It's a diesel, a 2009 with the last of the VW 1.9 litre engines. I get between 53 and 55mpg locally, and 60-and-a-bit on a run, in part because at 80 she is revving at less than 2,500. It's noisy but I don't mind.
Skoda are replacing the current Fabia early next year but I'm not planning to...
Almost always true.
Can I suggest that everyone buys a Skoda Fabia? Mine has such excellent suspension that I have never once had serious problems with surfaces on motorway inside lanes. The rear view mirrors are very good too, allowing me to move between lanes as appropriate without problem...