IT isn't too long since buyers flocked to get their hands on any diesel motor which could give upwards of 40mpg.

That was a pretty impressive figure indeed 20 or so years ago, but how times have moved on.

Fifty and even 60mpg on the combined cycle quickly became the norm, until Spanish manufacturer SEAT raised the bar even further with fuel-sipping Ecomotive models.

First it was the Ibiza Ecomotive supermini, which was quickly followed by the ultra-efficient Leon family hatchback which could return nearly 70mpg on the combined cycle.

Even in congested town and city traffic the Leon starred, returning an official urban consumption figure of more than 60mpg.

And it was not kitted out with a motor that was something akin to one that powers your washing machine. No, the Leon was given a proper 1.6-litre, turbo-diesel which pumped out 103bhp and had a top speed of 118mph.

Impressive stuff indeed. But that wasn't all, for with its miniscule CO2 emissions of just 99g/km, it also meant that it was free from annual road tax.

Some of the secrets to achieving such fuel efficiency was down to the car's new 1.6-litre TDI engine which used the then latest developments in common rail technology. Added to that it was fitted with a diesel particulate filter giving it the makings of being a mean, green driving machine.

Yet there was more. The car's automatic start/stop function cut the engine whenever the car stopped. Dip the clutch to select a gear to move off and the car quickly and seemlessly automatically started up again, allowing the driver to pull away.

This feature alone saved a substantial amount of fuel when the car was taken into congested built-up areas.

Another fuel-saving device was the Leon's energy recovery function which recycled energy generated by the alternator when the car slowed down. Engine work was therefore reduced so once again fuel consumption was cut.

To complete the package, engineers also tweaked the gearbox to save yet more fuel, while Ecomotive models also sported slight aerodynamic changes which also helped cut both fuel consumption and emissions.

As with all SEATs, the second-generation Leon was pretty well equipped, with even the entry-level S trim model featuring air conditioning, six-speaker MP3-compatible CD sound system, electric front windows, adjustable steering wheel and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Safety and security features included front, side and curtain airbags, electronic stability programme, ABS, traction control, ISOFIX child seat mounts and remote central locking with deadlocks.

The SE trim added features such as cruise control, tinted rear windows, dual zone climate control, electric folding mirrors and coming home headlight function.

With more and more business users keeping a close eye on running costs, the Leon Ecomotive had a awful lot going for it and it soon became a firm favourite with fleet managers and private users alike.

Expect to pay from £6,180 to £8,095 for a 2012 61-plate S trim example, or between £6,630 and £8,685 for one in higher SE specification.

Move on to 2013 on a 62-plate and corresponding prices rise from around £7,505 to £9,550 for the S trim model and from £7,890 to £10,040 for one in SE trim.