Skoda Fabia review

The Skoda Fabia is a well proven supermini contender that builds on the dependable nature of its predecessors with more tech and a surprisingly enjoyable drive. It’s very roomy, handles tidily, has some strong engines and mid-spec trim and above are well stocked with kit.

The 2018 revisions didn't transform the Fabia into the class-leader, but it still remains a refined, sensible supermini. The Polo is marginally more comfortable and gets more advanced infotainment tech, but the Skoda is cheaper to buy in the first place. Some rivals offer fancier tech, but as a safe, dependable supermini, the Fabia is still very hard to fault.

The Skoda Fabia, whether it's the five-door hatch or practical estate, is one of the best superminis for sale in the UK today. It offers lots of practicality, decent space inside and a range of efficient engines. And while there's no vRS hot hatch, the Fabia is still a decent handling yet refined supermini, which helps to make it a front-runner in the class.

The current third generation Fabia arrived in 2014, and was given a minor freshen up in 2018. This saw the engine range revised with just 1.0-litre petrol engines available, more practical touches added to the interior and the most subtle of exterior facelifts.

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Rivals for the Fabia are plentiful, and are led by the UK's best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta. Other mainstream models include the Vauxhall Corsa, Citroen C3, Nissan Micra and Toyota Yaris, while in-house rivals are offered in the shape of the SEAT Ibiza and VW Polo, although the latter is a bit pricier. Elsewhere, the Kia Rio and Hyundai i20 are practical choices, while the Honda Jazz has a more upright body. The Mazda 2 is a sporty alternative, and the Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio are also available.

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Under the skin, the Skoda Fabia uses a mix of tech taken from the last model and the VW Group’s MQB platform. As already mentioned, the engine range changed in 2018, with the 1.2 TSI petrol and all diesels dropped and just 1.0-litre petrol units offered, each gaining exhaust particualte filters to pass the latest emissions regulations. The 1.0 MPI 59bhp three-cylinder unit is only available in the hatchback range, while the boosted 1.0 TSI comes in 94bhp and 108bhp forms. There's little to choose from in terms of economy, and the 94bhp version is the one we'd choose. All cars are front-wheel drive and come with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the most powerful 108bhp TSI uses a six-speed manual.

Prices for the Fabia start from just over £12,000, with the estate incurring a premium of around £1,000 over the hatch. Trims comprise S, SE, SE Drive, SE L and Monte Carlo, with the limited run Colour Edition available on the hatchback. S models are rather sparse, but SE comes with air con, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, rear parking sensors and Smartlink + smartphone connectivity.

Go for the plush SE L version and it comes with keyless go, cruise control and smarter trim. The Monte Carlo is a sporty model that's based on SE with a body kit and contrasting black roof and wheels, but apart from LED running lights it’s otherwise similar to the SE. Sadly, Skoda says there's not enough demand for a hot Fabia, so there won't be a vRS option - at least in this model generation.

For an alternative review of the latest Skoda Fabia Hatchback visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk