Test drive Opel Corsa, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia: Mayors

The new Seat Ibiza has painted tight rows of the lower class. Could a Spanish incendiary diesel lead the column ahead of its established rivals? Skoda Fabia TDI and Opel CDTi racing?

The previous generation of Ibiza was too timid in appearance to become a young bullfighter. To leave a deeper mark on the memory, the fourth generation of the model set itself the goal of a larger, but not too expressive in terms of design. Its basic petrol version with four doors and 70 hp. The village is for sale for 22 leva. For comparison, Fabia 995 HTP with 1,2 "horses" is exchanged for 70 leva. Already a small number of customers choose the most affordable version, so we compared each other to some of the sportier options - VW's four-cylinder TDI puts out 16 horsepower, while the well-equipped Corsa Cosmo happily puts on 150 more horsepower.

Economical diesel for babies

The engines of today's members are economical. In our test cycle, the most German car from Rüsselsheim (6,4 liters) clearly sweated, but during normal driving we reported a very modest 4,5 liters of diesel fuel. The Opel engine impresses with even the smoothest running, quietest running and the best motivation for working at high revs. Its twin rivals with unit injector technology are just as nimble, but much tougher. When measuring fuel consumption, their indicators are almost identical.

Corsa with 6-speed gearbox

The Corsa manages to spend less thanks to the six-speed gearbox. However, Skoda and Seat gearboxes allow you to overtake faster. Back roads don't suit the Opel's performance - its body leans in corners and looks a little clunky overall. The electric steering system, which is sensitive to bumps, makes it difficult to follow the ideal trajectory. Driving comfort isn't perfect either: the Corsa likes to wobble unsteadily when it comes to traversing any road bumps.

With a lot of cargo on board, Opel is in its waters as its suspension rarely reaches its limits. On the other hand, Seat performs best in winding hills. Its chassis is tightly tuned and the steering could be more precise. The Fabia is directly driven, although the emphasis is on passenger comfort. It perfectly absorbs long waves on the asphalt for a car of this class.

High-quality processing of all three models

Additional furniture Skoda offers excellent sports seats, which, however, have too low headrests. In the second row, passengers also have no reason to complain, and because of the high roof of the car, you may feel more comfortable than in some representatives of the middle class. The materials and workmanship of the Czech test participant are also impeccable.

Unconventional interiors in Ibiza

In its interior, Ibiza also exhibits a high level of build quality. However, light elements on the dashboard and doors are sometimes reflected in the windshield. The location of the controls on the center console and, in particular, the ESP stabilization program deactivation button, which can be accidentally pressed, as it is located next to the heating controls, will also be criticized. Spanish “furniture” is almost as comfortable as in Skoda. Passengers up to 1,80 meters tall can move comfortably even in the rear seats.

Opel with imperfect seats

Opel has a problem with thin rear seat upholstery. There may be a feeling of discomfort at long distances. The front seats are also stiffer than the Skoda's, and lateral support could be improved. The disadvantages in terms of cabin ergonomics can be mitigated here by clearer labeling of functions. On the other hand, the materials used and the workmanship are absolutely exemplary.

Stable brakes

When measuring the braking distance, there are no surprises other than the Skoda's very slow braking in the so-called μ-split. In keeping with its sporty image, Ibiza has the best braking performance. In the end, thanks to its balanced character, the Czech car won, followed by the sporty Seat and Corsa, whose furniture is too expensive.

Text: Christian Bangeman

Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert

Evaluation

1. Skoda Fabia 1.9 TDI Sport

Spacious, comfortable, economical and inexpensive to maintain: the Fabia is close to the ideal subcompact car. Its biggest drawback is a noisy engine.

2. Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDI Sport

Ibiza looks sporty without sacrificing comfort or everyday fitness. The price is reasonable, the service is not very good; the diesel is economical, but not very restrained in its manners.

3. Opel Corsa 1.7 CDTi Cosmo

The Corsa is a reliable companion with a well-thought-out and inexpensive drivetrain. We found weaknesses in its behavior on the road, as well as in the high sale price.

technical details

1. Skoda Fabia 1.9 TDI Sport	2. Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDI Sport	3. Opel Corsa 1.7 CDTi Cosmo
Working volume	-	-	-
Power	77 kW (105 hp)	77 kW (105 hp)	92 kW (125 hp)
Maximum torque	-	-	-
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	10,7 with	11,1 with	10,6 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	38 m	38 m	39 m
full speed	190 km / h	186 km / h	195 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	6,1 l / 100 km	5,9 l / 100 km	6,4 l / 100 km
Base Price	28 785 levov	30 200 levov	-