Tested: Seat Ibiza Cupra
Hot hatches are something magical and that for various reasons that you all know, create a sort of addiction, accessible for every wallets. Deftly mixing a youthful and fun look,with a sporty handling, it is not as easy as it seems. And the more you downsize, the more it becomes difficult to maintain the good level that make a proper “small hot hatch” suitable for everyday driving, but also for speeding, maybe on the track the weekend, the second aspect that represents their twin soul. It’s a matter of heart, but also of the rationality of a compact car. The new Seat Ibiza Cupra, which hit the roads in 2013, has every intention of being taken seriously, trying to abandon that younger sister (and poor) stereotype of the VW Polo GTI. Cupra, which stands for “Cup Racer”, is the well-known sports department of the brand and the boys in question, are top guys (check Cupra Race cars, ndr). The little Ibiza, which targets cars like the Swift Sport, Corsa OPC & company, is like a gritty compact car, suitable for any situation. A sober dress, maybe slightly impersonal, but with a powerful 1.4 TSI 180 horsepower engine, which combined with the 7-speed DSG automatic transmission, make it a bowler, always ready to entertain when there is a chance. For some, the fact that manual transmission it’s not available, could be a handicap, but in reality, this mechanical limitation, just goes to symbolize how Seat intends to impose its little car for urban areas, where an automatic transmission will certainly be more comfortable. At the same time, on track, the dual clutch fastest performance, will help you reaching the 0-100 kph in 6.9 seconds and the maximum speed of 229 kph. The light weight, just 1.100kg, and front-wheel drive, make the Ibiza Cupra a fast friend of leisure, although a lazy steering does not guarantee the primacy over its opponents. Driving it was nice and I appreciated the grip and the communicative feeling you constantly have, also thanks to the XDS differential that, by operating the brake on the inside wheel, avoid understeer when cornering. The interior, though very simple, is decent and quite silent. In short, the first step is a fun and not at all bad Seat, that with less than € 25,000, come home with with parking sensors, 17″ wheels and other options available, making it a viable alternative. The point, by the way, for what little that changes, is that I still prefer the Polo GTI.
Jessica Landi
Seat Ibiza Cupra
Layout – front-engined, front-wheel-drive
Engine – 4 cylinder 1.390cc
Transmission – 7-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 180 hp / 249 Nm
Weight – 1172 kg
Acceleration – 6,9 sec.
Top Speed – 229 kph
Price – from 23.000 €