Our newest long termer appeals to both the head and the heart, says Luke Wikner.

Our new SEAT Ibiza long-termer brings an appealing package

P11D: £19,720 BiK 29% I £92 (20%) /£184 (40%) Economy 47.9-51.4mpg CO2 emissions 124g/km On fleet 50.1mpg

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While the FW long-term fleet is increasingly going electric, reflecting the broader shift in the fleet industry, I’m bucking the trend with our new car and eschewing both a plug and any form of hybrid system for a conventional ICE engine, albeit one with impressive efficiency.

Meet our new long-termer – SEAT’s sharply styled Ibiza in FR trim – offering 95hp from its 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, 124g/km CO2 emissions, around 50mpg on the combined cycle and BiK (rated at 29%) of £92 per month for a 20% taxpayer.

All of which adds up to an appealing package which, despite not having the option of plugging in and avoiding the current spiralling petrol prices, makes a lot of financial sense.

For starters, its list price of £19,720 is competitive, and for this, the equipment levels are good. The 9.2-inch touchscreen sat-nav system works particularly well, especially when it comes to finding said petrol stations, and the comfort levels, despite the FR model only being available with the “sport” suspension, rather than the SE trim’s “comfort” suspension, are really very good.

Yes, the ride can feel firm – and will be even firmer if you opt for the £900 extra FR Sport – but the seats are great and the driving position is spot-on for me. I’m just under 6ft, so this does mean rear legroom in the back behind the driver’s seat is a little compromised, but then SEAT’s upsizing customers always have the option of the Leon.

Luke Wikner