Skoda Fabia named Car of the Year

The new Skoda Fabia won the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year 2015 award, having also been named ‘best small car’.

The Skoda Octavia has been named ‘best family car’. The first-generation Fabia won the award back in 2000.

This is the third-generation Fabia and it was revealed to the public at the Paris Motor Show last October, and is in showrooms now.

Available in five-door hatch and (from February 9) Combi versions, the Fabia introduces innovative safety, comfort and infotainment systems to the segment.

Raymond Leddy, head of marketing and product, Skoda Ireland, said: “We are delighted to see the new Fabia claim such a prestigious award. The Fabia is a completely new car.

“It is not a facelift, but is entirely new, inside and out, utilising the latest engines and technologies to provide the best Fabia ever.

“Our new, 1.0-litre, 60bhp petrol unit delivers surprising performance with superior acceleration and economy, when compared to the comparable engine offered in the previous model.”

Skoda enjoyed record sales last year, shifting 6,310 units, overtaking the previous record, during the boom year of 2007 (6,280).

This is an increase of 27% compared to 2013’s sales of 4,950.