FEEL-GOOD motoring has been in short supply for a while now. It’s hard to really enjoy yourself in a flash sports car or a fully tricked up 4x4 knowing your choice of wheels is damaging the environment.

I wasn’t expecting great things from the Seat Ibiza ECOmotive.

It may have trendy ‘green’ credentials but it is based on a car that’s getting on a bit now and most of the tech is oldschool stuff.

But, as the test went on, a strange thing happened. Every time I got behind the wheel I felt like smiling.

Maybe it was the parsimonious fuel consumption, the nil rating on the road tax disc or the ultra-low exhaust emissions figure, but the Ibiza really helped me to enjoy the drive again.

Seat has achieved the low emissions figure without resorting to fancy hybrid propulsion units or crazy aerodynamic aids.

The ECOmotive starts life as a bog-standard Ibiza 1.4 TDI.

Seat then fits an extra high ratio gearbox, skinny tyres fitted on steel wheels with aerodynamic trims and throws away some of the porkier luxuries that you can do without.

Be honest, are you really going to miss electric remote control door mirrors too often?

An exhaust gas recirculation system and particulate trap help slash those dirty exhaust emissions to just 99 g/km, handily qualifying the ECOmotive for the free road tax band.

That's less than Toyota’s trendy Prius petro-electric hybrid.

The green diet helps reduce the standard car’s weight by 22kg.

On the road the first thing you will notice is the longlegged gearbox. Below 30mph it’s almost pointless using anything more than the first three gears and a swift change into fourth is sometimes required even when you’re doing 60mph.

On the motorway, at 70mph the engine is turning over at a lazy 2,000rpm.

The upside is the Ibiza’s fuel consumption, which is outstanding.

It is possible to get more than 50mpg without trying, even if your driving is done mostly around town.

As with most Seats, the Ibiza is a sporty drive, even tippytoeing around on those skinny tyres.

They are fine when the road is dry, but there’s appreciably less grip in wet weather.

Fling the Ibiza around a damp corner and you’ll soon discover the onset of understeer, but a quick confidence lift is all that is required to bring things under control.

The growling three-cylinder engine belies its meagre 79bhp output – lots of torque (195 Nm) helps make the most of those long gear ratios – and you'll not feel out-gunned even on fast-moving A-roads.

The cabin plastics are hard but well made and capable of withstanding even the kind of punishment dished out by small kids.

In the rear, the front seats have been scooped out for a bit more knee room if you’re an adult.

My three-year-old son had plenty of space for his colouring books and Thunderbirds toys, but six-footers will feel cramped.

If you are a keen Seat watcher you’ll know that a new Ibiza has just been launched and an ECOmotive version is in the pipeline.

The new car has fresher looks and a larger, better equipped interior.

The engine and ECOmotive tech remains exactly the same – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The upshot of this, if you need a car now, is that Seat dealers will be keener than usual to do a great deal on the current ECOmotive. So the current car will be kind to your wallet as well as the environment.

Specification

Price (as tested): £11,630
Engine: 1,422cc 6v three-cylinder turbodiesel
Max power: 79bhp
Max torque: 114ft/lb @ 2,200rpm
Top speed: 109mph
0-62mph: 12.8 seconds
Average fuel consumption: 74.3mp
Spec check: Electric windows, power steering, radio/CD with MP3, split/fold rear seats.