Dodging the taxman

9:12am Friday 16th May 2008

SEAT's green' champion, the new Ibiza Ecomotive, is one of the few four-wheeled winners in Alistair Darling's first Budget as, despite significant increases in Vehicle Excise Duty, it remains road tax-free.

The ultra-low emission supermini, which produces just 99 g/km of CO2 and is capable of a pound-stretching 88.3 mpg, is one of a tiny handful of conventional-engined cars to entirely escape the Chancellor's grasp.

Ibiza Ecomotive remains road tax-free

While Band G cars now face a withering £400 annual road tax fee, the Ibiza Ecomotive's ongoing position in the lowest Band A category sees it continue to duck the taxman. In fact when it comes to affordable, green' driving, the Ibiza Ecomotive is hard to beat. Offered in three- and five-door bodystyles, it is among the least expensive low emissions models on the market today.

But the frugal Spanish supermini, priced from £10,995 RRP and arriving in showrooms in the next few weeks, doesn't cut comfort as it slashes emissions. A generous complement of standard specification includes goodies such as manual air conditioning, electric front windows, steering wheel-mounted audio controls for the MP3 single-disc CD/radio and speed-sensitive electro hydraulic power steering.