The FR badging on the Seat Ibiza could equally stand for Frugal and Rapid as it could Formula Racing.
Seat has managed to squeeze its excellent 2-litre 143bhp TDI engine under the bonnet of its diminutive Ibiza, creating the only diesel hot hatch in its class – the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI.
Seat says it is alone in a niche with the new Seat Ibiza FR TDI, a car that boasts more torque than a Mini John Cooper Works and even a Porsche Cayman. But superlatives aside, is there more to this frugal warm hatch?
It’s a very important car for the German car maker. Stuart Milne travelled to Spain to put Audi’s largest vehicle through its paces.
Since the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe went on sale in 2006, it has been a solid seller, finding homes with those looking for a well-built but affordable mid-sized SUV.
For 2010, it’s had a nip, tuck and a new engine to freshen it up, but is it enough to keep its reputation as a quality product?
Car Specifications Model Tested
- Model tested: Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI 5-door
- Price as tested: £16,875 (£16,465 - £16,875)
- Insurance group as tested: TBC
- CO2 emissions as tested:119g/km
- CO2 emissions range:119g/km
- Company Car Tax: TBC
- EuroNCAP result: *****
- Date tested: February 2010, Barcelona, Spain
- On sale: March 2010
- Road tester: Stuart Milne
The Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI may wear all the accoutrements of a hot hatch, but it is the car’s running costs that really impress.
The punchy TDI returns a massive 61.4mpg while emitting just 119g/km – we struggle to think of another car that is as easy on the wallet while still able to raise the driver’s heartbeat.
It’s a huge improvement on the previous diesel FR – that featured a 130bhp 1.9-litre engine that lacked the refinement of the new common rail unit, but the new car still manages to be greener and quicker.
Out on the road this is immediately evident. It’s quiet at tickover and the cabin is free from vibration. On the move it’s a similar story, and at speed the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI reveals itself as a comfortable, surprisingly long-legged cruiser thanks to the laid-back, low-revving nature of the engine.
Pick it up by the scruff of the neck and its character changes, although the FR still has to be worked quite hard to get the best out of it, meaning frequent gearchanges are needed to keep the engine on the boil.
The three-door Seat Ibiza FR TDI Sport Coupe will reach 62mph in 8.2 seconds, the five-door we tested is 0.1 seconds slower, while both cars will knock on the door of 130mph.
Seat Ibiza FR TDI Gallery:
Powerful punch
You don’t get a sense of pace until the car is really motoring in the middle of the rev range – that’s where the thumping 236lb/ft of torque makes a difference. Nail the throttle in third and there’s some serious punch; ideal for overtaking.
Driving at speed requires a different approach than with the petrol equivalent. Where the petrol is eager to rev, the diesel demands the driver ride the wave of torque to push the car out of bends.
The quick steering is light at low speeds, but weights up as the speed increases, although it’s still a touch light, failing to inspire as much confidence as we would have liked. It is fitted with Seat’s XDS handling system, which brakes the inside front wheel during fast cornering for improved stability and grip.
A sports chassis sees suspension stiffened and lowered which adds to the driver appeal with a firm setup. However, as an everyday companion the Seat Ibiza FR TDI would appear to fit the bill well.
The Seat Ibiza FR TDI is the only hot Ibiza to be offered in both three-door Sport Coupe and five-door bodystyles, and represents the first time a six-speed manual has been fitted in this generation of the supermini.
Safe and well equipped
A good level of equipment is fitted as standard, including climate control, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, hill hold assist, a trip computer and a smattering of FR branding.
The standard Seat Ibiza scored a five-star EuroNCAP rating and the FR comes with ESP, tyre pressure monitoring and driver, passenger and side airbags as standard.
In the Ibiza FR TDI, Seat offers an interesting proposition – a sporty car with genuine green credentials and low running costs. That won’t be lost on buyers – the diesel FR will make up a massive 70 per cent of sporty Ibiza sales.
It might lack that last 10 per cent that makes the Ibiza Bocanegra such a hoot, but for performance motoring on a budget, the Seat Ibiza FR 2.0 TDI is well worth a test.
