CarBuyersNoteBook

SEAT Ibiza

The 2009 Seat Ibiza, a tiny Spanish super-subcompact manufactured by the Volkswagen Automotive Group, is being hailed as the most fuel-efficient economical car in the world. The Seat (pronounced Say-aht I-bee-tha) Ibiza is not available in the United States because of more stringent safety standards, but in Europe it is expected to be the next hottest mini car. The 105-hp, 1.6 liter engine gets a zero to 60 pick up rating of 10.6 seconds, but that’s not the point. The point is the incredible 74.3 MPG the tiny car delivers in fuel efficiency, along with the tiny new price of right around $15,000.

In Europe, China, and India, very small cars have been legal for years and they are wildly popular for their economy and accessibility. In the U.S., with so many huge trucks and SUVs on the road, and with multilane city driving a daily reality, most super subcompacts still do not pass safety standards and cannot be imported.

Popularity: 4% [?]