Move over cheap hatchbacks and small cars and drive into this hatch that royally ditches the myth that hatchbacks come cheap. This car sinfully gives you all that you need but were present only on a high end sedan. A superb looking car, backed with two great engine options and features that are even better that its elder sedans.

Starting with the engine option we have a 1.4L diesel as well as petrol engine. While the diesel produces a max power of 69bhp with a max torque of 155Nm, the petrol version produces a max power of 85bhp with a max torque of 132Nm. Both the engine options come with a 5-speed gearbox (no Automatic option) and come in four trim options Active, Classic, Ambiente and Elegance with the Elegance being the top of the line model.

The car comes with features that can envy any entry level sedan, or for that matter even higher. To begin with styling, you get a front grill that produces an enormous stance on road. Alloy wheels, projector headlamps and multi tone interiors are the feature that sets the class for the car. An auxiliary audio input allows you to plug in any form of music player and listen to the music you want. Now that also includes you fav iPod. Well, you do get an air conditioner; the climate control system that features on the models sold abroad doesn’t come in here. Electric sunroofs and partronic sensors are more features on the list.

As for the safety, you do get ABS (Anti Lock Braking Systems) and Dual airbags on board the Fabia. Ride and handling is something I can’t comment upon unless I test drive the car, but going by Autocar Test Drive reports on its Jan 08 issue the car seems to handle very good, and live by the standards its elder sibling Octavia has set. Six color options, four trim levels and two engine options are what constitute the Fabia bouquet. For the price I expect this to be priced in the 6-7.5 lakh bracket as it should not come cheap for all the stuff that the car has got on board. All eyes set foe the Auto Expo, where the car shall be officially launched, and possibly you may get a test drive report from me soon.

Information and picture Courtesy: Skoda Fabia Minisite