SEAT Ibiza ECOmotive

December 2008

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ECO really is the name of the game for this SEAT! The Spanish firm claims the new Ibiza ECOmotive will be the most economical five-door on sale in Britain when it arrives in March.

The sporty-looking supermini gives combined fuel economy of 76.3mpg from its 1.4-litre turbodiesel - without an expensive hybrid engine. Instead, the motor features tweaked electronics, energy saving tyres and honed aerodynamics. It's also been on a diet to cut its weight to 1,579kg.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the SEAT Ibiza

What's more, the Ibiza is 'economical' in more ways than one! SEAT plans to sell it for £11,000, which is £7,000 less than a Toyota Prius. It's cheaper than the forthcoming 98g/km Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, too.

You have to do without air-conditioning, which is a £500 option - although fitting it doesn't affect the CO2 rating, which comes in at only 98g/km. This means the ECOmotive is exempt from road tax, while there are further tax benefits for companies which run the car on their fleets.

The newcomer looks sportier than standard models too. There's lowered suspension, plus racy headlights and door mirrors from the Sport variant. Inside, the cabin feels well built,and isn't short on space.

So,how does it perform on the road? Well, there's certainly no mistaking the vocal,clattery three-cylinder motor.

To be fair, it's smoother and quieter at speed, but still isn't as refined as a modern common-rail unit. And it's punchy. A total of 195Nm of torque means the engine responds smartly to the accelerator. This is particularly apparent in the Sport Coupé three-door variant, which is the same price as the five-door.

The light, crisp steering of standard Ibizas remains. And while the high tyre pressures have made the ride feel less comfortable than before, it's fun through the corners.

The rubber offers good turn in, and while grip isn't huge, well judged suspension settings mean it's nimble to drive. This Ibiza looks fantastic value, then, and going green has never been more fun!

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