Insurance Group: 7
MPG: 67.3
CO2: 109
0-62 Mph: 14.1 secs
BHP: 74 BHP
Range: 666 miles
PROS: Offering great value for money, this car combines exceptionally low CO2 emissions with high levels of fuel efficiency to make this car cheap to buy and keep on the road.
CONS: Acceleration is a little slow and the handling could be improved. The exterior style is also a little unattractive due to the bulky front.
A four cylinder engine delivers a healthy power output of 74 bhp (75 PS) at 4000 rpm with torque figures of 144 lb-ft at 1500-2000 rpm. This gives the car a decent top speed of 103 mph, whilst acceleration is a little on the slow side with the car taking 14.1 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.
The engine’s efficiency is perhaps its strongest attribute and the car is able to achieve an impressive 67.3 mpg on a combined cycle. On top of this, carbon emissions are extremely low at 109 g/km and this means that the car has strong green credentials and benefits from low road tax costs.
In terms of handling, the steering of the car is firm and controlled but unfortunately the car’s height puts it at a disadvantage and there is a lot of body roll during corners and bends.
The external appearance of the Fabia is a little clumsy due to the large front end so it is not the most attractive car on the market. In the interior the car comes with basic equipment as standard, but many luxuries are either unavailable on this model or incur additional costs.
Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with both CD and MP3 connectivity. Leather seats, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors, electric door mirrors and climate control are all unavailable on this model, whilst air conditioning, alloy wheels, stability control and a metallic paint finish cost between £365 and £550.
The quality of the build is high and reliability good. The fit and finish of internal instruments is good quality and the materials feel solid without looking cheap.
In terms of safety, the car comes with driver, passenger and front side air bags all fitted as standard features. To protect the car from theft, there is an immobiliser fitted as standard but those who want the additional security of an alarm will have to pay an extra £285.
As a family car, practicality will be a priority and the Fabia offers plenty of cabin space for passengers thanks to the long shape of the car. There is also plenty of adjustment for the steering wheel and seats, to allow drivers and passengers to find the most comfortable seating position.
On top of this, the boot capacity of the car is fairly reasonable for a family car and there is 315 litres of space on offer when all of the seats are in place. Collapsing the seats expands this capacity to an impressive 1,180 litres which makes it an ideal family car.
Priced at £11,850, this car is fairly reasonable considering the efficiency which is offered. The fuel consumption of 67.3 mpg means that refuelling shouldn’t be expensive for the average driver and should make this car cheap to keep on the road. Road tax falls under one of the cheapest tax bands (B) due to low carbon emissions of 109 g/km and even insurance premiums are low under insurance group 7.
The only disadvantage is the lack of interior kit which is offered, with many features being unavailable or incurring an additional charge. It may therefore be worthwhile for drivers to invest in an upgraded trim level whilst those prepared to make these sacrifices will find this model a great budget car.
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