Irish Daily Mirror

Still Fab fun

-

95bhp and 110bhp. We’re driving a car with the middle option.

The range starts with the entry level S and goes up through SE, SE-L, Monte Carlo and Colour Edition. Ours is the latter which, without options, costs £15,395. Still good value.

This is the most economical of all the engines available (61.4mpg) and the one that Skoda reckons will be its top seller. It doesn’t quite have the character of Ford’s three-cylinder engine but it’s smooth and quiet. Neither does the Fabia handle quite as well as the Fiesta but it’s comfortabl­e and safe.

The roads I mentioned earlier, twisty with lots of crests and unexpected bumps, needed a car with springs that soak up bumps, and comfortabl­e seats. The Skoda Fabia has both. You can have as much fun in a car like this as you can a flash supercar, although it’s not quite so good for posing.

Inside, we have a 6.5in infotainme­nt screen which is a bit on the small side but it works fine. The interior trim is still pretty utilitaria­n, but that’s OK. The sportier Monte Carlo gets fake carbon fibre trim but it doesn’t look right.

As before, the Fabia’s ace card is its interior space. Luggage capacity is 350 litres with the seats up and 1,150 litres with them flat, which is equal to the new Polo on its space-efficient platform and more spacious than the Fiesta.

What other manufactur­ers don’t provide are the little details that set the Fabia apart. Like the umbrella under the passenger seat

New last year. A sound package but it doesn’t give much more for your money.

The most interestin­g looking Micra ever and a pretty good car, too. Excellent supermini that’s great to drive. If value is more important, go for the Fabia. (OK, you do get one with a Rollsroyce), the ice scraper and tread depth gauge in the fuel filler cap, the waste bin in the passenger’s door pocket and the nets on the sides of the front seats.

Skoda has been wise not to change much on the Fabia. The styling has been revised with new front and rear bumpers, and LED headlamps are now available as an option – but read the story above about the cost of replacing fancy headlamps before you tick that option box. All the Fabia now really needs is a brighter and more modern feeling interior.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland