The Ibiza is an affordable buy used, especially the smaller engines models. It also offers low insurance ratings and good fuel economy, particularly with the Ecomotive diesel. It’s a sought-after used car, so second hand values are actually quite firm. That’s good news if you’re selling when you consider that you’ll have paid comparatively less for it in the first place.

The SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive is one of the greenest cars on sale – and it’s free to tax as a result. It borrows the 1.4-litre diesel engine and technology used in the equally eco-friendly Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion and both models produce 99g/km CO2. Fuel economy is also astoundingly good – the Ecomotive returns 74mpg. The rest of the Ibiza range can’t quite measure up, though the standard 1.4-litre TDI does emit relatively low levels of CO2 (124g/km) and manages 61mpg.

Green conscious buyers should give the sporty 1.8-litre Ibiza FR a miss, as it has almost double the emissions and less than half the fuel economy of the Ecomotive.

Thanks to the use of proven Volkswagen mechanicals owners can expect a high standard of reliability. No teething problems have been reported so far, although plastics tend to mark quite easily.