We review the Skoda Fabia from price to economy and all its features

COULD you picture yourself in a Fabia?

The new model, out in January, will have a £20 option for photos printed on the dashboard.

5

They look pretty cool, they’re easy to swap and I can see Brits using it for family snaps. Or pets.

5

But there are more reasons to focus on Skoda’s new supermini, including:

• Lower running costs — down 17 per cent.
• VW engineering — it’s a Polo in drag but longer.
• More space — bigger boot, extra elbow room.

The Fabia is Britain’s favourite Skoda with more than 267,000 sales since its launch in 2000.

I tested the new 1litre petrol, priced from £10,600, in Lisbon, Portugal.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

5

It looks sharper and sportier than the old car — 9cm wider, 3cm lower and 65kg lighter. And my test car looked ace in laser white with black roof, mirrors and 16in alloys. There are 15 body colours to choose from.

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

5

Smooth ride, comfortable and nice light steering. The Fabia shares the same chassis, engines and gearbox as the Polo and the new 3-cylinder, 1litre petrol returns 60.1mpg — 8.7mpg better than the 1.2litre (60PS).

It’s cleaner too with CO2 emissions of 106g/km. But you won’t be going anywhere fast with 0-62mph in 15.7 seconds and 99mph top speed. The quickest is the turbocharged 1.2litre TSI (110PS).

The seven-speed automatic does 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds, 122mph, while boasting the same mpg and £20 road tax (CO2 is 109g/km). But it’s £3,140 more at £13,740.

There are seven engine options in total (four petrol, three diesel), all EU6 compliant and all with Stop/Start and brake energy recovery as standard.

Skoda claims 83.1mpg from the 3-cylinder 1.4litre TDI (90PS) — 15.8mpg better than the old 1.6litre TDI (90PS) — with the lowest CO2 emissions of 88g/km (no road tax), 0-62mph in 11.1 seconds and 113mph.

Prices from £14,090. An ultra-efficient Fabia GreenLine, 91.1mpg and 82g/km CO2, will be here late 2015.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq4duVFpKs8]

It’s all new. There are three trim levels and the entry-level S has Bluetooth, DAB radio, electric front windows, central locking and six airbags. Prices have crept up but that’s still £740 worth of extra kit over the old car.

There’s room for 6ft adults in the back and the 330litre boot is much bigger than the Polo, Fiesta and Corsa. A neat parcel shelf lowers to separate fruit/bottles or dirty wellies/clean coats. There’s bottle holders in all the doors and even an ice scraper in the fuel cap.

The SE from £12,760 will be the most popular and adds alloys, speed limiter, emergency brake assist, fancy speakers and a 6.5in touchscreen that mirrors your smartphone.

The range-topping SE L from £13,610 has cruise control, climate control, armrest, keyless entry, daytime running lights, fog lights and 16in alloys. That’s £2,040 more kit than the old car.

5

VERDICT: Sensible choice. Comfortable. Big boot. A VW without the badge.