Like the Polo, Seat Ibiza and Audi A1, this fourth-generation Fabia sits on VW’s MQB-AO platform, said The Daily Telegraph. It is more aerodynamic and economic than its predecessor, putting it on a par with Hyundai’s i20 mild hybrid, but without the electric assistance. The Fabia has four options for its 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine; the base level one has a Group 2E insurance rating, making it a brilliant first car.
The weedy entry-level 1.0 MPI 80 engine takes more than 15 seconds to get from 0-62mph, so is best suited to a dedicated town driver, What Car? said. Suspension is good for a small car, but it does pitch about. Steering is light and accurate, which makes it an easy car to drive deftly on city roads; it’s a quieter cruise than the Ford Fiesta or Seat Ibiza, and there’s plenty of grip – but there is also a fair bit of body roll.
It’s been given sharper styling inside and out, said Auto Express. The cabin has relatively high-end materials and a clear dashboard. Standard kit includes a DAB radio, LED headlights, Bluetooth and a 6.5-inch colour display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus air con. With an extra 111mm in length, the cabin is more spacious than before, with good leg- and headroom; and boot space is now a very decent 380 litres. Price: from £14,460.
-
Mustardy beans and hazelnuts recipeThe Week Recommends Nod to French classic offers zingy, fresh taste
-
Susie Dent picks her favourite booksThe Week Recommends The lexicographer and etymologist shares works by Jane Goodall, Noel Streatfeild and Madeleine Pelling
-
6 incredible homes under $1 millionFeature Featuring a home in the National Historic Landmark District of Virginia and a renovated mid-century modern house in Washington
-
The Harder They Come: ‘triumphant’ adaptation of cinema classicThe Week Recommends ‘Uniformly excellent’ cast follow an aspiring musician facing the ‘corruption’ of Kingston, Jamaica
-
House of Guinness: ‘rip-roaring’ Dublin brewing dynasty period dramaThe Week Recommends The Irish series mixes the family tangles of ‘Downton’ and ‘Succession’ for a ‘dark’ and ‘quaffable’ watch
-
Dead of Winter: a ‘kick-ass’ hostage thrillerThe Week Recommends Emma Thompson plays against type in suspenseful Minnesota-set hair-raiser ‘ringing with gunshots’
-
A Booker shortlist for grown-ups?Talking Point Dominated by middle-aged authors, this year’s list is a return to ‘good old-fashioned literary fiction’
-
Fractured France: an ‘informative and funny’ enquiryThe Week Recommends Andrew Hussey's work is a blend of ‘memoir, travelogue and personal confession’
