Skoda Fabia review

These days the range in the UK starts at just over £21k for the SE Edition trim. That jumps to £21,880 for the Design Edition (FKA the Colour Edition), just shy of £24k for the SE L and £24,290 for the Monte Carlo. It's then a whopping £5.5k leap up to the £30k Fabia 130.

Monthly payments start at around £210 for an entry-level model, rising to around £300 a month for the range-topping Fabia 130. At the time of writing (early 2026) various offers are in place including a £1,750 deposit contribution so it's worth playing with the sliders on Skoda's usefully intuitive finance calculator to suss out which model you're happiest with. 

What are the kit choices like? 

As standard base SE Edition versions now get an 8in digital instrument display which replaces the previous analogue unit, along with a larger 8.25in infotainment screen. Additional kit includes 15in alloys plus LED headlights and running lights.

Design Edition models also now get the bigger infotainment screen plus cruise control with speed limiter, rear electric windows and rear LED lights. Other highlights include the 10.25in virtual cockpit and 16in black alloy wheels.

SE L versions now too get the larger instrument cluster, rear privacy glass and rear LED lights. You can tell it apart from the Colour Edition based on the 16in silver alloy wheels, while inside it also gets a 9.2in infotainment display.

Monte Carlo models get 17in diamond cut alloy wheels, sport bumpers, black styling and flashy Monte Carlo badging, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, and black fabric/artificial leather seats (now with front seat lumbar support).

The 130 distinguished itself with 18-inch rims and red brake calipers lurking within. There's a subtle bodykit of lower front bumper, a quasi diffuser and rear spoiler, and blacked-out tailgate trip, plus (confusingly) 'V130' stickers on the flanks. It's a handsome thing, shunning much of the fake grille rubbish that plagues hot Mini's hot hatches.

There’s a choice of nine different colours, four of which are shades of white or blue. There is a nifty shade of orange for the bold that works surprisingly well, and you can also spec various bits in contrasting grey or black.

Which model should I go for?

Ah, the big hitter. Presuming you don't need the 4-cyl engine's oomph, the middling Design Edition seems like a good bet, with plenty of tech and added flair.

We’d avoid the nat-asp engine – our choice would be the turbocharged 114bhp variant, paired with the six-speed manual box, which is quick enough and also offers increased economy over the same engine equipped with a DSG auto. There's no EV version in the world to rival the Renault 5, Skoda preferring to keep electric powertrains for its ever-bigger family of crossovers with Scrabble-tastic names.