Seat Ibiza ST - a way to save money
The Ibiza ST is the largest and most practical version of the small Seat. Offering more space for passengers and luggage, it retains the agility and beauty of this model.
I liked the short version of the Ibiza - I like compact, rigid cars that give a dynamic impression from behind the wheel. In the case of usually longer station wagons, this feeling is difficult. Meanwhile, Ibiza, in its more compact incarnation, has succeeded.
The estate, also known as the ST, is 4277 18 cm long, which is 169,3 cm longer than the hatchback. This is so small that the car's styling remains virtually unchanged. The body is still light and mobile. The car has a width of 144,5 cm and a height of cm. The low roof rails that lie on the roof do not raise its height and do not change the line of the clearly sloping roof. The side mirrors stand out from the blue body - they are painted white and decorated with a black fingerprint pattern. The unusual design attracts attention very much, despite the fact that in total it occupies a small area.
The interior of the test car was also styled in an interesting way. In general, it is quite simple, but an interestingly traced dashboard gives it an individual character. The asymmetrical instrument panel is made of plastic in two distinctly contrasting colours. The upholstery of the chairs is also two-tone. So the interior is not uniform. The tunnel has two cup holders and two small shelves. In addition, I had a fold-down armrest with a stowage box and another lockable stowage box under the passenger seat.
The rear seats are cramped, but it's still a small car. The inconvenience of the dimensions of the car should be reduced by the appropriate shape of the backrests of the front seats, with recesses at the level of the knees.
The trunk is the most interesting element. It has a capacity of 430 liters, and by folding the rear seat you can increase it to 1164 liters. Behind the wheel arches on the sides of the trunk there are nets that form baskets, and on the arches there are double elastic bands that hold small items. In the corners of the floor there are holders for attaching a net to keep luggage on the floor, and in the walls there are lighting and a socket.
There are two bag hooks on each side along the top edge. Interestingly, there are also two hooks on the edge of the trunk lid. They can be used with the tailgate open, but only 1,5kg can be hung on each. Another interesting feature is the drawer installed under the luggage compartment lid. It's not big, but it's great for small items. Another advantage is that it is easier to reach into such a compartment than at the bottom of the trunk.
In the proven version, Ibiza is not only roomy, but also economical. The 1,6 TDI engine is located under the hood. It produces 105 hp. and maximum torque of 250 Nm. The engine is quite quiet and agile. The car offers more dynamics than I expected from a -strong unit. This mainly concerns movement with a small load - when the driver is traveling alone or with one passenger. The Ibiza ST has the same firm suspension as a hatchback and a precise steering system, which, combined with a flexible engine, allows you to enjoy a rather dynamic ride. If necessary, the ESP stabilization system helps the driver, which, however, can be turned off using one of the buttons on the tunnel.
Low power turbodiesel also burns very little. According to the manufacturer, an average of 4,2 l/100 km. In the city, combustion should be 5,1 liters, and outside populated areas 3,6 liters. Of course, this is combustion under ideal conditions. In real-world conditions, when driving with the pleasure of dynamic driving, I burned on average a liter more. Better fuel consumption could probably be achieved if the car had a six-speed gearbox, but that might come at the expense of performance. In this situation, I probably prefer the combination chosen by Seat - the car doesn't burn too much anyway, and the ride is quite pleasant. However, higher-than-expected fuel consumption isn't the Ibiza ST's biggest sin. Prices for this version start at only 67 zlotys, that is, more than 216 zlotys higher than the starting price of this model. You pay a lot for the pleasure of a cheaper but more dynamic ride.
