Skoda Fabia 130 vs Volkswagen Polo GTI: I drove two small hot hatches to see which one is worth your cash

Small hot hatches are some of my favourite cars. I’ve owned a Ford Fiesta ST and an Abarth 595, and I love the combination of peppy performance, agile handling, everyday practicality and affordability.

But small hot hatches are getting thin on the ground these days. The Volkswagen Polo GTI is one of a handful still on sale, but now Skoda has rejoined this segment for the first time in over a decade.

It’s launched the new Fabia 130 – a warmed-up version of the sensible hatchback with more power and sporty styling upgrades. To see how it stacks up against the Polo, I drove both cars in the same week and this is what I found out.

Skoda Fabia 130 vs Volkswagen Polo GTI: engines and performance

Let’s start with the new Skoda Fabia 130, because despite the fact it is very similar to the Polo under the skin it doesn’t use the same engine.

Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It’s a tuned version of the unit you can already get in top-spec Fabias, with power bumped from 150hp to 177hp. This is hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox driving the front wheels, and 0-60mph is dealt with in 7.4 seconds.

The Polo has a beefier 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol with 207hp, and it also has a dual-clutch automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive. The result is 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds, almost a full second quicker than the Fabia.

Why didn’t Skoda borrow this engine for the Fabia 130? Well it’s not a full-fat vRS hot hatch, it’s a sort of halfway house. In my view, speed isn’t everything when driving a small hot hatch – handling and character are far more important.

Skoda Fabia 130 vs Volkswagen Polo GTI: how do these cars drive?

The Fabia 130 is fitted with lowered sports suspension as standard, something which is an option on other Fabias. It does a great job of keeping body roll in check, and it doesn’t compromise comfort too much either. It is a bit stiffer over bumps than a normal Fabia, but it’s still relaxing to drive.

The steering is also precise and nicely weighted. It’s not quite as quick or darty as my old Fiesta ST was, but this is a common trait of all VW Group performance cars, including the Polo GTI.

It feels agile through the corners, making the Fabia 130 good fun to drive. The 1.5-litre engine is also powerful enough for a car like this, but I’d like a better exhaust note. It sounds a bit strangled as you approach the red line, which doesn’t encourage you to rev it out.

This is where the Polo steps up to the plate, because that 2.0-litre engine is the same basic lump that you’ll find in cars like my Octavia vRS daily driver and even the Volkswagen Golf R. It’s much more keen to rev, and you get fun little pops and bangs when you change gear. It’s more appealing to the child in me.

The Polo feels ever so slightly more refined in day-to-day driving than the Fabia, but I’m splitting hairs here. Both cars are more than comfortable enough. There’s not much in it in terms of handling either.

You get very little bodyroll in the Polo, and the added power over the Fabia means you can feel it scrabbling for grip if you pin the throttle pedal out of a corner. It adds an element of hooliganism which I like to have in a car like this, although it’s not as juvenile as the excellent Hyundai i20 N.

Both of these cars feel quite grown-up for a small hot hatch. They’re both comfortable for day-to-day driving while still being good fun on a twisty road, but if you’re after the most smiles per mile I’d recommend a used Ford Fiesta ST.

Skoda Fabia 130 vs Volkswagen Polo GTI: prices and verdict

There’s quite a big gulf in performance between these two cars, but this isn’t reflected in the price difference.

The Skoda Fabia 130 starts from £29,995, but you can save over £2,000 on this car through Carwow at the time of writing to bring it down to around £27,700. You can also lease one through Carwow for £348 per month over four years, and this is with an initial payment of £4,470 and a mileage limit of 5,000 per year.

As for the Polo GTI, it starts from just over £31,400. You can get one through Carwow for as little as £29,000 through Carwow at the time of writing, and leasing prices start from £280 per month over four years with an initial payment of around £3,600.

The Fabia 130 hasn’t been around all that long at the time of writing, which would explain why it’s so much more expensive to lease. New deals are dropping all the time, so make sure you check out the latest offers to make sure you’re paying the best price.

So where does this leave us? Well the Skoda Fabia 130 is a great hot hatch. It’s quick, handles well and is still comfortable enough to use everyday. The smaller engine is also a bit more economical than the Polo’s, returning around 52mpg according to official tests compared to 44mpg in the GTI.

But ultimately, I’d choose the Polo GTI. It’s only slightly more expensive to buy than the Fabia, but it has a nicer engine and a slightly posher interior. If you’re after something sensible to use everyday, but with a sporty edge for weekend fun, I’d recommend the Volkswagen Polo GTI.

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