Skoda Fabia vRS

THE Fabia vRS is designed to cash in on Skoda’s rally success. With its impressive straight-line pace, agile handling and bargain price, the latest model is aimed at keen drivers with a supermini-sized budget.

Underneath the upright bodywork and optional Rallye Green metallic paintwork is a hi-tech 1.4-litre engine that combines both a supercharger and turbocharger to deliver a potent 180bhp punch. Combined with the standard-fit seven-speed twin-clutch transmission, it serves up blistering acceleration that shames more expensive and powerful rivals.

An uprated chassis helps you make the most of the car’s performance on track. Despite its narrow and upright stance, the five-door hatchback is surprisingly nimble. There’s plenty of body movement during hard cornering, but the vRS is poised and planted thanks to its strong grip and accurate steering.

Adding to the fun is the seamless semi-automatic gearbox that can be operated manually via steering wheel-mounted paddles. The transmission isn’t perfect, though, as it often kicks down ratios when you accelerate hard in higher gears, whether you like it or not. And despite its heady power output, the Fabia set a disappointing lap time of 71.3 seconds. Track-day fans will also be frustrated by the ESP set-up, which cannot be completely switched off. Neither poses a problem on the  road, where the Skoda’s mix of pace and agility makes it a confidence-inspiring, if slightly uninvolving, companion.