THE more I drive Skoda, the more impressed I become. It's a company that in recent years has completely rebuilt its image.
Once the butt of motoring jokes, now the joke is on the scoffers. And the Fabia has acted as a catalyst for Skoda.
It may not be the most eye-catching vehicle, tending towards being a "plain Jane," in my opinion. But if its looks are understated, once you get to know it, you realise it has terrific character.
The 1.4 TDi which I tested combines great performance with outstanding fuel economy and low carbon emissions. We are talking 61.4 mpg on the challenging combined cycle - definitely not to be sniffed at.
There is power aplenty, meaning that elasticity is excellent as well, with passing acceleration, from 37-62mph in fourth gear of 10.1 seconds.
The Fabia is available in hatchback, saloon and estate versions and comes with three levels of equipment specification - Classic, Comfort and Elegance - and a wide choice of either petrol or diesel engines.
My test car's engine could not be mistaken for anything other than a diesel, but I'm quite partial to that sort of raspiness.
It has a dramatically swooping nose, which makes it difficult at first to judge the length of the bonnet.
Design features include large colour-coded front and rear bumpers, designed to withstand low-speed impacts, while the bodywork of the Comfort and Elegance models is safeguarded by protective side strips.
The front of the Fabia is dominated by Skoda's familiar rectangular chrome grille with its trapezoidal headlights, which utilise clear glass optic technology. Front fog lamps are standard on some models.
It's worth mentioning that its bodyshell is fully galvanised corrosion-resistant steel which enables Skoda to offer an attractive ten-year anti-corrosion warranty as standard.
Inside, the Fabia's cabin is a lesson in design clarity and quality fit and finish. The neat and elegant interior architecture is complemented by luxurious soft-touch plastics, an intelligently configured dashboard and a high level of equipment.
All Fabia models are fitted with driver and front passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, power steering, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel and a height adjustable driver's seat.
The passenger compartment is surprisingly spacious. The Fabia's long wheelbase translates directly into extra legroom in both the front and rear of the car, while the long roofline and sharply truncated rear gives maximum headroom for front and rear seat occupants.
The Fabia has a wider cabin than most of its rivals, which results in more elbow room in both the front and back - always very welcome.
With the rear seats in place, the Fabia hatchback offers a sizeable 260 litres of storage space which, when the seats are folded, expands to 1,016 litres. The back seats are asymmetrically split in all versions and fold flat.
Skoda carefully uses fabrics and colours to enhance the feeling of roominess. Depending on the model, different fabrics and designs are used for the upholstery and interior panels.
There are lots of storage space options, including deep door pockets and large glovebox that is cooled on models fitted with air conditioning.
FAST FACTS
Skoda Fabia 1.4 TDi Hatchback
Price: £9,600
Mechanical: 75bhp, 1,422cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 104mph
0-62mph: 14.2 secs
Combined mpg: 61.4
Insurance group: 3
CO2 emissions: 124g/km
BiK rating: 18%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited miles; 3yrs paint; 10yrs anti-rust