THE new Skoda Fabia is a genuinely likeable five-door supermini that is undoubtedly great value for money.

The new model is a little wider so it’s a bit roomier and its range consists of three trim levels: S, SE and SE L. All models are fitted with six airbags as standard - driver, passenger, side and curtain - along with Bluetooth, DAB radio and USB. Air conditioning, alloy wheels, acoustic rear parking sensors and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking are fitted on SE models and above.

Four petrol and two diesel engines are on offer, all of which are fully EU6 compliant and come with Start-Stop and brake energy recovery as standard. The best-selling model is expected to be the 1.0-litre 75PS SE, followed by the 1.2-litre 90PS SE, which was the model I drove.

Offered with a standard five-speed manual gearbox, it incorporates turbo direct injection for a high power output relative to the engine’s 1,197 cubic capacity. Maximum power of 90PS is available from 4,400 to 5,400rpm, with a torque output of 160 Nm from just 1,400 to 3,500rpm.

You can customise the car, with the roof, door mirrors and alloy wheels painted white, silver or black to contrast against the body colour, giving the Fabia a little bit of funkiness to add to the mix.

A wide range of options is available, including an optional one-piece, glass panoramic roof that floods the cabin in natural light. The glass material has three layers: a bottom layer of tempered glass, a middle layer of safety film, and a top glazed layer tinted to provide protection from the sun and heat transmittance.

The boot is surprisingly spacious for a car of this size – 330 litres, although the rear seats don’t fold down completely flat.

Bumps are soaked up easily thanks to soft suspension and it handles well – if a bit predictably. It also feels reassuringly stable, even at higher speeds, and wind noise is nicely subdued.

But this is what most Fabia buyers will be most interested in – just £20 a year in road tax, infrequent trips to the petrol station thanks to a respectable 60 miles to the gallon, low insurance costs, lots of decent standard kit, easy to park and a decent all-round drive. A sensible choice.

Factfile
Car:
Skoda Fabia SE L
On the road: £14,240
Top speed: 113mph
0-62mph: 10.9 seconds
Fuel: 60.1mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 107g/km