| First Drive | Barcelona, Spain | SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive |

SEAT's latest withdrawal from the Bank of VAG is the baby of the common rail diesel engine cache: a 1.2-litre unit with 74bhp, as found in the VW Polo BlueMotion. It's deposited in the new Ibiza Ecomotive, the third iteration of SEAT's greenest supermini and, of course, the greenest yet.

In the Metal

Available in two trims (S A/C and SE) and all three Ibiza body styles (SC, Hatchback and ST), there's nothing obvious to separate the Ecomotive Ibiza from dirtier brethren bar the badge on the boot. No aerodynamic wheel trims here, although as per the previous versions it does have discreet air-cleaving body tweaks.

What you get for your Money

For about £800 more than the non-Ecomotive version with the same engine, start-stop engine idle tech becomes standard, there's a brake energy recuperation system, and a streamlining package including a closed grille, a front spoiler and rear wheel arch deflectors. It results in 80.7mpg and 92g/km of CO₂. Sorry, Chancellor, no VED cheque from me for the next few years.

It goes on sale in October, priced from £13,080 for a three-door S, rising to £14,910 for an SE estate (or ST in SEAT-speak). That compares favourably with the Polo BlueMotion, which is £14,446 as a three-door.

Driving it

The key difference between the new car and the last Ibiza Ecomotive - which got power from an older 1.4-litre Pumpe Duse (PD) diesel engine - is a marked improvement in refinement. The PD units are gruffer than Mickey Rourke's face. This 74bhp 1.2-litre common rail (CR) unit is, by comparison, like Kylie's bottom: smooth and not prone to making a lot of noise.

It is slow though (did you expect anything else?), never really gathering much steam from bottom to top of the rev counter. That said it's perfectly capable of sitting comfortably at motorway speed and relatively muted once there. The ride improves at higher speeds as well, because around town the car's a little too keen to shake over ropey roads. Never uncomfortably so, mind.

Despite the languid turn of pace it remains enjoyable to drive: agile, grippy, and with sound driver ergonomics, both in terms of the driving position and placement of controls.

Worth Noting

The UK's Ecomotive is a dirty bugger compared to Europe's left-hand drive version, which emits a full 3g/km less carbon dioxide. It's because in re-engineering the car for right-hand drive, the diesel particulate filter had to move. Placing it elsewhere means it works less satisfactorily, though it makes no odds to us VED tax wise.

Summary

In the sense that the new engine adds refinement while maintaining the Ibiza's positive driving characteristics - and improving economy - the latest Ecomotive is a success. However, from a financial perspective you might stop to question why you'd spend the extra 800 quid over the standard 1.2 diesel, just to save £20 in VED and gain about 8mpg.