WHAT IS THIS?
The fourth generation Skoda Fabia supermini, the smallest and cheapest Skoda you can buy. Skoda prides itself on having sold over 4.5 million vehicles since the Fabia went on sale in 1999. It was this first-generation car that really established Skoda as a reputable car manufacturer after years of ridicule and derision for the Czech company.
So with the Citigo's departure, the Fabia should offer a smooth entry into the Skoda lineup. Compared to all those giant SUVs, it looks smaller than ever, even if the new car is over four metres long for the first time. Want proof that cars of all types have grown up over the past 20 years? The new Fabia's 2.56m wheelbase is longer than the original 1996 Octavia.
LOOKS POSH, BUT ISN'T A SKODA SUPPOSED TO BE CHEAP?
Skoda has been working hard lately to create a sleeker family look with more uniformity across the range. The Fabia certainly looks more purposeful in the metal than it does in the photos, but the design isn't as distinctive as it used to be. From our point of view, the rear bears similarities to the Ford Focus, but the front end is unmistakably Skoda, with vertical grille blades and bonnet creases.
It's easy to forget that Skoda used to be a budget option, but in recent years the whole range has moved up a notch, and now the company focuses more on "surprising and delightful" new features and family practicality. There are a few suspect plastic areas in the cabin, though the company can say these are meant to last for the family, not to please Volkswagen and Audi relatives.
DOES THE BUDGET HAVE THE FEEL OF DRIVING?
No: The Fabia exudes the kind of relentless capability we've come to expect from the entire Volkswagen Group. Buyers currently have five petrol engine options to choose from, ranging from the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 64bhp, 79bhp, 94bhp - fitted as standard with a five-speed manual gearbox - or 108bhp with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. We've tested the 94 and 108 horsepower versions so far and found them quite practical. More on that in the driving tab.
But wait, there's more - later this year a 148bhp top-spec version will be available (although a true vRS is, sadly, only a pipe dream), so those who want a more spirited drive will have to wait until then. Or just buy something else. Still, that doesn't mean the Fabia can't accelerate at a fast pace.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Well, the range starts at £14,905 for the S model which doesn't have many amenities, which no one except the rental agency you've booked in Crete will buy. Then Skoda's two-pronged attack on the market kicks in - the SE Comfort and SE L models are aimed at more traditional (older) customers, with the latter currently topping the range's price list at just under £19,000.
On the other hand there are cars aimed at attracting new, young and modern consumers to the Skoda range, starting with the Colour Edition - think more personalisation and gadget options - and soon, as Skoda recently announced, the rally-inspired Monte Carlo version. Head to the Shopping tab for all the details.
DOES THE FABIA HAVE ALL THESE FUN SKODA GADGETS?
The usual suspects dubbed "Simply Clever" are here - there's the umbrella on the driver's door and the ice scraper inside the fuel tank cap - but Skoda is trying some new ones on the Fabia. Little things like a USB-C charger in the mirror to plug in your dashcam and a lid that opens from the boot to protect your paintwork, or a pen loop and parking ticket holder in the small front storage area just in front of the gear selector. These features may or may not change your life, but at least you'll enjoy showing them off to your friends.
There are also technical features in the Fabia that have been carried over from larger cars - heated steering wheel and windscreen, air conditioning vents for rear passengers, lots of safety features. You could downsize from something bigger and you wouldn't miss anything.
