Seat Ibiza 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7 FR. the missing link

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Seat Ibiza 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7 FR. the missing link

The logical thing is that the current Ibiza would have picked up the witness of its predecessors to continue with the saga of sports versions started with the SXi, continued with the GTi and consecrated with three generations of Ibiza Cupra that made Martorell the king of utility vehicles. sports.

Unfortunately, the fifth installment of the Ibiza has never enjoyed a high-performance variant, apart from a Cupra Ibiza that saw the light of day as a prototype and did not make it to series production, so now that it is back in stock, the 1.5 TSI with four cylinders and 150 hp is the most powerful alternative in the range, but also the sportiest because it is associated with an FR finish with which the Ibiza adopts a more athletic appearance. It is not as radical as a version Cupra, but, aesthetically, it has more muscle than the rest of the variants and has specific equipment, such as the seats and the sports steering wheel, as well as the red air conditioning outlets that it has released this summer together with the new dashboard, the screen central 9.2 “with an updated infotainment system and configurable digital instrumentation that grows up to 10.25”. But not everything is aesthetic. If the Ibiza is, in itself, one of the most agile models in its segment, this 150 hp FR goes further and wins points in the dynamic section thanks to a firmer suspension and a block that moves 1,165 kg wonderfully of the set, largely due to the help of the effective and fast double-clutch automatic gearbox, which only suffers from being somewhat abrupt in low-speed maneuvers.

The result is an Ibiza that is fast and very pleasant to drive thanks to the touch and response that its turbocharged engine offers at any speed. Obviously, it is not at the same level as a Cupra in terms of sportiness, but it is also versatile and practical for day-to-day use because it does not have a radical set-up and is content with an average consumption of less than 7 l/ 100km Of course, enjoying this balance is not cheap, in fact, the last Seat Ibiza Cupra was more affordable (it cost 21,400 euros in 2017), despite having 192 CV.

THE KEY

This version is ideal for those seeking the perfect balance between sportiness, ride comfort, economy of use and versatility for day-to-day use in a utility format, especially now that the Ibiza has gained quality and technology. The problem? If we talk regarding price, it is dangerously close to the Lion.