Should you buy one?

Yes. The Skoda Fabia is the best small car the Volkswagen Group has to offer. It runs rings around the Volkswagen Polo and the SEAT Ibiza, in terms of practicality, efficiency and value-for-money which is exactly what’s required in this class.

It might not be the most exciting choice, but it compensates for that with its smooth ride and good refinement. We also like the fact that Skoda has bumped the Fabia’s build quality up a notch over the previous car. It no longer feels like the poor relation.

Keen drivers might be left cold by the Fabia, though. It lacks the handling prowess of the now discontinued Ford Fiesta and the style of the recently updated Renault Clio. Despite this, it’s a very impressive all-rounder which deserves a place on your shortlist.

Things we like

The Fabia is like Mary Poppins’ bag. It’s compact on the outside, but can rival cars from the class above for interior space. It’s also ruthlessly efficient and it feels more grown-up than most superminis thanks to its supple ride and good refinement.

Things we don’t like

Although the Fabia’s ride quality is softer than most of the cars in its class, it still a little firmer than we think it should be, given the car’s focal market. The Skoda isn’t a corner carving menace, so it should (unashamedly) have squidgy suspension. The automatic gearbox saps fuel economy, too. Just stick with the manual.