Skoda Fabia rivals Volkswagen Polo

December 2011

While Skoda has a long and illustrious history in the European car market, it is a relatively new addition to the scene here in Australia.

Strong aesthetic features gives the cars character, unlike any other models currently on the road.

Distinctive and practical, the Skoda Fabia utilises a turbo-charged 1.2 litre 77 kilowatt engine and a five-speed manual transmission - while a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic model will be available in early 2012.

The exterior of the Skoda Fabia sees a unique boxy design with a contrast colour roof, while the interior features cruise control, heated mirrors and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

As the smallest car in the Czech marque's local line-up, it draws obvious comparisons to its market sibling the Volkswagen Polo, however the Skoda Fabia was recently put through its paces by Herald Sun reviewer Craig Duff, facing off against the Toyota Yaris YRS.

In the head-to-head test conducted by the motoring website, the Skoda Fabia was named the winner, beating the Toyota Yaris by half a point.

The review gave a five-star rating to the cars in terms of value, technology, design safety and driving, with the Skoda Fabia shining in the technology and driving categories.

"The 1.2-litre turbo four is as good as engines get in the light car class," Mr Duff wrote in the News Limited publication.