I'd missed the announcement so only recently noticed the Ibiza ST has had a facelift - and now they offer it as an FR with the 1.4TSI / DSG combo, albeit in 150bhp form. Also Monte-Carlo-like FR versions with the 1.2 TSI or 1.6 105 TDI.

http://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews/article/7099/-/2012-SEAT-Ibiza+ST/First+drive+-+1.4+TSI+FR+DSG.html

http://www.girlracer.co.uk/motoring/road-tests/12800-seat-ibiza-first-drive.html

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/282868/seat_ibiza_st_16_tdi_fr.html

Good to have some more choice of small fast-ish estates. I think it looks great.

Differences I can see from vRS estate:

- no Maxidot

- no MDI

- cruise control is standard

- much more sensible 12v and aux in position

- 16" wheels (17" optional)

- spare wheel is optional, not standard.

- hill hold control & TPS are options, not standard.

- neat TomTom bracket/wiring on upper dash (a £40 option)

- leather interior an option (not bad value at £900, which includes the winter pack of heated seats etc that's £340 on it's own)

- no DAB radio option! (boooo, I could have been very tempted if that were the case)

Good value though, list is £17085 before options, or £750 cheaper than the Skoda.

Was very tempted, but my order went in before it was announced...cargo area is smaller as well on the Ibiza. Performance not that far behind the Fabia as it weighs a bit less...

Read the title with interest,

then read the text and i thought, 'thats not a rival',

just an alternative VAG estate that is 'giving you less of everything for less money'.

george

Read the title with interest,

then read the text and i thought, 'thats not a rival',

just an alternative VAG estate that is 'giving you less of everything for less money'.

george

I agree - less power and less toys but its not less money - the Fabia vRS Estate starts at £17,110 otr...

It does look fantastic though.

Really?

I'm not convinced - but then the vRS Estate looks better than the hatch si I may be biased!

I agree - less power and less toys but its not less money - the Fabia vRS Estate starts at £17,110 otr...

£17,840 otr now.

Horses for courses....

The SEAT also has lower emmissions (so lower tax) being the 150PS lump.

Its the sort of car they'd put up against the vRS Estate though - not much else in the "small hot estate" category,is there??

£17,840 otr now.

They put it up!

Horses for courses....

The SEAT also has lower emmissions (so lower tax) being the 150PS lump.

Its the sort of car they'd put up against the vRS Estate though - not much else in the "small hot estate" category,is there??

Mini Clubman S?

That's about it

It has more space than a 3 series Touring so could count that

OK..something with an even number of side doors? ...or even ones you can use independently??

Audi A1 Sportback comes with the 1.4 engine.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/277363/audi_a1_sportback.html

Doesn't count - still a hatchback, same space as a hatch Fabia vRS and £3k more expensive

Prefer the Fabia!

The ST is nice, but it's more of a jumbo hatch/ sport back than an estate.

Horses for courses....

The SEAT also has lower emmissions (so lower tax) being the 150PS lump.

Its the sort of car they'd put up against the vRS Estate though - not much else in the "small hot estate" category,is there??

Ye but how much less tax? enough to spec it up to the standard VRS estate?

I quiet like the look of that, but boy has the ibiza got big over the years, it used to be a very small car and that almost looks Octavia sized. I guess its based on the new platform, so thats why its larger with decent rear legroom and big boot.

Ye but how much less tax? enough to spec it up to the standard VRS estate?

2% in terms of a company car....which is about 10% of the total tax paid. In my case (not the same as everyone elses) the standard spec of either is fine. Toys (to me) are a bonus rather than a necessity...

I quiet like the look of that, but boy has the ibiza got big over the years, it used to be a very small car and that almost looks Octavia sized. I guess its based on the new platform, so thats why its larger with decent rear legroom and big boot.

You say bigger but side by side the Fabia estate is bigger... more rear headroom and more boot space.

The Ibiza hatch is a lot smaller than the Fabia too.

Edited 4 May, 201214 yr by Ad Lav

So to even these up with the sort of spec I'd buy - at DTD prices, a vRS estate with climatronic, cruise, armrest, rear parking sensors and bluetooth is £16784.

An Ibiza ST with 17" wheels, bluetooth, climate, hill hold + TPM, rear parking sensors is £16527.

As I say though, good to have some competition. The only other small estate I can think of is the Clio ST and the fastest one they do has 111bhp with an old-style slushbox auto.

http://www.whatcar.c...177#Performance

Rough comparison but the Ibiza's FR ST model isn't available to choose yet.

Clio below

http://www.whatcar.com/Review/EditionCompare?newOrUsed=New&makeId=22922&modelId=22923&editionId=34039&makeId1=22381&modelId1=22574&editionId1=34843&makeId2=18501&modelId2=19373&editionId2=36727#Performance

Edited 4 May, 201214 yr by Ad Lav

The deciding factor might be if you can get the Ibiza in less than 9 months....

Depends how pushed the Spanish are I know its not as nicer place to be in - cheaper for a reason!

I see you have a race blue estate ordered, did you go for any wheel options or standard silver?

Stock silver. Parking sensors and paint are the only options (depends if anything quicker delivery comes up, though, but thats out of my hands).

Yep - the Furby is a nicer cockpit, even with the latest tweaks to the Ibiza (looked at one almost 3 years ago before plumping for the Scirooco). Rear end looks a lot tidier on the Furby as well...much less "look what we glued on"..

Ah, should have gone for black wheels!

I kicked myself for buying white but then I prefer mine with the chrome pack - black pack suits black, green and blue cars best. Would make my car look like a panda!

I like the Panda look :p