a Supermini. Fold down the seats and you get a whopping 1164 litres of cargo space. There is seating for five at a push, so it is clearly a practical machine.
Inside the Ibiza ST is very well built. There is a quality feel that is very VW - and it should be as so many of its parts are straight from VW. It sits on a brand new VW family platform, so we know the Spanish firm means business.
The cabin is quiet and there is a big car feel to the interior that will surprise you. There is a nice level of driver focus and the driving position is great.
There are three diesels and three petrol engines from launch but Ireland will be taking just two diesels and two petrol versions when the car comes in September/October.
First up is the new star of the range: a 1.2-litre TDi that pushes out 75bhp and 180nm of torque. It can do 0-100km/h in 14.5 seconds and can deliver an average fuel consumption of just 3.9 litres per 100km travelled and it sits in tax band 'A' with emissions of 104g/km of CO2. On the road it is quiet and refined. The petrol 3-cyclinder 1.2 will make up 50% of sales and is very eager and fun to drive. For low mileage users this is the car to go for but if you do any sort of higher mileage the 1.2 TDi makes a huge amount of sense. The 1.6 TDi feels almost indulgent after driving the two 1.2-litre versions. With 105bhp and 250nm of torque this is the version for the serious estate user who needs a bit more zip.
Finally, the 105bhp TSi petrol is the range topper and despite being available with the excellent 7-speed DSG gearbox didn't feel quite right in the ST. Yes, it is reasonably quick (0-100km/h in 10 seconds), but the brakes weren't as strong as I'd have liked and I don't expect this version to sell in any sort of numbers.
Spanish car maker SEAT is marketed as the youthful/sporty brand of the VW family. The one-time maker of re-badged FIATs not so long ago, it is now a solid member of the VW group and has excellent machines in the Leon, Altea and Ibiza. VW Group has eight brands: Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Skoda,VW commercials and, of course, SEAT.
If you need a compact estate, Ibiza ST is worth a closer look.
Michael Sheridan
