Welcome to London's Skoda Independent Garage.We have a team of independent Skoda specialists who can sort out anything from basic Skoda servicing to advanced technical Skoda cars problems. One of the best independent Skoda Master Technician on site offering knowledge and experience using the latest Skoda Main Dealer garage compulsory diagnostics equipment.

The Skoda Fabia Hatchback is cleanly styled, well made, quiet-running and sweet if unexciting to drive. An entirely logical choice, and possibly more dependable than the French supermini default. Owners absolutely adore them, and their dealers come to that –see the Top Gear survey.

• Comfort

  A strong point. There's plenty of space in that upright body. The ride is supple and the tyres and suspension quiet. The engines are well-insulated. The seats are supportive and the driving position adjusts to fit anyone, from dumpling-fed Czech farmer to size-zero British learner.

  

• Performance

  Excluding the 1.4 TSI in the vRS, there are two petrols with two power outputs each - a 1.2 with 60 or 70bhp and a 1.2 TSI with 85 and 105bhp. There is also a 1.6 TDI with 90 or 105bhp. Ignore the entry 1.2 - although perky enough, with just three cylinders it's loud and can be hard work. The TSI models are much better. Even the entry 85bhp version is fun to drive and feels more powerful than it actually is - 0-62mph is a respectable 11.8 secondsand it has a top speed of 111mph. The 1.6 diesel is only slightly smoother and quieter than the old 1.9 TDI and doesn't feel as if it has that much more power. However, it will cruise easily at higher speeds.

  

• Cool

  It shows you don't quite do the normal thing. It shows you're straight-thinking not ditsy or fashion-led. It's also good-looking in a chilly, northern way. Does any of that make it cool? Not terribly, but it's by no means an embarrassment.

  

• Quality

  The old Fabia's interior quality was stand out, and the new one is even better; beautifully crafted using materials that are both nice to look at and touch.

  

• Handling

  Compared to its recent rivals (such as the Clio, 207 and Punto) the new Fabia has grown up the least, sitting as it does on much the same platform as before. This means it feels quite compact and nippy compared with its ever-expanding rivals. The well-connected steering opens the gate to cornering with a sense of fun. You can tuck the nose in or even loosen the tail if you trim the throttle. This is not the straight-laced behaviour you might expect of a respectable Skoda, and it's all the more welcome because of it.

  

• Practicality

  The Fabia's cabin is deceptively spacious. Okay, those in the rear don't have room to stretch, but it's not breaking any human rights conventions, swallowing five people in relative comfort. That's relative to, say, being skewered by a herd of rhinoceroses. The boot is a generous size for a supermini at 300 lires which then increases to 1,163 when the rear seats are tumbled forward.

  

• Running costs

  There's a low-carbon Greenline version to keep fuel and tax right down. Depreciation is low, unlike for many ‘bargain' brands. But then Skodas aren't really sold at bargain prices any longer. Service intervals 10,000 miles, a long way for a supermini, and three-year/60k warranty too.