Overview

Skoda’s latest incarnation of its rapid Fabia vRS packs many changes. Gone is the powerful 1.9-litre diesel engine in favour of a turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-litre petrol. Previously, the vRS only came with a six-speed manual gear change, now it’s only a seven-speed DSG gearbox – an automatic with race-inspired paddle shift gear changers behind the steering wheel – on offer. It’s sensible too. Yes it’s quick but the running costs are low enough to make it a serious ‘daily driver’. It has the lowest emissions in class, it’s the most frugal and it has more pulling power when comparing to a list of rivals that include the Citroen DS3 DSport, Ford Fiesta S1600, Renault Clio Sport 200, and the Vauxhall Corsa VXR. It’s a great all-rounder. It does the simple things with ease and when you want a few tricks it can do them too. The Fabia vRS is quick, powerful, feisty when pushed yet frugal and a low CO2 emitter when driven sensibly. All-in-all, the new vRS is a great package and is more sophisticated than its rivals as it offers so much more than just all-out fun. It’s also available in both hatchback and estate versions. Read more to find out why we rate this car so highly.