What’s hot?
- Attractive new face clutches at historical allusions by using a 19-strut grille to hark back to the Czech manufacturer’s 1930s Škoda Popular Sport Monte Carlo.
- More than 90 different colour combinations to enhance individuality for owners seeking to make their Fabia stand out from the crowd.
- Six engine options will be available from launch although Škoda believe the 1.2TSI 4-cylinder will top the wish-list of most user-chooser company car drivers. These will come in two power outputs – 90hp with a 0-62mph sprint time of 10.9 seconds, 113mph top speed, 60.1mpg and 107g/km CO2 emissions and the vehicle we tested with 110hp, 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds, 122mph top speed and, with seven speed DSG auto gearbox, 60.1mpg and 109g/km CO2 emissions.
- The DSG seven-speed gearbox is slick and quick for a compact car in this price segment and allows manual override on the gearshift to enhance the driver experience.
- Handling is solid and neutral and, with a wider track and longer wheelbase than the out going model, feels akin to a larger vehicle than a compact hatch while still being 65kgs lighter than the old car. Ride quality, too, is superb and copes easily with the UK’s crumbling network of roads.
- Safer measures include six airbags and ESC electronic stability helping to earn it an NCAP 5-star rating. SE models and up get speed-limiters, driver fatigue warning and Front Assistant to spot potential collisions and begin the braking manoeuvre if the driver fails to respond.
- Standard equipment is impressive including DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, start/stop function and electric front windows.
- A best in class boot capacity of 330-litres with passenger seats upright is impressive.
- Prices start from as little as £10,600 for the 1.0-litre S while the 1.2 TSI SE L with 110hp and DSG gearbox we tested enjoys a modest £15,890.
What’s not?
- While undeniably rapid for its class and power output, the 1.2 TSI gets a little strained and noisy at high rpm and feels happiest nearer its peak torque range of under 4,000rpm.
- That big boot gobbles up passenger space in the cabin and the seats are unusable for adults if the front seats are pushed too far back.
- The push for that grown-up premium feel has left the chassis feeling a little dull and you won’t find much encouragement to chuck it around too much.
