We test SEAT's TGI range: Arona, Ibiza, León and Mii with ECO label

Antonio Roncero @roncero_antonio 8 April 2019 10 min.

Covering 100 km at an approximate cost of around 3 euros is possible without resorting to an electric car thanks to the SEAT TGI range. After an update, they are back on sale with four possible models to choose from: the Mii Ecofuel, the Ibiza TGI, the Arona TGI and the León TGI. All of them run on compressed natural gas CNG. And all of them benefit from the advantages granted by the DGT’s ECO label.

Except for the SEAT Mii, one of the main novelties is that all TGI models now incorporate three CNG tanks, to achieve greater range when running in gas mode. And when I say greater range in gas mode, I am referring to a comparison with the same TGI models that were sold in 2018, before the change from the NEDC to the WLTP cycle, if they were homologated now under the new cycle.

Between this change and the new method applied to measure the gas capacity of the tanks, the previous SEAT TGI range would have seen its gas-mode range considerably reduced, losing appeal for users who want to take advantage of the low cost per kilometre this fuel offers.

The price to pay is a significant loss of range in petrol mode. Now, petrol mode is practically a reserve, ensuring mobility to reach a filling station where CNG, which becomes the main fuel, can be refuelled.

This takes away some of the advantage of the TGI models compared with LPG gas models when it comes to covering many kilometres without refuelling. In exchange, the TGIs continue to offer an unbeatable cost per kilometre.

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As interesting facts, keep these in mind: a car running on CNG can reduce CO2 emissions by around 25% compared with an equivalent version running on petrol, and up to 75% if compared with a diesel. And particulate or sulphur dioxide emissions are practically nil.

As for cost per kilometre, SEAT claims savings of up to 50% compared with petrol, 30% compared with diesel, 10% compared with a car running on LPG… and even 25% compared with a non-plug-in hybrid!

Without a doubt, CNG cars like SEAT’s new TGI range are an option worth considering, especially now that the charging infrastructure, their main disadvantage compared with LPG cars, is progressively growing. There are currently 85 public CNG charging stations, and reaching 100 pumps this same year is planned. In 21 provincial capitals there are already operational filling stations located no more than 30 km from the city centre.

Let us remember that, unlike LPG cars, where the driver can freely choose whether to use gas or petrol, CNG cars always run on gas, except to start when the engine temperature is below 10°C, after refuelling to carry out a check, or when the gas in the tanks runs out. You can find more information here about the differences between LPG and CNG.

SEAT Mii Ecofuel: the city dweller

SEAT’s city car in its CNG version is the only one that does not use a TGI engine. Hence its Ecofuel designation. It is also the only one that uses just two CNG tanks. Here you can check all the details of the SEAT Mii&You, with a 68 hp engine.

Its performance is far from dazzling, with more than 16 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. But with the 10.9 kg capacity of its tanks, the Mii Ecofuel offers a range of around 380 km according to the official average consumption, which is 3 kg of CNG per 100 km. This means that, at the current price of CNG (around 0.90 euros/kg), with the Mii Ecofuel you can cover 100 km for less than 3 euros.

The figure will increase if you drive only in the city, where the homologated consumption will also rise (SEAT only provides the average consumption). But in any case, it is an unbeatable option for getting around the city with the lowest possible fuel cost per kilometre.

The price of the SEAT Mii Ecofuel Mii&You starts from 14,800 euros, to which the current discounts would apply, which you can check on the brand’s official website or at any dealership. With them applied, you have a Mii Ecofuel from around 8,000 euros.

SEAT Ibiza TGI: 100 km for 3 euros

In the road test of the SEAT Ibiza TGI of the previous generation, before the new update, we already gave you 5 reasons to switch to CNG. All of them are still valid, although now you will no longer be able to cover more than 1,000 km without refuelling.

The engine is still the 1.0 TGI with 90 hp and 160 Nm of torque, although now the gearbox has six speeds instead of five. It offers smoothness, although with CNG it seems to want to make its three-cylinder character clearer, and a level of performance that extends its range perfectly outside the city, with its top speed of 180 km/h and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.1 seconds.

The shorter first gears improve responsiveness, especially when pulling away from a standstill or moving through the city.

Now, the two gas tanks become three, made of bonificado (heat-treated) steel. Going from the approximately 13 litres of the previous two tanks to 13.8 with the three tanks and the new system for measuring their capacity. No space is lost in the cabin or the boot, which keeps its 262 litres of capacity, because the petrol tank is reduced from 40 to 9 litres, to make room for the third gas tank.

With an homologated average consumption of 3.3 kg/100 km, the homologated range in gas mode reaches 410 km. A simple calculation shows this amounts to a cost of barely 3 euros per 100 km driven. The difficult part, as always with all cars, whatever the fuel, is achieving those homologated consumption figures.

During our first contact we measured 3.8 kg/100 km according to the trip computer. That is still less than 3.5 euros per 100 km, which is a “bargain”. The final range is no longer as impressive: around 360 km. But the petrol that fits in the tank will get you “runs” of around 150 km until the next gas refuelling.

The SEAT Ibiza TGI is offered in Reference Plus, Style, Xcellence and FR finishes, with official prices from 18,340 up to 20,980 euros. Again, check with the dealership, because with all the discounts, an Ibiza TGI is advertised from 12,960 euros.

Image gallery Seat Ibiza TGI

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SEAT Arona TGI: SUV and ECO

When it was presented at the end of last year, we already told you why the SEAT Arona TGI is a SUV that is cheaper to run than a diesel or a hybrid. Now the first SUV on the market with CNG is on sale (with LPG there are several; here you have the buying guide with LPG SUVs), and it becomes the fourth member of SEAT’s ECO family.

The SEAT Arona TGI was therefore presented with the update that the Ibiza and León have received to move to three tanks. The engine is the same 1.0 as the Ibiza TGI. It does not move the Arona TGI badly either in the city or on the road, with its 13.2 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 174 km/h. But we can’t help dreaming of a possible version with the extra punch and responsiveness of the León’s 1.5 TGI engine.

As for consumption and range, what we said about the Ibiza is repeated here. Officially it is 410 km in gas mode, thanks to the 13.8 kg of tanks. Again, we are talking about a cost of around 3 euros per 100 km. In our test, driving at a good pace on country roads and motorways, and without any kind of ECO driving, average consumption came close to 5 kg of gas, which is not hard to bring down if you travel at motorway cruising speed and can maintain the pace.

Don’t do the sums, I’ll do them for you: it’s 4.5 euros per 100 km driven. And it’s still worth it. In a petrol Arona, on the same route and at the same pace, the figure would be close to 9 euros. Here, the greater deviation in real consumption from the homologated figure compared with the Ibiza also leads to a larger reduction in real range, which can end up being just over 300 km if you don’t watch your right foot. But you also have a 9-litre petrol “reserve”, which again will give you around 125 extra km.

As for the range and prices, the Arona TGI is offered in Reference Edition, Style, Xcellence and FR trim levels. List prices range from 20,160 euros up to 24,030 for the sporty FR finish. With the discounts applied, you have an Arona TGI Reference Edition from 15,740 euros.

SEAT Arona TGI image gallery

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SEAT León TGI: new heart

Technically, the new SEAT León TGI brings the most innovations. Here, the third tank made of heat-treated steel is added to the two made of composite materials and carbon fibre, located under the boot floor. The total capacity in this case reaches 17.3 litres of CNG.

But in addition, the 110 hp 1.4 engine gives way to the more modern and efficient 1.5 TGI, with 130 hp and a maximum torque of 200 Nm. There is no need to compare the performance of the previous model with this one. Note its 9.9 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h, and its official top speed, which exceeds 200 km/h.

That is why we said how well this engine would suit the Arona. In the León TGI, both with 5-door bodywork and in the ST estate (the one you should choose if the 275 litres of boot space in the 5-door fall short), it delivers a fantastic result. And with an added bonus: you can choose between the six-speed manual gearbox or the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox, which suits this engine to perfection.

If we turn to the homologated figures, range can reach 500 km in the version with the DSG gearbox, which announces an average consumption of 3.5 kg/100 km. Our measurement during the test route left the trip computer at a little over 4 l/100 km, which ensures a range of more than 400 km. And again with more than 100 extra km from the petrol tank “reserve”.

As for price, list prices start from 24,920 euros for the 5-door Style manual up to 28,700 euros for the FR with DSG gearbox, always 1,000 euros more for the ST estate bodywork. With the current offer and all discounts applied, you have a León TGI in Style Vision trim from 19,120 euros.