I have a 2019 Seat Ibiza and the mechanic recently told me the brake pads are pretty worn down. I'm not sure if that's normal or if I've been hard on them driving around the city. Is there a recommended interval or does it depend on how you use it?
Brake pads typically last between 40,000 and 70,000 kilometers depending on your driving style, so on a 2019 Ibiza it's pretty normal for them to be worn down if you drive a lot in the city where you're constantly braking. City driving wears them out faster than highway driving, so I don't think you've abused them, it's just that that kind of use burns through them more.
Brake pads don't have a fixed interval like oil does, it really depends a lot on your driving style and the terrain where you drive. If you drive a lot in the city with constant braking, it's normal that they wear out faster than if you use the highway, so what the shop told you is probably true and doesn't mean you've mistreated them, just that city driving is harder on the brakes.
In the city you definitely burn through them faster, especially if you brake a lot or drive a bit aggressively.
With a 2019 Ibiza it's completely normal for them to ask you to change them by now if you drive around a lot, so don't worry that you haven't worn them out.
What I will warn you about is that some mechanics take advantage to tell you they're "pretty worn" when they still have some life left, so if you want a second opinion ask someone else to check them out or learn to tell when they're really at the limit (when they start squealing or you notice braking feels different).
Anyway, changing them isn't expensive compared to other car costs, so if they're already recommending it, it's probably time.
It really depends way more on how you drive than how much time passes. I have a car that I use a lot in the city with tons of traffic lights and all that, and I can tell you the pads wear out pretty fast compared to when I hit the highway. If you brake a lot, if you're constantly on the pedal, or if you're one of those people who slams on the brakes at the last second, obviously they wear out faster. In your case with a 2019 Ibiza driving in the city, the shop telling you they're pretty worn is completely normal, doesn't mean you did anything wrong.
What some people mention about 40,000 to 70,000 kilometers is a ballpark range but pretty variable. Some cars last longer, others less. It depends on the weight of the vehicle, the type of pads it came with from the factory, the quality of the brakes overall, and mainly how you drive. If you brake smoothly, anticipating what's coming, they clearly last longer than if you're constantly pressing the pedal. The city is brutal on brake pads, everybody knows that.
The important thing now is if the shop tells you they're pretty worn, better replace them. It's not something you should ignore. When they wear down a lot it affects your braking and plus you start damaging the rotors, which is way more expensive to fix. It's not a job that's expensive or complicated, so just get it done.
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