Kiwis are well served with a global menu of modern supermini choices.
From the mass appeal of the sales leader Suzuki Swift to premium small car choices such as the Volkswagen Polo - plus the new breed of upmarket three-door cars like the Mini, Alfa Romeo MiTo and Audi A1 - there is no shortage of stylish, safe and modern small cars.
The Skoda Fabia perhaps isn't the most obvious choice among the five-door superminis but now it's equipped with advanced powertrain choices to accompany its roomy cabin and solid build quality.
Fabia offers a choice of the "down-sized" 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine developing 77kW or a 1.6-litre TDI diesel unit with 66kW output and 230Nm of torque.
The diesel is only available with a five-speed manual gearbox while the petrol engine can be matched to either manual or the seven-speed DSG dual clutch transmission.
And there's also a choice of bodystyle with the five-door hatch partnered by the Fabia Combi wagon which is 247mm longer and offers impressive small car load space.
The Fabia targets the mid-$20,000 price point with the manual hatchback at $25,500 with the TSI engine while the seven-speed DSG has a $2500 premium which means the car tested here is $28,000. Diesels carry a $4000 premium over equivalent petrol models.
The Volkswagen Group 1197cc four-cylinder TSI engine conforms to the modern down-sizing philosophy - and Euro5 emissions standards - with its direct injection and low pressure turbocharging technology.
Maximum power is an enthusiastic 77kW at 5000rpm but what provides the impression of the Fabia having considerably more than 1.2 litres under the bonnet is the easily accessible torque of 175Nm available from 1550-4100rpm.
In particular, the breadth of the torque plateau delivers the flexible performance of a car with a bigger engine. The small capacity achieves fuel efficiency and is well matched to the close ratios and swift changes of the DSG transmission.
Torque allows long-legged gearing for a small displacement engine with 100km/h cruising achieved at a relaxed 2100rpm in seventh gear with full torque on tap and then downshifts to 2600rpm in sixth gear and 3100rpm in fifth.
The Fabia has the torque and the gear ratios to provide brisk overtaking response and easy hillclimbing. If one of your requirements for a small car is that it offers responsive open road driving then the 1.2 TSI and DSG combination ranks among the most advanced powertrains.
Skoda claims combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.3 litres per 100km and my road test averaged 6.1 litres per 100km.
Steel wheels in 15-inch diameter - standard on all models - is probably the only arena where the Fabia is lacking for specification although the option of 15-inch five-spoke alloy wheels is $1000 and 16-inch alloys with 205/45 R16 tyres are $1500.
However, upmarket versions of the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Suzuki Swift all offer alloy wheels as standard.
The 195/55 R15 Bridgestone Turanza ER300 tyres offer a good combination of handling and ride characteristics.
The Fabia hatch has a compliant suspension and offers progressive response over uneven surfaces. It's fun to drive in a slightly understeer biased way with moderate bodyroll, reassuring grip levels and a light but accurate steering feel.
There is moderate road noise from the Bridgestones on coarse chip highway surfaces and the steering provides agility and a tight turning circle that's well suited to city car parks.
The Fabia was last tested in EuroNCAP safety regimes soon after the launch of the current shape in 2007 and gained four stars for adult protection, three for child protection and two or pedestrian protection.
Standard safety features include Electronic Stability Programme and Traction Control while the Fabia has six airbags, driver's seatbelt warning and immobiliser security system. There are two rear seat ISOFIX child seat mountings, two tether hooks and a three-point centre seat belt in the rear.
The front seats have a simple design with moderate lateral and lower back support. The driver's seat has manual cushion height and slide/recline movements but there is no lumbar support adjuster. The driving position is helped by the reach and rake adjustable steering column.
The Fabia has easy to read instruments with a small trip computer info display between the two chrome rim dials is quite small and only half the size used in VW models although the same info is provided.
Plain grey cloth trim interior and dark plastics need just a dash of colour to brighten the cabin but the standard of fit and finish is notable.
Options include packages grouped as Comfort, Communication, Entertainment, Security and Sports. Sports adds 16-inch wheels and 205/45 tyres along with sports seats and steering wheel plus firmer suspension for $2500.
Security is $900 and adds an alarm, front fog lights, tyre pressure monitoring and protective side mouldings and Comfort upgrades to Climatronic air conditioning and also adds cruise control, rear parking sensors, storage under the front seats and a luggage compartment storage package.
The Fabia has a handy two level glovebox, big front door bins with 1.5-litre bottle holders and two cup holders just ahead of the gearshift.
There is good rear seat headroom and footwell space and, like most small hatches, it's tight for kneeroom although the scalloped backs of the front seats help quite a bit for taller passengers.
The practical and conventional design means the Fabia not only provides a useful 300 litres of boot capacity with a flat floor and four tie down hooks but does so while also managing to stow a full size spare wheel.
Fold the 60/40 split and tumble rear seat cushion and backrest and the Fabia then has an impressive 1163 litres of space measured to the ceiling.
Plainly presented but with modern powertrain technology and appealing driving characteristics, the Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI is a practical and flexible small car which is solidly built, offers conventional five-door supermini accommodation and is more responsive on the highway than most of its rivals.
It's a worthy contender on a list for anyone looking to spend $25-$30K on a modern small car.
SAFETY:
Dual front airbags
Front seat side and curtain airbags
Front seatbelt pretensioners and load force limiters
Driver's seat belt warning
Electronic Stability Programme and traction control
Antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist
Three-point centre rear seat belt
2 x ISOFIX child seat mounts
2 x child seat tether points
Immobiliser security system
Full size spare tyre
CRASH TEST RATING:
Euro NCAP rating: Overall rating (2007 test)
Child protection
Pedestrian protection
FUEL ECONOMY:
Combined (claimed): 5.3 litres per 100km
Auto Parade test results
Combined: 6.2 litres per 100km
MORE INFORMATION:
THE NUMBERS
Engine 1197cc four-cylinder 16-valve direct injection turbocharged petrol
Maximum output 77kW at 5000rpm
Maximum torque 175Nm at 1550-4100rpm
Length 4000mm
Width 1642mm
Height 1498mm
Wheelbase 2465mm
Kerb weight 1164kg
Fuel tank capacity 45 litres
Wheels 15-inch steel
Tyres Bridgestone Turanza ER300, 195/55 R15
Malcolm Wano and Kiahara Takareki Trust in Moerewa want to inspire young people.