69mpg is no joke

11:50am Friday 10th October 2008

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I have finally realised why I really like the Skoda Fabia GreenLine Estate.

It is not just that it is sober, solid and sensible on the outside and has a surprisingly spacious, tidily trimmed interior. It is because it is honest.

The bumf says the GreenLine has the possibility of covering almost 700 miles on a full tank, and can deliver close to 69mpg in everyday driving.

So as I zoomed up the M11, at the end of a 114-mile trip, I checked the on-board digital fuel read-out. It said we were averaging spot-on 69mpg.

The GreenLine is powered by an 80 horsepower, three-cylinder, 1.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which is not the quietest in the world, and like its sister vehicle, the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion, it is fitted with a gearbox that errs on the side of delivering maximum mpg rather than super-quick acceleration.

Solid, rattle-free and comfortable, the capacious car is perfectly capable at motorway speeds and is backed up by a decent level of equipment, so there is no question of anyone on board being made to suffer for their choice of a greener car.

The GreenLine, which carries a price tag of just over £12,000, comes with air conditioning, remote central locking, height-adjustable passenger seats and side mouldings, as standard.

In addition, the car comes with a CD player, anti-lock brakes, immobiliser, electrically-heated and adjustable door mirrors, 14-inch alloy wheels and dual front and side airbags.

The drive to save fuel, and reduce emissions, are aided by a diesel particulate filter fitted to the engine, the replacement of the spare tyre with a puncture repair kit, the raising of the front bumper by 35mm, lowered suspension and fitting additional aerodynamic panels to the underside of the chassis.

The package has proved a winner and has already led to the car being voted Best Green Estate Car by The Daily Telegraph.

While its green credentials are unquestionable, where the car really scores is that it is sturdily practical with a whopping amount of boot space.

The Fabia has been a fabulous success for Skoda, with more than two million of the Czech-built cars built since its launch eight years ago. It has proved immensely popular here, too, with more than 140,000 finding homes with UK buyers.

The GreenLine option can only boost its fortunes.

Auto facts Skoda Fabia GreenLine 1.4 TDI

• Price: £12,145
• Insurance group: Three
• Fuel consumption (Combined): 68.9mpg
• Top speed: 105mph
• Length: 423.9cm/166.9in
• Width: 164.2cm/64.6in
• Luggage capacity: 16.9 cu ft
• Fuel tank capacity: 9.9 gallons/45 litres
• CO2 emissions: 109g/km
• Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles