Introduction

Manufacturers are always finding new ways to package its cars, with trims that give the impression of being sporty and seemingly infinite customisation options. Some are better than others though.

The Skoda Fabia Colour Edition is one of these models, aiming to offer enhanced style and equipment over the mid-range SE trim.

We already love the standard Fabia, but value for money is the hot topic here. Is the Colour Edition worth the cash or is it merely a gimmick? Let’s find out.

Performance

There are only two petrol options available with the Colour Edition model – a 74bhp 1.0-litre and an 89bhp 1.2-litre. The 89bhp four-cylinder 1.2-litre TSI definitely has more character, and even though it is available with 108bhp in other models, that added power doesn’t feel necessary.

The 1.2-litre TSI we tested is incredibly flexible, being smooth when edging forward in busy city traffic and yet capable of delivering high levels of fun when on twisty roads, thanks to its 165Nm of torque coming in just above 1,500rpm. It does take 10.9 seconds to get from zero to 62mph, but most of the fun to be had in the Fabia is below the 62mph mar anyway.

The only noteworthy omission is a sixth gear, with the 1.2-litre petrol being mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Not so much of a problem around town, but a bit of a nuisance when on the motorway.

Ride and Handling

The Fabia now stands lower and wider than ever, so it does feel fairly capable in the bends.

The Fabia is primarily a nippy runaround, with a supple suspension and light steering. If you choose to open it up on a country road, which you can to a certain extent, you may feel its composure slipping a little.

With that said, the Fabia now stands lower and wider than ever, so it does feel fairly capable in the bends.

In terms of noise refinement, the Fabia can handle even high winds on the motorway, with the only real noise intruding the cabin being the raspy, three-cylinder-esque, sporty-sounding petrol.

Did you know?

Introduced in 1999, the Skoda Fabia is actually the successor to the Skoda Felicia, which was eventually discontinued in 2001.

Interior and Equipment

The Colour Edition builds on the SE trim with some extra kit and added style. The added style comes in the form of a series of two-tone paint jobs and alloy wheel colours. So, you can opt to have a Rallye Green paint job with black alloys and a black roof.

As a lot of the kit is carried across from the SE grade, including rear parking sensors, DAB radio and air-con, the Fabia is well-equipped with lots of vital supermini kit. The Colour Edition’s bonuses, however, include LED daytime running lights and cruise control.

The Fabia’s cabin has quite a lot of scratchy plastics, although they still manage to look quite smart, unlike some that blatantly look cheap. These plastics, although not luxurious, do add to the Fabia’s durability. You do, however, get a cool metallic-like inlay on the dash, which really pops and gives the dashboard a luxurious feel.

Rear passenger space in the Fabia is about par for the supermini course, with enough leg and headroom to keep adults happy - although an adult sitting in the middle seat may find themselves fighting for elbow and footwell room.

The Fabia’s boot on the other hand is far from average, with 330 litres on offer, which is bigger than a lot of its rivals, including the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. The seats also fold down to maximise storage space and although they don’t lie particularly flat, there is still a vast 1,150 litres of storage space to play around with.

Cost

For a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol, its efficiency figures aren’t too bad - emitting 107g/km and claiming to return an average of 60mpg.

The 1.2-litre TSI Colour Edition starts from £14,140, which means you end up paying an additional £540 for the added colour schemes on offer and some additional gadgets. All in all, the Colour Edition is actually decent value for money.

For a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol, its efficiency figures aren’t too bad - emitting 107g/km and claiming to return an average of 60mpg. Realistically, you should get around 50mpg. There are a lot of other, more efficient superminis on sale, most of those same superminis offer similar 1.2-litre petrol options, particularly in the VW group.

Our Verdict

The Fabia isn’t exactly an obvious stand-out model in the supermini segment but once you start to look at its value for money, practicality and the sheer amount of equipment, you start to realise how much of a serious competitor it really is.

Yes, the Colour Edition may seem like a bit of a gimmick, but when you break down the price, it is actually a great idea that totally makes sense and is seriously worth considering.