It might not sound that impressive, but it does make a real difference. No longer do you have to hit the red line to keep pace with traffic, and the new unit comes into its own on the motorway. Whereas owners of the 54bhp entry-level version will be changing down between fifth and fourth gear to overtake, the extra torque means the newcomer is much more responsive and refined in the highest ratio. That said, the increased performance does result in some disadvantages.
While Skoda claims 47.1mpg economy, we struggled to return more than 35mpg on an 80-mile motorway trip.
Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.
For an alternative review of the latest Skoda Fabia visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!