Gerhard Plattner achieved almost 100mpg in a SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE
Fuel economy figures have improved massively in recent years. 30mpg was once considered pretty reasonable, and anything in the 40s was exceptional (and usually meant driving something totally uninspiring). But with cars like the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic headlining at 76mpg (but probably not in the real world) and economy in the 50s becoming commonplace, we’ve all got a bit blasé about these phenomenal economy feats.
But when press release came in from SEAT this afternoon telling us that a SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE has just achieved a run, on real roads from Barcelona to Germany, of 1,562km and used just 45.53 litres of fuel, we had to get our calculators out (we’re so old now we can only see the reality of the achievement in mpg!). By our reckoning the Ibiza managed just a shade under 100mpg. Astonishing.
The run started from the SEAT plant in Martorell, and was monitored under the auspices of the IPMC, with a sealed fuel tank and filler, so no room for cheating. The plan was to drive from northern Spain, through Perpignan, Avignon, Lyon, Mulhouse, Freiburg, Frankfurt and finally to Göttingen to set a new economy record.
Driven by Austrian long-haul specialist driver Gerhard Plattner, the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE wasn’t driven at a constant 42mph behind a huge lorry to keep the air clean. It is claimed that the Ibiza even used the péage at speeds of up to 70mph on parts of the journey, which at least makes the record far more relevant to real world comparisons. They didn’t even have decent weather – it rained heavily for most of the time.
True to say you’re not likely to get very close to 100mpg in the real world in your SEAT Ibiza ECOMOTIVE. But it’s obviously a pretty frugal car.
Dennis Morrish says
I’ve owned a 2008 Seat Ibiza Ecomotive for just over 2years,kept record of all fuel used, never got more than 60mpg and an average below 48mpg.Whilst its quite god not anywhere near the manufacturers claims??? My wife has 1.6hdi Citroen Picasso which does better.
ray says
I have a 1.2 TDI SEAT Ibiza cr ECOMOTIVE ac s 75 on a 60 plate. Driveing 100 miles a day and drove at 70mph got 58mpg done the same at 65mph got 59mpg and done it at 50mph and got 60mpg. The car has now done 5000 miles, Very poor as I got the car to do better mpg. Hopeing it gets better as it geting run in. I have had better out of a bmw 20liter Disel and better out of a 1.9 disel Kangoo Van. How do they get away with The BULLSH** on mpg for this car. Any Help to inprove mpg PLEASE.
Roger Edwards says
Ref seat ibiza economotive mpg – from other reports of this test you have unfortunately transpose figures for distance travelled as 1,156 Km instead of the correct 1516 Km {your figures only give an mpg of aroung 71/72 mpg]
CarsUK says
Whoops! Fixed. Thanks, Roger.