As well as being sound value, Fabia is economical to run, with good fuel consumption figures, long service intervals, reasonable parts costs and low depreciation.

Fabia performs very well on the eco front. With an average of 146 g/km CO2 across the range, its emissions are comparably low for a super mini estate. However, it’s worth noting that the line up has a high number of diesel models, bringing the average down and giving buyers more choices of low-emission versions. Diesels typically produce less CO2 than petrol engines with similar power outputs.

Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 1.4-litre diesel, which is one of the greenest models in the range. The range is very frugal, averaging 50 mpg.

Build quality is close to that of the parent Volkswagen products, although owners reporting to www.parkers.co.uk have complained of minor faults on early models such as oil leaks, electrical problems and rattles. Newer cars appear more durable and long-term reliability is not an issue.