Seat Ibiza Cupra: driving test and video
Posted on 28-12-2015 to 16:00 by CasperH – 22 Comments”
The Ibiza Cupra makes an end to downsizing. But it is also serious competition for the established order of hot hatchbacks?
[ First look, then read? Watch the video HERE! ]
The 1.4 TSI is kicked out in favour of the bigger, more powerful 1.8 TSI. And that is good news, because los of a hp gain of 12 pieces (192 now versus 180 previously), the Ibiza Cupra, especially over a much rianter torque. A total of 320 Nm, where the 1.4 with 250 Nm was set. In addition, that couple widely available, the maximum 320 Nm are delivered from 1450 to 4200 rpm.
With that kind of figures, it should be possible to drive cars like the Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTi and the Clio RS making life miserable, you might think. These cars are going now a couple of years, so you would expect that the newer Ibiza for a bit of unrest must ensure in the established order. Or is it all along?
Let’s start with the assessment of the appearance of the Ibiza Cupra. Appearance is indeed important, it comes in this compact class in addition to the actual performance also a little bit to how hard you can scream. The Ibiza Cupra looks especially from the front, nice and aggressive. The sharp lines of the standard Ibiza help there are, of course, but the front bumper looks also nice and thick. From the side we see new side skirts and big 17-inch wheels. In our case carried out in high-gloss black, a choice that I personally will never understand because it is a bit unfamiliar in combination with the tyres as the bandenvet there once. But that is a style choice, the design itself is nothing wrong. The back also has a nice thick bumper with a fine central exhaust. Or… wait. Seriously, Seat? We have now two slanted downward hanging tubes? It’s not dieseltje?
Small lapse, that exhaust, but the whole looks good if you ask me. The interior would of fact, I am quite a bit more exciting may be in a Cupra, it looks all very monotonous black. However, there are very nice chairs and everything is just in the right place, but a little more tension and had to guess. Funny detail: the shift knob has a Cupra different logo, and that the shifting pattern to the back of the lever has to move. Furthermore, there are some new materials used and is the steering wheel of the Leon Cupra acquired.
But the dearest, most important thing, of course, is how the jam runs. We depart in the morning from the heart of Barcelona, so we must first through some city traffic to navigate. That will effortless. The streets of Barca are littered with manhole covers and other challenges for the undercarriage, but despite the sporty tuning feels no moment unpleasant. However, let’s for now the Cupra Drive Profile for a moment in comfort, which means that the suspension is fairly subtle and the steering a little lighter.
Once outside the built-up areas the pace up. Seat reports that the Ibiza is able to sprint to 100 in 6,7 count, a reasonable value seems to us. The top speed of 235 we have not been able to test, but we have little reason to believe that it would not be feasible. The counter is in any case quick enough to grab let’s say 180. Harder we not able to drive.
The horsepower on the front wheels is distributed via XDS, an electronic version of a limited slip differential between the front wheels. Although it is fairly nicely to do its work, it is never so pleasant as a mechanical differential. It is a compromise, with financial background, because a real diff makes the Ibiza, of course, much more expensive.
What I still, however, something more disturbing is that the stumperhulpjes not completely out of can. We can have the ESP set-up that I have a little more freedom to get, but to completely shut down does not work. And that irritates. For a small hatchback like this I want that freedom to do have. I want to be in the snow endlessly handrembochtjes, lift-off oversteer can generate, the hooligan can hang. That goes with a car like this.
Why Seat me the system does not want to completely let off is a mystery to me, but they have a big bet at safety, so maybe that is it. To be honest: in practice, very few people have the desire to have the ESP off, so in the sales figures, they will there are very few brands with Seat. But about that safety spoken: standard vermoeidheidsdetectie, multi-collision brake, and tire pressure system present on the Ibiza Cupra.
Back to the drive. With the Cupra Drive Profile on the Sport is the suspension is a bit harder, which on the twisty roads around Barcelona sometimes is nice but sometimes just a tad uncomfortable. Only enable on smooth asphalt. The Cupra also sends in Comfort mode, not bad at all, the extra weight in the sport mode is purely due to the electronic excitation. Shifting is also nice, and as it should be: with a manual gearbox.
The balance in the car is nice and neutral and thanks to the wonderful brakes, you can really very late stop. Even after a lot of downhill rams on a by Seat in cooperation with the local police shut down stretch of mountain road (Gracias!) they give no shrinkage. As long as you are within the boundaries of the ESP remains, is it really a good stuurmanswagentje, not far removed from the fun of a Fiesta ST or 208 GTi can offer you. I think that I would even be preferable in my eyes just a little too adult Clio RS.
And although the 208 GTi and the Fiesta ST just a little bit more fun to drive, there is a very valid reason for a Ibiza Cupra to go shopping. That argument is the price: 23.950 euros. And that’s a lot cheaper than the competition, which is at least €2000 euro a bit more expensive. They had a mechanical differential in thrown and the ESP can be switched off completely, it was a no-brainer, but then the car has become more expensive. And so Seat is now a competitor that may be 5% less fun, but also almost 10% cheaper than the competition. Keuzestress, anyone? Movie!
Gallery: Seat Ibiza Cupra 2015
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