Road test - Skoda Fabia 2

Search: Superminis

Skoda sold 1.6m models of the last Fabia, can the new car build on the old models popularity? We find out...

Price: £9,720 (without options)
On sale: Now
0-62mph: 14.9 seconds; top speed 101mph
Average fuel: 47.9 mpg
Standard equipment: Body coloured wing mirrors, Body coloured door handles, Trip computer, Storage pockets on rear of front seats, Height-adjustable front seats, Remote central locking, air conditioning, Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, Alarm with tilt sensor, 15" Antares alloy wheels and a single disc CD player with six-speakers.

Tiscali verdict: Likeable, engaging and well-made supermini. But, there are questions over the styling and pricing. 7/10

The first-generation Fabia, launched in the UK in 2000, earned a reputation for being one of the biggest and roomiest cars in its class. Despite selling over 1.6M examples of the original car, rivals have caught up over the past seven years. Skoda could have made the latest Fabia significantly larger, but instead, the new car is 47 mm taller, the boot is bigger and the nose longer to accommodate new pedestrian safety rules. It may be taller and longer than the old car, but how does it compare against supermini rivals? We find out.

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£9,720 sounds pretty reasonable for a modern supermini. The standard kit on our Fabia 2 included pretty much all the equipment you'll ever need. But, is it too expensive? Volkswagen group rivals include the Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo, with prices starting at £8,690. Included as standard on the Fabia 2 are an attractive set of 15" alloy wheels, air conditioning, remote central locking and a good quality CD/audio system with six-speakers. The taller dimensions might not always please the eye, but there's enough room for five tall passengers and a reasonably sized boot with a useful holder to stop loose groceries rolling round.