Skoda Fabia Estate S 1.2 12v 69ps 5dr Car Review - March 2012

A 1.2-litre, 3 cylinder, 126v 1198cc petrol engine is the power behind the Fabia Estate. The engine struggles under the weight of the car, with only 68bhp and 82 lb-ft of torque to give a pull. But it is smooth if slow, with a 0-62mph time of 15.0 seconds. A top speed of 102mph is decent for the class.

The Fabia Estate is composed on the road, gripping on the surface with determination. Body movement is controlled but soft suspension causes a bit of body lean in bends. The 5-speed manual gearbox is efficient while the braking system is a little overenthusiastic; avoid sudden braking or you may be suddenly be hurled forward.

You will enjoy a quiet ride, with the engine humming away softly and road noise fully suppressed in the cabin. There is some wind noise at high speed, but it is nothing that would upset you.

Thin pillars ensure good visibility, both front and rear.

The Fabia Estate is shorter than the average estate but looks longer than it is. A small family car, it measures 4247mm x 1642mm x 1498mm. An elongated tailgate, roof rails and sleek nose are the most distinguishing features in the Fabia Estate.

The interior looks expensive. It is well-designed and finished, with high quality materials used on all the surfaces. The dashboard has an upmarket feel, thanks to soft-touch finishes and rich detailing on the controls.

Skoda does not offer much in the way of equipment. Only power steering, central locking, electric front windows, driver airbag passenger airbags, front side airbags, immobiliser, MP3 connectivity and CD player are standard in this car.

Higher trims have slightly more equipment but you can also upgrade to a better equipment level with the cost options, which include an alarm for £285, stability control for £365, air con for £550, rear-parking sensors for £280, alloy wheels for £425 and metallic paint for £440.

Cabin access is made easy with so many doors available. Inside, the Skoda Fabia is spacious and can comfortably seat four adults. If no one minds giving up the luxury of travelling with plenty of space all around them, a fifth person can hop in. Even the tallest passenger will be comfortable in this car, as it has plenty of head and legroom.

The boot is large, only 55 litres smaller than that of the much bigger, more expensive BMW 5-Series Touring! Rear seats fold flat to increase capacity to 1485 litres, which is enough for a large shopping bag/pushing chair/picnic table/sporting equipment.

There is plenty of storage space in the cabin. The glove box is spacious and there are pockets on all doors.

Two-way adjustments on the steering wheel and driver’s seat ensure that you find a comfortable driving position. The dash is clear and all the controls are big enough, clearly labelled and easy to use.

The Skoda Fabia does not have stability control, but there is a range of safety equipment installed. Overall, the car scored 4 stars out of 5 in the Euro NCAP crash test.

You should not have any worries about the quality and reliability of the engine. Skoda does well in reliability tests and its cars do last a good number of years before they start slowing down.

The Skoda Fabia S offers good value for money at a budget price. Considering that the car was only launched in 2011, there is already a high level of demand for it. Residual value projections are good.

Good economy and low running costs will make living with the Skoda Fabia easy. You get 51.4mpg on average. With good driving, this figure will most likely go up. Carbon emissions are low at 128g/km and place the car under road tax band D for £95 a year. A low insurance group (4) means even less expenses for you. The car comes with a 10,000 mile service interval which won’t cripple you financially, thanks to low rates.

Skoda gives a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty on this car.