SEAT Ibiza vs Volkswagen Polo – which is best?

Small petrol hatchbacks are still overwhelmingly popular – they still make up a large proportion of new car sales (which makes Ford’s decision to cancel the Fiesta even more confusing). There’s probably a better choice than ever in the supermini class, but the VW Polo and SEAT Ibiza are still two of the best. If you’re comparing these two cars, we’ll show you how they differ and which is the better choice.

SEAT Ibiza vs VW Polo compared

Styling

The basic shape of the Polo and Ibiza are very similar and, this time around, the two cars are only available as five-door hatchbacks. The Polo has always been smart and solid-looking, although we can understand if you think it looks a little conservative.

SEAT’s triangular headlights and deep bumpers make the Ibiza look a little sportier than the Polo, so it’s a top choice if you want the sophistication of the Polo with a touch of extra flair.

Interior

There are a lot of similarities inside the Ibiza and Polo, although it’s not immediately obvious. Since the Ibiza’s facelift in 2021, the screen has moved to sit on top of the dashboard where it’s easy to see and easy to touch without you taking your eyes off the road for too long. 

Unfortunately, the Ibiza’s infotainment system is a little confusing, with lots of things taking a couple too many screen presses to complete. To bring the point home, there’s a guide on how to use the infotainment system prominently displayed when you turn it on. You don’t get that in the Polo because its tiled menu screen is a bit easier to figure out, and there are more shortcut keys to quickly get from one menu to another.

Both use broadly the same assortment of easy-clean, hard-wearing plastics, and the build quality in both is impressive for a small, inexpensive car. If you think the Polo’s monochrome interior looks a bit dour, opt for the sporty FR trims in the Ibiza lineup – these get an eye-catching red surround for the air vents, as well as red stitching on the seats and steering wheel.

Dimensions and practicality

Because these two cars sit on the same platform, they’re unsurprisingly very closely matched.

The wheelbase – the distance between the front and rear wheels – is just a few millimetres different between the Ibiza and Polo, and both offer excellent rear-seat space for the size of the car. They’re both much more spacious than the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio and Nissan Micra.

Further back, both cars will fit the same amount of stuff in the boot. The square, deep space in both is less than 10% smaller than the boots in the larger Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon. Until recently, the Polo and Ibiza had the biggest loadspace capacity of any supermini, although now they’re beaten by petrol versions of the Clio and Skoda Fabia.

Engines

Under the bonnet, most Ibizas and Polos come with a 1.0-litre petrol engine. In entry-level models, this is naturally aspirated and produces 80hp, while the 95hp and 115hp versions come with a turbocharger.

Stick with the lowest-output engine and you’ll enjoy very cheap insurance costs – with the Polo being in a slightly lower insurance group than the Ibiza – but 80hp and no turbo makes these cars feel wheezy and underpowered. The TSI versions are much more well-rounded, because they’re still very economical (capable of 55mpg) but the power is available sooner. As a result, these turbo engines are much better at getting up to speed and you won’t feel like you’re getting in everyone’s way.

Previously, the Ibiza offered a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150hp, and both cars offered a diesel engine, but as we write this the 1.0-litre turbo is now the only option across both Polo and Ibiza ranges.

The exception is the Polo GTI, which shoehorns in a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine from the Golf GTI. This 204hp engine brings out the Polo’s aggressive side, although the ride is a lot firmer than the standard Polo – and it’s still not as fun to drive as a Ford Fiesta ST, Mini Cooper S or Hyundai i20 N.

Value

Because of the VW badges, the Polo is a bit more expensive than the Ibiza – whether you buy new or used. Order a brand-new one and you’ll pay around £1,000 extra to have a base-spec Polo on your drive over an equivalent Ibiza, and the gap widens to almost £3,000 at the top of the range for the respective Black Edition trim levels.

Comparing 25-plate used examples that both cost around £20,000, you’ll get a Polo with the 95hp engine in the mid-spec Match trim or an Ibiza in the lofty FR Sport spec with 115hp. The difference remains if you look at older examples, too.

Which is best?

The allure of the Polo is clear – you get a sensible, grown-up supermini that looks smart but costs very little to run. It’s widely available and quite well equipped, and it impresses with lots of space for passengers and luggage. But, when the Ibiza offers all of that with a little more styling flair – and for less money – it’s the one we’d pick.

Read our VW Polo review and SEAT Ibiza review for more info on these brilliant cars. Made your mind up? Shop used VW Polo cars and used SEAT Ibiza cars for sale at Motorpoint.