I wasn't imagining it then.
Don't get me wrong, I was sceptical about the Euro 6. How could a strangled 35 year old engine be better right?
It's not like we're short of hills in Derbyshire but the ones in South-East Spain are way bigger. The torque delivery was much better in the Euro 6 than the two 2011 1.2s I have access to - specially for a lazy dog like me who doesn't like to swap cogs often. Mind you, it didn't seem to like revs at the higher end unlike our Euro 5.
The indicated combined consumption (45mpg) was all the more surprising considering the very fast cruising we did on the empty AP7 etc as well as all the hills. A 950 mile trip gives a good spread.
So, apart from the woeful interior, bland looks and lack of decent colours, I wouldn't be dismissing the Euro 6 at all..............unless our hire car was somehow specially tuned.