Skoda Fabia 2005 review

The Fabia is great value for supermini buyers, but the latest version falls short in this regard. It makes sense for Skoda to offer an understudy to the hot vRS - yet the cheaper model can't match the flagship in terms of pace-per-pound. Although the Sport isn't bad for a first hot hatch, Citroen could well offer a better deal.

When it comes to hot hatches, the Skoda Fabia breaks all the rules. The Czech firm first burst on to the scene with the high-performance vRS in 2003. And traditionalists were shocked - not only did the hot Fabia boast a diesel engine, but it also had the power to show established rivals a thing or two about both pace and value.

But with 130bhp, the big-hitting vRS is out of the reach of most insurance-conscious customers, so Skoda has launched a warm Sport model to find out if the Fabia range has the ability to attract first-time fast car buyers, too.

Auto Express drove one of the earliest examples to arrive here to see if it can still raise a smile with 75bhp. Unlike its high-performance brother, the Sport comes with a petrol engine. The 1.4-litre 16-valve powerplant is the same as that used in other models, but with a lowly output the four-cylinder unit is certainly no trailblazer.

Official figures show the 0-62mph sprint takes a far from sporty 13.8 seconds, and in real world situations this Skoda often has to be pushed to make swift progress.The Sport is unlikely to offer enough punch to satisfy anyone used to more powerful hatchbacks.

However, this Fabia isn't simply about straight-line performance - more pace would see insurance premiums creep up for younger buyers. Despite its sensible speed, the Skoda is still fun to drive thanks to its tidy handling. While the steering isn't the sharpest around, the supermini's body is well controlled when cornering and it feels every bit the junior hot hatch that it claims to be.

What's more, with no significant up-grades to the suspension system, the Sport demands no compromises when it comes to comfort. The spring and damper set-up is relatively firm on all models, so this Fabia offers the same balance of ride quality and limited body roll as its budget stablemates.

It ticks all the right boxes in terms of how it feels from the driving seat, then - but does the newcomer offer the style image-conscious buyers demand?

The manufacturer has added front foglights and 15-inch alloy wheels to the Fabia's clinically styled body, while a roof spoiler and a chrome-tipped exhaust add the finishing touches at the rear. Although this model still lacks the impact of the bodykitted vRS, it looks far more dramatic than more conservative variants in the line-up.

Inside, the biggest difference for the driver is a tactile three-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel. This, along with supportive seats, makes the Sport feel nearly as special inside as its racier brother. But it's the level of standard kit that lets this Fabia down. Luxuries such as a six-CD autochanger and air-con are included in the package, but these features are at odds with the manual window winders front and rear, and the lack of any central locking.

Choose these fundamental conveniences as optional extras and you will have to add £400 to the bill, while electric mirrors are also left on the driver's wish-list. And it's when you come to the price that the Sport loses even more of its appeal.

Quite simply, we would have expected it to be cheaper than £9,750. While Citroen's C2 Furio may not be as practical as this Fabia, it costs less and offers a more youthful image.

Skoda might have a winner at the top end of the hot supermini market, but the slower Sport could struggle to match the success of the vRS.