The next few months will see a host of ultra-low CO2 vehicles, but for now there are just a handful of vehicles with emissions below 100g/km and the new Seat Ibiza Ecomotive is one of that group.
CO2 of 98g/km equates to an impressive 76.3mpg official fuel figure and a measly £26 benefit-in-kind tax payment every month if you’re a 20% rate earner.
All these are impressive, but unfortunately, driving the car doesn’t make you feel as happy. This is because the 80PS 1.4-litre diesel is unrefined with a large amount of noise and vibration transmitted to the cabin – particularly if you’re trying to drive efficiently and keep revs low.
If you can put up with the noise and vibration then you can achieve some impressive real-world fuel economy stats. With our best eco-driving feet on, we managed more than 70mpg on a mixed test route.
Low-rolling-resistance tyres, a more aerodynamic grille and other styling tweaks such as a boot hatch spoiler all contribute to this impressive fuel efficiency.
Beyond the Ecomotive component, the rest of the car is as good as any other Ibiza. It’s good looking and will appeal to those fleets looking to reward or retain younger staff. It’s also reasonably well equipped for the money, including standard aircon, powered windows, four airbags and a CD stereo. But it is missing standard anti-skid control.
If setting good fuel figures is your only consideration then the Ibiza Ecomotive is highly recommended, but we can’t ignore the issues regarding refinement.
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