Skoda Fabia S 1.2 6v 60ps 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Skoda S 1.2 5dr has a little but eager 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, 6v, 1198cc petrol engine, which produces 59bhp and a torque of 80 lb-ft. It drives nimbly in town and is quick in corners.

It is not fast and reaches 62mph in a reluctant 16.5 seconds. With its top speed of 96mph, it holds its own quite well on the motorway. But do not expect it to drive like a big car. Grip is good and the ride remains supple. Firm suspension absorbs bumps well and ensures good body control. Light steering is good for city driving but ineffectual on the motorway.

The engine is noisy, making the Skoda Fabia S one of the least refined small family cars. Wind noise can also be heard throughout the cabin, and increases with speed.

Slender pillars and large windows ensure that visibility is good from all sides.

The Fabia S is one of the biggest small family hatchbacks you can get. It measures 4000mm x 1642mm, and has five doors and five seats. Smart looks make it appealing.

The cabin is well-structured but plain looking. Most of the plastics used look cheap and no effort was made to soften their appearance with good finishes.

The S trim comes with basic equipment only. Only power steering, central locking, electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, immobiliser, CD player and MP3 connectivity are standard in the car.

If you need more features, you will have to pay extra for them. Available cost options include stability control £365, alloy wheels for £425, air con for £550, metallic paint for £440 and an alarm for £285.

There are advantages to Skoda Fabia’s big size, the most obvious one being roominess. The cabin is big enough for four adults and if you really want everyone to go on this ride, you can squeeze in a fifth person. There is tons of head and legroom even at the rear so no one will be too uncomfortable.

The class-leading boot is large, deep and has a good shape. Keep the seats up and you enjoy 315 litres of space; fold them down and you get a whopping 1180 litres, which will delight the enthusiastic shopper.

Steering wheel adjustments for the steering wheel as well as travel and height adjustment for the driver’s seat ensure that you get a good driving position. The dash layout is logical and simple to use.

Fabia misses out on stability control and an alarm, which you can only get at extra cost. This may explain why the car only scored 4 stars in the Euro NCAP crash test, a let-down at a time when most cars the size of the Fabia S get a five star rating.

Skoda’s strong reliability record over the years will probably soften any unease brought about by the car’s safety performance. It actually feels sturdily built and this is always a good sign.

At £9,765, the Skoda Fabia S is just a thousand pounds or so cheaper than the premium rivals, some of which provide more value for money. But it does hold its value well and has better residual values than the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.

The frugal engine returns 51.4mpg in combined cycle, which is decent but lower than the class best. Carbon emissions are higher than in most cars of its size. It emits an average of 129g/km, for which you will pay £95 a year in VED, under road tax band D.

Insurance costs are low, with the car sitting in insurance group 3. To ensure optimal performance, you will need to service your Fabia S every 10,000 miles.