This car will do what you want it to.

Perhaps the best way to compare Skoda Fabia 1.4 diesel with the Swift is to look at it as a European car. A good place to get an opinion for a European car is the Top Gear website, which helped me in my decision.

I arrived at this car after test driving, Fusion, SX4, Aveo, Indigo, Verna and Swift. And was specifically looking for a diesel car. Somehow line extension cars like the Aveo, Indigo and petrol like the SX4 did not appeal. The Fusion just looks dull. Verna diesel blew the budget.

The Fabia looks almost yummy to eat from the outside (see ad on YouTube) and is delightfully detailed on the inside. It feels like driving in a big car. I felt the rattle of the deisel engine was not an issue inside the cabin, though you can feel the vibrations along the foot board.

After owning an Indica and test driving a Swift, I finally felt good looking back at the car I just stepped out of. After driving a Swift, you step out of the car and feel pretty ordinary!

I enjoyed driving the Fabia more as it felt more solid on the road and around bends as compared to the Swift and personally felt the drive quality was much better. An issue for me (my height) was the steering wheel flexibility which is not adjustable in the Swift.

When I say the Fabia does everything you want it to, I really mean it. What the car lacks in power in comparison, makes up for in the responsiveness while moving from 0-80 kmh.

I've now driven it 1500 kms and it is giving me 17 km/liter of diesel with the a/c within the city. I don't know about value for money, as I was willing to pay the extra money over the Swift for this car. I really looked at running cost after EMI's, drive quality and car that looked good.

Design, Drive Quality, Interiors, On-Board Panel, ResponsivenessExpensive Parts, The Rattle of the 3 cylinder engine