Seat Ibiza

Swaggering pub facts are scrawled all over the walls here at TG HQ, including this little gem: the fourth-gen Seat Ibiza was penned by the same man who designed the Lamborghini Murciélago.

But you knew that already, right? Now that man's successor at the top of Seat's design tree has opted for a subtle facelift to the perky design to announce the new Ibiza. And here it is.

Seat's best-selling model is fitted with a new set of headlights, a sharpened front grille and lower air intake, and new bumpers front and rear, all designed to showcase current Seat design themes. Still looks sharp, you will agree.

The Spaniards have also been busy inside, using soft-touch materials with a more premium feel, a new instrument layout and a 10.7-litre glovebox. 10.7 litres! You'll run out of stuff, not space.

It's the same chassis underneath, mind: confident, capable and with quick, accurate steering. The 148bhp, 1.4-litre TSI has enough pep, but you really have to squeeze it out, so you're best sticking with the torquey 2.0-litre TDI, making this new Ibiza a sharp-suited, yet sensible supermini. Still with a bit of Lambo DNA running through it.

Vijay Pattni

The numbers
1968cc, 141bhp, 236lb ft, 60.1mpg, 123g/km CO2, 0-62mph in 8.2secs, 130mph, 1245kg

The verdict
Subtle facelift keeps it looking sharp - if Teutonic. Still nice to drive and still worth considering.