Skoda Fabia Elegance 1.2 12v 69ps 5dr Car Review - February 2012

Although the Fabia is larger than a supermini, it still has some light steering which is easy enough to handle in urban streets, although potholes and patched roads equate to a rough ride with the firm suspension. Once you escape the city streets, the open road may be a little less comfortable than you might expect, as the Fabia leans significantly when cornering, and steering becomes vague. The driver's seat can be adjusted to suit the driver, as can the steering wheel, and there is a good level of visibility in all directions.

The engine performance is probably one of the most disappointing aspects of this version of the Fabia, with the 1.2 litre engine only able to accelerate from 0-62mph in a positively ponderous 14.9 seconds. Although the top speed of 101mph is theoretically reachable, the amount of wind and road noise would make it distinctly uncomfortable to do so on the typical bumpy British roads.

The Skoda Fabia has been in production for a number of years, and apart from a few style tweaks it really is much the same car as it was when it was first released. The front end has a small air intake running along the front bumper, and the grille and headlight combination is attractive enough. The upright stance of the car does give it a look that is a little boxy, but the rear of the car is also neat and tidy. This version of the Skoda Fabia is supplied with alloy wheels as standard, which does improve the look of this car.

Elsewhere in the car, there are also features such as cruise control and climate control which do improve the refinement in the cabin, but only having electric windows in the front of the car is a little disappointing.

One of the positive aspects of the Fabia is that it does have an excellent reliability record, which means that drivers can be confident they won't be using the roadside breakdown policy which is supplied with the car. The Fabia has been awarded four stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests, but it is supplied with a range of airbags to cushion the blow for everyone in the car, both front and rear. ABS is also included as standard, but it is disappointing to see ESP and traction control not included.

As a mid range hatchback, the Fabia is a practical car first and foremost, with a reasonable amount of space to be found in the front and rear of the car. The boot also has a good amount of space to offer for luggage.

One of the main reasons that people will be considering the Skoda Fabia is that it is an inexpensive car, and with a list price of £12,440 it is significantly cheaper than alternatives such as the VW Golf or the Ford Focus.

The fuel performance of this version of the Fabia is a little underwhelming, as it can only achieve an average 51.4mpg, which isn't the best in class by a long shot. However, the car does have a very low insurance group meaning that premiums will be lower even for young drivers, and the resale values to remain fairly strong too. The Fabia is supplied with a three year warranty from Skoda, and is also delivered with a three year roadside breakdown assistance policy supplied by the RAC.