James Taleporos

Age: 27Job: Project managerDrives: Ford Fiesta

“I’m coming to the end of the lease term on my Fiesta. I don’t particularly like the look of the new Fiesta, and I want something a bit bigger and more modern.

“This Ibiza is a really attractive car, and that carries on inside. It’s a real step up over what we’ve seen before from Seat. I like the crisp exterior lines; it looks aggressive and purposeful. I also like how the LED daytime running lights double as the indicators, rather than them being separate units.

“The main rear seats are comfortable, but it’s a shame that the middle one is firmer and is on quite a big lump.

“The boot is one of the biggest in this class. It’s massive, especially compared with my Fiesta’s, and a good shape. Having an adjustable boot floor is useful, and it leaves a flat floor – although it is a bit of a pain to use.

“Automatic emergency braking is standard, and that’s great; the more safety kit, the better.

“Overall, this Ibiza looks and feels more grown-up and dependable than its predecessor. I reckon it can now properly compete with cars such as the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo. That’s because it’s now a bit roomier, material quality is better and the infotainment is great.”

Rated 4 out of 5

Philip Bailey

Age: 56Job: University administratorDrives: Skoda Fabia

“I like the defined crease lines on the bonnet and the front bumper, especially the way they wrap around the front foglights. I also like how the line that goes down the side of the car kinks up over the rear wheels and joins the outline of the rear window.

“There are three 1.0-litre petrol engines and a 1.5 on sporty FR trim. I’d go for one of the 1.0-litres, probably the 94bhp with a manual gearbox, because it would be adequate for what I need: good fuel economy and peppy town driving.

“I mainly use my car as an urban runabout. Plus, I take my 87-year-old mother out on the weekends, so my car needs to be easy to get in and out of – which this Ibiza is. And I occasionally take four passengers, so the Ibiza’s relatively spacious rear seats are a real bonus.

“Although this Ibiza is roughly the same size as its predecessor, the seats seem a lot more spacious than before. It was really easy to find my perfect driving position, and once I’d done so, I got in the back seat and still had plenty of head and leg room.

“One thing I didn’t like about the old Ibiza was that some of the trim, especially on the doors, felt a bit flimsy. Now everything feels solid and well put together, particularly the dash, with tight panel gaps.”

Rated 5 out of 5

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