Skoda Fabia vs Toyota Avensis

Owners can’t get enough of these cars. Both are regulars near the top of Auto Express’s Driver Power reliability and satisfaction survey – in 2008, the Skoda Fabia was 24th and Toyota’s Avensis 28th.

Yet while there was a difference of nearly £7,000 between them new, the Fabia 1.4 TDI and the Avensis 1.8 petrol are now evenly matched second-hand.

The Skoda’s willing 1.4 offers 60mpg motoring, although its CO2 output isn’t low enough to attract road tax at £35 a year. What’s more, with 40 per cent of all 2005 Fabias sold here being TDIs, there are none of the supply problems that afflict other used diesel superminis.

So the price parity with the Avensis is harder to fathom, given the Toyota’s build quality and space – plus a kit list in T3-X trim that includes climate control and remote locking. You get a lot more car for your money than with the base Fabia.

Skoda Fabia 1.4 TDI / Toyota Avensis 1.8
* Price from: £4,600 / £5,000
* Example we found: 1.4 TDI Classic Avensis / 1.8 T3-X 5dr
* Year/Mileage: 05-reg, 54,000 miles / 05-reg, 37,000 miles
* Price now : £4,995 / £5,350
* Price new in 2005: £9,700 / £16,400
* Economy/CO2: 61.4mpg/124g/km / 39.2mpg/171g/km
* Tax now/Apr 2009: £120/£90 / £170/£205