I drove Skoda’s new Fabia 130 & here’s why VERY few cars hit the spot like this simple, light & fun motor

IT’S still only January and I’ve just driven one of the best cars of 2026.

Honestly, I mean it.

Skoda’s little Fabia 130 with its revvy petrol engine, manual handbrake, good looks, and a handy Bakewell tart holder.

We became really good friends exploring the Peak District together the other day.

Right, let’s start by explaining the name. Fabia 130 is a special edition celebrating Skoda’s 130th birthday.

It also happens to be 130kW, which is 177hp to you and me, and is the fastest Fabia yet.

YULE COOL

Christmas stress relief – why Volvo EX30 Cross Country is a perfect quiet escape

T-ROC STAR

Comfy & smart new Volkswagen T-Roc is a SUV that is refined in every department

Yes, car nerds. That is correct. I double checked. It has a higher top speed than the turbocharged and supercharged Fabia vRS from 2010.

Just.

But Fabia 130 is not meant to be an aggressive hot hatch. It’s more of a “warm” hatch with just enough of everything.

So it’s super easy to live with. Like a Volkswagen Polo GTI. Only cheaper.

Size-wise, it’s not far off the old Mk4 Golf if you get a tape measure out.

Now let’s drill down into the detail.

Fabia 130 is basically a Fabia Monte Carlo with a cherry on top.

Same 1.5-litre turbo petrol under the hood but with the power hiked 27hp to 177hp. Not too much. Just enough.

You get all the practical stuff you expect from a Skoda. Like pockets and sockets for everyone, a central armrest, handy drink/cake holders, and an umbrella in the driver’s door.

The seven-speed DSG gearbox has higher shift points for faster acceleration and double-clutch downshifts in Sport mode.

There’s another button that allows more wheel-slip and later electronic braking intervention, if you want it.

Or you can switch everything off-off, as in crashy-slidey-off.

Just as pleasing is the manual handbrake.

The first reason is obvious. But also because it puts you in control.

You know when it is on or off, whereas some electronic parking brakes have a mind of their own.

As for the cabin, we like the flappy paddles on the steering wheel, the striped sporty seats, the Fabia 130 badging on the door sills and the aluminium pedals and trim.

Like I said, just enough.

Plus, you get all the practical stuff you expect from a Skoda. Pockets and sockets for everyone, a central armrest, handy drink/cake holders, and an umbrella in the driver’s door.

As for looks, people will actually be kind and let you out at a junction. Because you don’t look a k**b.

There’s subtle 130 badging on the front wings and boot, lots of black detailing, twin pipes and 18in alloys with red brake calipers.

Again, just enough.

I reckon I test around 80-90 motors a year doing this job.

In the months ahead, many will be electric. Many will be SUVs. Some will be vans. Some will be dreamy sports cars.

But very few will hit the spot like this simple, light and fun Fabia 130.

Finance from £290 a month.

• THE Tour de France will start in Edinburgh next year, with Skoda providing the customary red car for the race director.