Skoda Fabia hatchback - MPG, running costs & CO2

Like a number of its supermini rivals, the Skoda Fabia will only be offered with petrol engines, as sales of small diesel cars continues to shrink. It also appears unlikely the Fabia will be released as a hybrid - if you're looking for one of those, you'll need to stick with the Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio E-Tech or Honda Jazz.

Instead the Fabia offers simple, affordable motoring with small three-cylinder petrol engines that are economical. Most are just 1.0-litres in size but there's also a 1.5-litre four-cylinder if you need extra performance. The latter also isn't too expensive to run, thanks to clever technology that can shut down two cylinders when the engine’s full power isn’t required. 

Skoda Fabia MPG & CO2

While not all specifications for the latest Fabia have been released yet, even the powerful 1.0-litre TSI with 108bhp can return 52.3mpg in SE L trim, fitted with an automatic DSG gearbox. Meanwhile, its CO2 emissions of 136g/km will be fine for private buyers but won't suit company-car drivers as well as the hybrid versions of the Fabia’s rivals. The Toyota Yaris, for instance, has emissions of 92 to 98g/km, reducing its Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band considerably.

Despite being less powerful, the entry-level 1.0-litre MPI engines offered in the Fabia are unlikely to be any cheaper to run, managing around 50mpg and 120g/km in the similar SEAT Ibiza. The main saving here is the cost of the car itself but considering a TSI engine is only around £500 more, we'd recommend upgrading.

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Insurance groups

Official insurance groups haven't been formalised yet but the Skoda Fabia is traditionally one of the cheapest cars to insure in the UK. This is thanks to its relatively low cost and performance, ease of repairs and typically sensible owners. The outgoing Fabia spanned from the very lowest insurance group to around group 12 out of 50 for the range-topper.

Warranty

While Skoda does most things right, its three-year/60,000-mile warranty is starting to look rather poor next to some offerings from rivals, although it does still match the likes of Ford and Volkswagen. Hyundai offers a five-year/unlimited-mileage policy, while Kia offers seven years of cover. Toyota has a new 'Relax' warranty that can last up to 10 years.

Servicing

Skoda offers competitive servicing prices and it can be a good idea to take out a fixed-price servicing plan when (or shortly after) you buy the car. Costing around £15 a month, this can cover the cost of routine maintenance for two years, helping to spread the cost and avoid large bills.