Used SEAT Ibiza cars for sale

Used SEAT Ibiza pros and cons

Is a second hand SEAT Ibiza a good car?

The SEAT Ibiza is a small hatchback that clearly takes inspiration from some of the great Spanish footballers who’ve come to these shores. Like them, it fits in well in the UK, plays a strong game, and is certainly versatile. It’s also handsome, as are all Spanish footballers (obviously).

Indeed it’s so good looking that when SEAT gave the Ibiza updates in 2021 and 2023, it actually didn’t really bother changing the exterior styling much at all. The Ibiza shares its mechanical bits and its engines with the VW Polo and the Skoda Fabia, but it’s by far the best-looking one of the bunch. 

Inside, if you can track down a high-spec model, there’s a high-quality cabin with a usefully simple touchscreen, and some nice trim touches — body-coloured air vents, soft-touch materials — which can make the Ibiza feel more expensive than it is. Basic models look and feel too plain, though, and there’s plenty of cheap plastic once you start looking around. 

The front seats are generally good, with plenty of adjustment but there’s not even an optional lumbar support, so long journeys can induce a bit of backache. Only the top-spec models get a centre armrest. 

Early basic models came with a tiny touchscreen — like having an iPhone 4 glued to the dashboard — but more recently the Ibiza has gained a decent eight-inch touchscreen which comes with all the toys you need, such as DAB radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections. Up-spec modes stretch that screen out of 9.2-inches, and that comes with built-in sat-nav and digital dials too (although there’s nothing wrong with the simple and clear analogue dials of cheaper models).

By small hatchback standards, the Ibiza is decently roomy in the back, so even six-footers can squeeze in comfortably, although very tall people will find that legroom gets a little tight. Still, it’s roomier than an equivalent Ford Fiestas, and there’s a good sized boot too. The back seats fold almost totally flat if you need to carry larger items, and there’s a false floor so you can stash anything precious safely out of sight. The Ibiza also gets some nice hooks so you can dangle your shopping bags and stop them sliding about. 

Early on, this generation of the Ibiza could be had with the 150hp 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine — a terrific choice if you need something refined and with good punch for longer journeys — but more recently, the range has been trimmed down to the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine in three different forms — 80hp, 95hp, and 110hp. 

The 95hp, with its turbocharger, is the most efficient (the 80hp is a bit underpowered) and can easily beat 45mpg in daily driving. The 110hp makes most sense for those who need to do regular long journeys, and optionally it came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is great if you’re spending lots of time in town. That 110hp version has a standard six-speed manual gearbox, while the other two make do with five-speed manuals. 

Later models also got upgraded safety systems including automatic emergency braking, so it’s worth spending a bit extra to get a newer Ibiza if safety is high on your mind. All Ibizas are good to drive, with sharp steering and good handling, but none is what you’d call especially sporty. 

What to look for when buying a used SEAT Ibiza

The Ibiza is generally a very well-made and reliable car — SEAT has a good reputation in this area — but there are a few common issues. Most revolve around fault engine sensors, which can trigger erroneous warning lights, and which can be tricky to fix as the issue is often intermittent. The handbrake can also be a problem area, and there was a common issue with engine oil getting into the brake servo. SEAT also seems to have an issue with relatively thin paint, which seems to attract stone chips and damage more easily than others. 

The Ibiza didn’t place in the Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, but the mechanically-identical Arona small SUV did, and finished in a decent 26th position. Seat didn’t do quite so well as a brand, though, finishing in 23rd out of 32 manufacturers in the overall customer satisfaction survey, with 25% of owners reporting problems with their cars.