There was much chuckling when people first heard that SEAT was going to become sporty but who's laughing now? Under the guidance of parent company Volkswagen, the Spanish brand has been carefully nurtured and gently teased into an enviable position. SEAT has come to stand for the type of vibrancy and youthfulness that's just perfect for selling fun superminis like the Ibiza Sport.

The Volkswagen Group boardroom must resemble a Bond villain's lair just now but with one crucial difference. As the sinister figures gathered round the table ease back into the shadows cast by their huge leather swivel chairs and pet their fluffy white cats, their malevolent laughter echoing through the rafters must be tinged with a hint of surprise. Without a dapper British agent brandishing a Walther PPK anywhere in sight, their diabolical scheme for little SEAT to rise up and conquer a big chunk of the European small car market appears to be running according to plan.

It seemed an unlikely scenario at first. SEAT, once the purveyors of affordable but otherwise unremarkable Volkswagen cast-offs, would rise up to become the dynamic, trendy arm of the VW Group empire. Some bright spark even coined the phrase, 'the Iberian Alfa Romeo', which neatly summed-up the mission statement. It seemed unlikely but so far, events have unfolded pretty much along those lines. We can trace SEAT's development back through the previous generation Leon Cupra models which added the all-important budget performance pedigree and the Salsa concept car of 2000 which dropped a big hint as to how the modern SEAT models would look. Today the SEAT range is characterised by swoopy lines and vivid colour schemes with well-respected performance models adding cachet from the top of each line. It's not these road burning derivatives that shift the units, however. It's models like the Ibiza Sport that feed off the increasingly desirable brand image from below.

"SEAT has been manoeuvred into a position where it should do very nicely from cars like the Ibiza Sport"

The Ibiza Sport models are highly important for SEAT. The manufacturer has gone to great lengths to imprint the association between 'SEAT' and 'sporty' into the minds of buyers and these are the cars created to reap the benefits. The range-topping derivatives are first rate hot hatchbacks, they secure column inches and do a fine job of generally attracting attention but they're beyond the financial means of most supermini buyers. Then there are the twin issues of insurance and fuel consumption which make running one of these cars quite a financial undertaking. Then we come to the Sport trim level. Offering the look and some of the feel of the really quick Ibizas from higher up the range, these derivatives make the lively SEAT brand values accessible to buyers on a budget.

Two engines are available in Sport trim and both come in under £11,000. The 1.4-litre 16v petrol option produces 98bhp and costs from £9,395 while the 98bhp 1.9-litre TDI diesel is positioned at £10,995. These prices are for the 3-door models and the 5-doors cost £630 more. Both powerplants make a good case for themselves on monetary grounds. The petrol model returns a 42mpg average and 158g/km CO2 emissions figure. It's also rated in insurance group 4 and this will save you a pretty penny over a full-blown hot hatch. The diesel may cost more but it's quicker, producing a 10.8s 0-60mph time compared to the 11.2s it will take to do the same in the 1.4. This 1.9-litre engine also delivers an impressive 56mpg average economy and 135g/km emissions while falling into insurance group 6.

The Ibiza Sport engines provide a nice compromise between fun and affordability but the key selling point is likely to be the way these models look. SEAT have been careful to maintain the sporty visual themes running through the range from top to bottom, so while the Sport derivatives are obviously a lot less extreme than the Cupra, they still feature body-colouring for the door handles, bumpers, mirrors and rear spoiler. There are front fog lights and 16" alloy wheels too, enhancing one of the most distinctive exteriors in the supermini sector.

The latest facelifted Ibiza features aggressive air-intakes carved into the lower reaches of the front bumper, twin headlamps and a rear bumper is reshaped to incorporate a mock diffuser. 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. It's a distinctive shape and, therefore, one which is largely immune to the criticism levelled at the Leon/Altea/Toledo triumvirate that all SEATs are starting to look the same. Inside, the Sport comes across as well equipped, with sports front seats, air-conditioning, a six speaker CD stereo, power steering, electric front windows and remote central locking all underlining the value for money theme of this car.

The Ibiza's driving experience has won praise from all quarters since its 2003 launch and was central to it collecting no fewer than three WhatCar? 'Supermini of the Year' awards over the proceeding three years. The car remains impressively composed in corners and the sharp steering combines with a precise gearchange to make it easy to spirit around town. The stiffened suspension on the FR and Cupra models injects more sportiness into the experience but the jittery ride is less comfortable for everyday work. These Sport derivatives get the standard suspension settings that most buyers will find preferable for 90% of the time.

SEAT has been manoeuvred into a position where it should do very nicely from cars like the Ibiza Sport. The brand image based around dynamism and flair holds significant appeal for young buyers and the Sport is a way to access these qualities without shouldering the prohibitive costs of the true performance derivatives. Let's not forget, however, that it's not all smoke and mirrors stuff from the marketing department - SEAT have a highly competitive supermini in the Ibiza. When buying a Sport model for its curvy lines, hot-hatch styling accessories and compelling value proposition, people luck into a small car that's also well made, fun to drive and practical.