Not the hottest SEAT Ibiza, the FR TDI version could nevertheless be the best value for buyers seeking performance without the penalties. Steve Walker reports.

It's amazing how fast hot hatchbacks have become. The constant battle to outdo each other amongst the leading manufacturers has pushed the limits to a point where we don't bat an eyelid when compact family car is announced that can cover the 0-60mph sprint in under seven seconds. At the top end of the shopping rocket market, things get pretty extreme and very expensive. These are cars that are great to marvel at in the pages of a magazine but if we were spending our own money on a hot hatch, most of us would take a cautionary step back from the edge and get something a little more sensible. A SEAT Ibiza FR TDI perhaps?

Customers without the stomach or the finances for a hardcore hot hatchback might find the fast but sensible Ibiza FR TDI a desirable option. Its diesel engine delivers lively, torque-laden performance with the fuel economy and emissions of a common or garden shopping hatch. The Ibiza's sporty looks will help convince the image conscious.

The FR model line has been a massive success for SEAT by offering customers a lighter alternative to its flagship Cupra hot hatch models. Typically, the FR has very similar looks and a good proportion of the pace of the range-topping car but it's cheaper to buy, run and insure.

The FR TDI is the diesel variation on the theme and in many ways, oil-burning engines are a great fit for a car with this remit. In SEAT's larger Leon, the FR TDI derivative has been the top seller in the entire range, so SEAT's marketing department didn't need much encouragement to try and repeat the feat in the latest Ibiza.

The 2.0-litre TDI engine is a hefty piece of metalwork to fit into a supermini, particularly one with the sporting intent of the Ibiza FR TDI. A less advanced 1.9-litre unit worked well in the previous generation Ibiza Cupra TDI, however, and when you need genuinely lively performance from a diesel, there's little alternative but to go large. The engine produces 141bhp in the Ibiza FR TDI and a massive slug of torque is positioned usefully low in the rev range. It's this low-down muscle that will have the greater impact on the FR TDI's performance, making it feel quicker in real world driving than even the 8.2s 0-60mph time would suggest. The top speed, where conditions allow, is 130mph.

The FR TDI is based around the three and five-door SEAT Ibiza bodystyles, the three-door being dubbed the Sports Coupe in recognition of its rakish lines and sporty stance. To this framework, the FR adds sports bumpers at the front and rear ends, 17" alloy wheels and an upgraded interior that includes sports seats along with various trim enhancements. The Ibiza runs on the Volkswagen Group's latest small car platform dubbed the 'agile chassis'. The car features a wider front and rear tracks to give it a foursquare, planted stance on the road while the body structure is extremely rigid to enhance the driving dynamics.

The upgrades to the interior of the FR are welcome, as in the standard models, the Ibiza's cabin doesn't really have the wow-factor to match the exterior lines, despite being very well put together. This isn't one of the roomier superminis around at the moment but the Ibiza three-door does leave the practical stuff to the five-door car, so it's free to focus on looking good. In practice, there's space for a couple of rear seat occupants on short journeys and the boot is reasonable but not spectacular in size at 284-litres.

Positioned towards the top end of the Ibiza range, the FR TDI comes with a detailed specification. All models get ESP stability control, climate control air-conditioning, sports suspension and an MP3 compatible CD stereo. Also thrown in is the XDS electronic differential system which uses the stability control functionality to mimic the action of a mechanical limited slip differential.

The FR TDI is not the only FR model in the Ibiza line-up. Customers can also opt for the 1.4-litre TSI twin-charge petrol engine with turbocharger and supercharger to boost its performance. Where the FR TDI gets a six-speed manual gearbox though, the 1.4 TSI model uses the DSG twin-clutch automatic. Despite this extra technology, it still comes in cheaper than the FR TDI and it will be a tempting option but the advantages of the diesel engine centre around its lower running costs and availability with the five-door bodystyle.

For a hot hatchback, the Ibiza FR TDI should prove agreeably affordable to run. It wasn't that long ago when car buyers had to settle for some tiny citycar with a power output equivalent to their kitchen blender in order to benefit from 60mpg economy. Today, the SEAT Ibiza FR TDI returns 62.8mpg and 119g/km emissions while also harbouring the performance to harry Porsches on a twisty road. The car company car drivers who thought a proper hot hatch would equate to the mother of all tax bills might like to reconsider in the light of this SEAT.

The diesel hot hatch has only caught on in a big way relatively recently as engine technology has let diesel engines grow lightweight, powerful and affordable enough to drive small performance cars. SEAT is one of the manufacturers that has grasped the opportunity and led the way with models like the Ibiza FR TDI. Buyers with hearts yearning for hot hatch thrills and heads warning against the hot hatch bills should find the SEAT an appealing compromise.

The FR TDI isn't one of the quickest hot hatchbacks around but it can certainly shift when prompted and it looks like it means business, making the most of the Ibiza's attractive styling. With economy close to 63mpg, it should be refreshingly affordable to run and its availability with the three or five door Ibiza bodystyles means buyers can go for extra visual impact or practicality as they prefer.