Test drive Mini Cooper, Seat Ibiza and Suzuki Swift: small athletes
Three funny kids who give the feeling of summer. Who is the best?
Are you - like us - no longer tired of rain, screeching ice, heated seats and Siberian cold fronts? If so, feel free to read on - it's all about summer, sun and three ultra-compact cars for fun on the road.
As you know, summer is not only a matter of temperature and a certain period of the calendar, but also of internal settings. Summer is when you can enjoy the little things in life. For example, on three cars in which driving pleasure is measured not by power or price, but by the pleasure itself. Let's start in alphabetical order with the Mini, which has as much heritage in the joy of the small car as it does in any other in its category. On the test, the English baby appeared in the Cooper version with a three-cylinder engine with 136 hp, that is, without S, and with a price in Germany of at least 21 euros. In the test vehicle, the Steptronic dual-clutch transmission raises the amount required to 300 euros, making it the most expensive in this test.
The bigger offer this time around is the Seat Ibiza FR with a 1,5-liter four-cylinder from VW's lineup. Armed with 150 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission. This variant is not currently for sale, but according to the latest price list, it costs at least € 21 including the rich FR hardware.
Cheap Suzuki
The third place in the group is occupied by the Suzuki Swift Sport 1.4 Boosterjet, which has a 140 hp engine. also compatible with manual transmission. The top version of the four-door model is available only in this configuration, costs exactly 21 euros and can be ordered with only one factory surcharge - metallic lacquer for 400 euros. Champion Yellow, shown in the photos, is available as standard, as are 500-inch alloy wheels, a carbon fiber rear apron, a dual-way exhaust system, LED lights, adaptive cruise control and sports seats with integrated headrests.
The interior space is modest, which is normal for a class. The rear is best ridden only by children, and with a normal seat configuration, the trunk holds almost no more than two large sports bags (265 liters). On the other hand, you're in a great position up front - the seats are big enough, offer decent lateral support, and look good at the same time. On the central display are pleasure-stimulating indicators - acceleration force, power and torque.
It may be useless flirting, but it somehow suits the Swift Sport. As well as the spontaneous disclosure of the power of the new gasoline turbo engine - 140 hp. and 230 Nm are no problem with the 972 kg test car. True, it is two-tenths behind the factory data for the sprint to 100 km / h (8,1 sec), but this is only of academic significance. More importantly, how the Swift feels behind the wheel - and then he really does a great job. The turbo engine is not only quite economical, but also absorbs gas very well, spontaneously picks up speed and even tries to sound adequate.
The good thing is that the engine is paired with the right chassis – stiff suspension, slight side lean, minimal tendency to understeer, and not too harsh ESP intervention. Supporting active driving, working with common sense and precise response, the steering system gives the impression of a small but quite successful "hot hatchback" for quite a bit of money.
Hard mini
The Mini doesn't always manage to keep up the same pace and falls a bit behind the Suzuki model. At the same time, the British is a proverbial car for the pleasure of the road - but relatively inaccessible, because in the Cooper version with a three-cylinder engine and 136 hp. at €23 (including the Steptronic gearbox), it's the most expensive of the three rivals, and by a wide margin. And it is not very richly equipped.
For example, Cooper leaves the factory with unsightly 15-inch wheels, and matching 17-inch wheels cost an additional 1300 euros. It gets even more expensive if you need sports seats, which are available from € 960 and up. All this is standard on the Ibiza FR, not to mention the Swift Sport.
Mini candidates are probably not that interested in price or interior space. Rather, they have other priorities - for example, well-known dynamic qualities. While the oft-quoted comparison to a go-kart stroller is not to be taken lightly, the Cooper is a remarkably nimble, cornering vehicle. Much of this is an excellent steering system characterized by very good road feel and not too light a ride. With it, you will overcome any turns in a neutral, safe, fast and predictable way. Lateral tilt remains minimal. There are almost no problems with traction.
This is probably due in part to the moderate horsepower of the three-cylinder engine. Not only is it slightly weaker than the competition's engines, but in this comparison it has to work alongside the sometimes rather sleepy dual-clutch transmission.
In addition, the Mini is slightly heavier, slightly (36kg) heavier than the Ibiza and over 250kg heavier than the lightweight Swift. Thus, in addition to significantly more bulky dynamic characteristics, slightly higher fuel costs in various operating conditions are also a reason to lag behind competitors. After all, what are the arguments in favor of the Mini? Workmanship, design, image and value when selling old ones - here it surpasses many others.
Ibiza can do everything
In this regard, the Mini is even ahead of the Ibiza 1.5 TSI. To some extent, she suffers from the syndrome of an excellent student - in this comparative test, she does everything well, in most cases better than her competitors. The Spanish model offers more passenger space and has the largest trunk. The ergonomics are simple and logical, the execution is good, the layout is pleasant.
Moreover, the model can impress not only with such secondary advantages. It outperforms both the Mini and Suzuki in terms of suspension comfort, with its chassis responding with significantly less knocks without causing any suspicion of wobbling. And without giving up on road dynamics.
The little Seat handles corners like a game, with precise steering and good feedback. This instills confidence in the chassis and, if ESP had not intervened too cautiously at times, the Ibiza would have run away from two more cohesive and, above all, more dynamic rivals.
This is where the 1,5-liter TSI engine from the common EA 211 evo family helps a lot. The petrol turbocharger runs smoothly and quietly, pulls the not-so-light Ibiza with force and demonstrates restraint in fuel consumption (consumption in the test is 7,1 l / 100 km).
What is missing in Ibiza? Maybe a small dose of "Auto Emocion," as Seat's nearly forgotten advertising slogan sounded. But the result does not change at all - as a result, the Spanish model turned out to be the most successful in general and the most convincing of the three cars - not only in terms of points in the assessment, but also when driving from the mountains to the house. It's not summer yet though.
Text: Heinrich Lingner
Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert
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