The Bolder GTI

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

VW is only introducing the new Polo GTI this year. The sister company from Spain is therefore allowed to slip into the pioneering role with the Ibiza Cupra, which the sporty small car definitely enjoys.

By Holger Holzer

A lot of power, driving fun and an aggressive look: The Seat Ibiza Cupra competes in the league of high-powered small cars as a cheekier alternative to the VW Polo GTI. At prices from 23,390 euros there is 132 kW / 180 hp and agile, but everyday driving behavior.

Sharpening the profile

The Seat Ibiza is a pioneer. For the first time in this series, the Spanish brand had first access to the Group's new generation of small car technology: the Ibiza was launched in mid-2008, while the Polo from the main VW brand did not follow suit until a year later. The Ibiza Cupra has also been around since last summer, around a year earlier than the VW Polo GTI. This should help the problem child in the VW Group's range of brands in sharpening its profile. Above all, they want to attract young customers with sporting ambitions and thereby set themselves apart from the sensible sister brand Skoda.

Even in the basic version, the Ibiza looks more snappy than a VW Polo or a Skoda Fabia. In the Cupra version, large honeycomb-shaped air inlets in matt black, five narrow slots under the radiator and black double headlights make the front view even more snappy than the standard model. At the rear there is a centrally positioned trapezoidal tailpipe, a diffuser and ventilation outlets behind the tires. There are also wide tires on 17-inch rims that reveal the red-painted brake callipers. The top version clearly stands out from its less motorized siblings, but never looks chubby or overly pimped.

Strong athlete heart

In addition, the two-seater can afford the sharpened look, because a strong athlete's heart beats under its hood. The 1.4-liter petrol engine from VW's TSI engine family has an impressive 132 kW / 180 hp output thanks to the compressor and turbocharger. A standard seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox directs this immediately and jaggedly to the front axle, where an electronic limited-slip differential prevents the wheels from spinning.

That can be necessary, because the maximum torque pulls the five-seater quite a lot forward. And that already at low speeds. The driving performance is almost suitable for a sports car: the sprint from zero to 100 km / h takes 7.2 seconds, the top speed is 225 km / h. The engine sound of the small power unit is surprisingly robust and rough, the four-cylinder engine only seems a bit strained at high revs. The manufacturer states that the consumption is 6.4 liters of super, but in practice it is hardly achievable. Around ten liters are more realistic.

Reason man among young savages

While driving, the little seat brings the power to the road quite calmly. The chassis is crisp, but not overly hard, the steering precise and not too direct. This means that longer journeys on the motorway are not unnecessarily exhausting. The previous generation of the Ibiza Cupra and competitors such as the Opel Corsa OPC or Fiat Grande Punto Abarth are much rougher.

The Seat with its high-tech engine and the Polo genes feels a little more mature and more suitable for everyday use, but also more sedate and synthetic. Among the young savages he is more of a rational person. The price is also rather adult. 23,390 euros are not a bargain and are even higher than that of the technically closely related VW Polo GTI, which costs 22,500 euros.

Not a bargain

In addition to the body parts and 17-inch rims, there is almost complete equipment with air conditioning, CD radio, sports seats, six airbags and cruise control. The Wolfsburg competitor is equipped much more economically, among other things has no radio on board in the basic version. The other competitors such as Mini Cooper S and Opel Corsa OPC are also at comparable price levels.

The bottom line is that the Seat Ibiza Cupra combines sportiness and suitability for everyday use in an exemplary manner. The little Spaniard is fun on the winding country road and doesn't spoil it on the highway or in city traffic. A high-performance small car with such a degree of maturity is not to be had cheaply. (mid)