Review of the new SEAT Ibiza Freerider & Sportrider Special Edition Range

SEAT's current Ibiza may not have long to live but the Spanish maker is determined that it will leave with sales on a high. Hence the introduction of two new special edition models, the Freerider and the Sportrider.

Car industry sages say that the best time to buy any new car is when it's about to be replaced by an all-new model. Then, they reason, is the time when discounts are likely to be greatest and the car design is at its most fully developed. If that's truly the case, then SEAT's latest special edition Ibiza supermini models may well be worth a few moments of your time if you're in the market for a car of this kind.

So let's look at what's available. Well, for a start, if you're after five doors, then you're going to be disappointed as both of these two limited edition ranges are available exclusively in three-door format, kicking off with the Ibiza Freerider 1.2 12V 70 PS. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the three cylinder 1.2 petrol delivers a decidedly 'green' 47.2 mpg on the combined cycle, producing just 139 g/km of CO2. The 0 to 62 mph time is an entirely respectable 14.2 seconds and the top speed cracks three figures - 106 mph to be precise.

This Freerider includes an enticing collection of 'big car' goodies such as cruise control, full Climatronic climate control, sporty 15" 'Galea' alloy wheels, passenger seat height adjustment and electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors. Front fog lights and, of course, that bespoke tailgate badging, complete the Freerider's complement of extras, although those who order early will also be offered the option of state-of-the-art DAB digital stereo radio entertainment at no extra cost. The cost is £8,995, just a couple of hundred more than the bog standard Reference Sport model.

If you want something with a little more zest, then you might want to consider one of the Ibiza Sportrider models, offered either in 1.4-litre 16V 100 PS petrol form or with a 1.9-litre TDI diesel, which also offers up to 100 PS. The 1.4-litre petrol version offers a brisk 11.2-second 0 to 62mph time, a top speed of 118mph and fuel economy on the combined cycle of 42.8 mpg. CO2 emissions, meanwhile, are limited to 154 g/km. The diesel will cover the 0 to 62mph dash in just 10.8 seconds, charge on to a top speed of 118 mph, and produce 132g/km of CO2. Combined economy, meanwhile, is a creditable 55.4 mpg.

"Get the right deal and add up all the costs and you might well find that tried and tested works best."

Both Sportrider models offer cruise control, Climatronic air conditioning, passenger seat height adjustment, electrically adjustable heated and folding door mirrors and fog lights as standard, while styling additions include arch-filling 16" 'Spica' alloys, grippy sports seats in bespoke Sportrider cloth, front and rear bumpers lifted straight from the sporty Ibiza FR, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, plus a honeycomb front grille. The Ibiza Sportrider 1.4 16V petrol costs £9,495, while the 1.9 TDI version is available at £10,395.Metallic paint choices for all three Ibizas specials include Black Magic, Luna Grey, Track Grey and Ada Blue for a little extra. Other non-metallic colour options include SEAT's trademark Emocion Red and the high fashion Candy White.

Otherwise, it's the familiar Ibiza package. This remains generally a well-built and practical supermini. Nitpickers may point out the slightly shoddy plastics quality but at the affordable end of the supermini sector, that would be harsh. The cabin feels spacious, although adults in the back may struggle for headroom where the car's curved roofline swoops in, and there's plenty of boot bringing up the rear.

The Ibiza of today carries the effects of a facelift which edged the car closer to its newer SEAT stalemates on aesthetic grounds. Aggressive air-intakes are now evident, carved into the lower reaches of the front bumper. These evoke the ones on the SEAT Leon World Touring Car and emphasise the link that that the brand is always keen to make between its production models and motorsport ventures. Twin headlamps are also fitted as standard to all Ibizas, as are wheels of at least 15" in diameter even in the entry-level trim, but it's round the back where most alterations have been made. The bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser, another nod to SEAT's motorsport activities. As with all modern SEATs, the Ibiza displays its name centrally on its tailgate, below the large SEAT badge which doubles as the boot release.

SEAT describe the 1.9-litre TDI diesel fitted to the Sportrider variant as 'a true technological jewel', this a reference to its advanced electronically controlled pump injector system. We wouldn't go quite that far. For a start, it's a diesel that's noisier than normal, a legacy perhaps of the fact that VW Group engineers have still to embrace the common rail technology now featured by virtually everyone else. Still, you can't deny that their alternative chosen route is effective when it comes to performance.

Well built, attractively styled and with that SEAT sporty edge now common amongst models across the range, to a greater or lesser extent, the Ibiza continues as one of the UK's best superminis. Some rivals may offer more innovation and style in the interior department or a more advanced engine line-up but the Ibiza just gets on with the job in hand - being a thoroughly efficient and pleasantly sporty small car.

Should you buy one of these special edition models with the new generation Ibiza so close? Well, as we suggested at the beginning, the answer to that question might be more complex than it first appears. Get the right deal and add up all the costs and you might well find that tried and tested works best.