My new Skoda Fabia 130 is great, but are there better hot hatches for £30,000?
May 17, 2026 by Jamie Edkins
This is my new Skoda Fabia 130, a car I’m living with for six months. It’s a warmed-up version of Skoda’s sensible small hatchback with a more powerful engine and beefed-up styling, and after a month I’m rather enjoying it.
On first impressions it’s comfortable, spacious inside and it’s economical as well – I’ve averaged 51mpg over my first 1,000 miles. However, just over £30,000 it does face some stiff competition from other small hot hatches.
I’m going to list five alternatives to my new Fabia 130, and walk you through their pros and cons.
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My five favourite Skoda Fabia 130 alternatives are:
1. Volkswagen Polo GTI
Pros
- Quicker than the Fabia
- Posh-feeling interior
- Spacious boot and back seats
Cons
- Not the most thrilling hot hatch
- The Fabia is more economical
- Annoying touch-sensitive sliders
The Volkswagen Polo GTI is the biggest thorn in the Fabia 130’s side, because it offers more power and a posher interior for pretty much the same money. The 2.0-litre, 207hp engine also sounds nicer than the Fabia’s 1.5-litre lump.
That said, I do prefer the Skoda’s physical climate control knobs to the VW’s fiddly touch sliders, and the Fabia is more fuel efficient as well. During a week of mixed driving with the Polo GTI, I averaged around 40mpg, 10mpg less than the Fabia.
2. Used Toyota GR Yaris
Pros
- Phenomenal to drive
- Available with a manual gearbox
- Lovely three-cylinder engine
Cons
- Impractical compared to the Skoda
- Quite noisy on the motorway
- Expensive for a small hot hatch
If you’re after the ultimate in hot hatch thrills, you have to check out the Toyota GR Yaris. This is essentially a rally car for the road, with a 280hp three-cylinder engine and four-wheel drive making it huge fun to drive.
It costs a hefty £50,000 from new, so you’ll have to turn to the used market to get one for our £30,000 budget. I found a 2022 example with 20,000 miles on the clock for the same price as my Fabia.
3. Mini Cooper S
Pros
- Cute styling
- Funky interior
- More fun than the Skoda
Cons
- Tiny boot and rear seats
- Firm over bumps
- Fiddly infotainment system
It’s hard not to love a Mini. They look great, have a special-feeling interior and they’re really good to drive on a twisty road. I’ve gone for the Cooper S over the full-fat JCW because it fits in our budget, and the JCW is also so ridiculously firm over bumps it would get on your nerves.
The Cooper S is still pretty bouncy over bumps, but it’s at least tolerable. The 204hp engine is also more than powerful enough. It’s just a shame that the tiny boot and tight rear seats hamper practicality, and the circular infotainment screen can be fiddly to use. It looks cool, though.
4. Alpine A290
Pros
- Stand-out styling
- An electric car which is fun to drive
- Excellent infotainment system
Cons
- Cheaper Renault 5 is pretty much as good
- Cramped rear seats
- No cup holders
Let’s say you want an electric car, but don’t want to compromise on fun. I reckon the Alpine A290 is well worth a look. High-spec versions have a healthy 220hp on tap, and it’s really agile through the corners. I also love the styling; it looks a bit like a baby rally car.
The interior is cool as well, but the lack of cupholders is a bit baffling. It’s also around £10,000 more than the excellent Renault 5 on which it’s based, and that car is very nearly as good to drive. Still, at least you can save up to £4,600 on an Alpine A290 through Carwow at the time of writing, which you’ll need to bring it in line with the Skoda Fabia 130.
Used Ford Fiesta ST
Pros
- One of the best hot hatches to drive
- Bargain used prices
- Decent standard equipment
Cons
- Not as comfortable as the Fabia…
- …Or as practical
- Only available as a used car
You don’t have to spend £30,000 to get a fun hot hatch which is usable every day. A clean, used Ford Fiesta ST can be yours for as little as £10,000. I used to own one of these cars, and I reckon it’s the most fun you can have for the money.
It may be quite firm over bumps, but not so much so it’ll grate day-to-day. On a twisty road, the quick steering and excellent suspension will have you grinning from ear to ear. For £10,000 you’ll be looking at a 2018 example, or you can pay around £20,000 for one of the last cars made in 2024.
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