IT took British Leyland a lifetime to sell five million Minis. And, thanks to the British motor industry’s aversion to actually developing its cars, by the time the Mini reached that figure it was on its last legs.

The most recent inductee into the hall of fame for cars that have reached the magic five million mark is the Seat Ibiza – a model which, thanks to Seat’s policy of continuous renewal, shows no signs of getting on a bit.

Since its launch in 1984, the Ibiza has become the most-exported Spanish-made passenger car of all-time.

More than 3.5m have been sold abroad with Britain, Italy, France, Germany and Portugal being the Ibiza’s most successful overseas territories.

The first Ibiza was a game-changer for Seat, the first model designed and developed completely by the Spanish company from start to finish – with a little help from Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Italdesign design company, coachbuilder Karmann, and engine specialists at Porsche (yes, that Porsche).

In 1992, the Ibiza was the official car of the Olympic Games and the Ibiza was the first car in its segment to boast electronic stability control (now a legal requirement on all vehicles).

The basic shape of the current car was the work of ex-Lamborghini stylist Luc Donckerwolke, who deliberately designed a radical break with previous Seats.

In 2013, Donckerwolke’s successor as design chief, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, introduced the ‘Arrow Design’ concept on the Ibiza, a confluence of sharp lines and unusual angles that brought the little hatchback bang up to date.

Arrow Design has been successfully transferred to the award-winning Leon as part of Seat’s range renewal program that is helping thecompany bounce back after a grim few years when all its cars looked like the Altea.

Today, 700 Ibizas leave Seat’s enormous Martorell plant, near Madrid, every day.

The first Ibiza cost 825,000 pesetas, the equivalent of nearly £12,000 at today’s prices – the latest model, packed with safety kit and extra equipment, can be yours for £11,410 (less if you haggle hard).

And, as befits a best-seller, the Ibiza can be had in a variety of guises – from the sporty SC (sport coupe) three door, the family-friendly 5-door, the practical ST estate and, finally, the smoking hot Cupra high-performance variant.

Seat offers a broad range of petrol and diesel engines. Technical highlights include the turbocharged 1.2 TSI and the twin charger (turbo and supercharger) 1.4-litre TSI.

Most models come with a five-speed gearbox but Seat offers the VW group’s award-winning DSG-auto as an option with the TSI powerplants, and the 2.0-litre TDI is fitted with a six-speed manual.

Cost conscious drivers will appreciate the three-cylinder 1.2 TDI which does more than 80mpg in Ecomotive form and emits just 92g/km of CO2 for tax-free motoring. All the diesels are cheap to run, however, even the 2.0 TDI which delivers in excess of 60mpg and startling in-gear acceleration which leaves sportier rivals gasping in its wake.

But true performance junkies will head straight for the FR and Cupra models. The 1.4 TSI fitted to the FR offers a compromise between running costs and thrills thanks to its active cylinder technology which shuts down two cylinders when they’re not needed. The Cupra uses the same engine but tweaked to produce an extra 30PS and scorches to 62mph in less than seven seconds.

Is it any wonder that Ibiza sales show no sign of flagging?

Here’s to the next five million.