Mini 5D Hatch vs Skoda Fabia
What's the difference?

Mini 5D Hatch

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2020 price

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Skoda Fabia

$24,690 - $33,485

2024 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Mini 5D Hatch

2024 Skoda Fabia

By Andrew Chesterton

By Chris Thompson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 3, 1.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.0L/100km (combined)

5.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Potent engine
Tons of grip
Funky cabin ambience

Playful and capable
Ergonomics and ‘Skoda’ touches
Fresh exterior design

Dislikes

Ride can be harsh
Jittery drive experience
Cabin tech overly user friendly

Interior styling still looks sub-$30K
Low-speed DSG hesitancy
Rear seat space

2020 Mini 5D Hatch Summary

That the 2020 Mini Clubman John Cooper Works is the most powerful Mini to have landed in Australia isn’t all that surprising. After all, parent company BMW has squeezed the thumping four-cylinder engine from the M135i under its bonnet, and that thing creates a snarling beast of any vehicle it finds a home in.

What is a surprise, though, is that having now driven this angry, crackling, snarling hot hatch, what with its burbling exhaust and properly rapid acceleration, is that it took Mini this long to get around to doing it.

So does the engine upgrade now put the Clubman JCW on the same pedestal as the best European hot hatches? There's only one way to find out.

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2024 Skoda Fabia Summary

The smallest car in Skoda’s local line-up is also its most affordable, but only just.

When the current generation Fabia launched with the halo Monte Carlo variant at almost $40,000, it was a bit of a surprise for a small hatch from what’s seen as an affordable brand.

Now, there’s a new entry-level version of Skoda’s bub and, while it’s not nearly as cheap as it once was, it offers a choice that’s more within reach for anyone keen on a premium small car.

Can the Fabia Select convince customers looking at the likes of the Mazda 2 or Suzuki Swift to go Euro and cross the $30,000 threshold?

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Mini 5D Hatch 2024 Skoda Fabia

Verdict

The Mini Clubman JCW is quirky in a lot of the right ways, and now has a hard-charging engine to up the adrenalin factor. If you were already sold on the idea of joining the Clubman club, this one will steal your heart more than any other.

Verdict

Once you get past the shock of the Fabia no longer being a sub-$25K car (because let’s face it, what is anymore?), the fact that it remains refreshingly simple to live with and engaging on the road should be celebrated.

It has its downsides if you need space, and you can buy a light (or even small) SUV for the same price, but you’ll be compromising in other areas.

The Skoda Fabia can’t do everything, but what it can, it does well. Plus, it’s certainly less common than the similarly priced Toyota Yaris.

Mini 5D Hatch vs Skoda Fabia What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mini 5D Hatch vs Skoda Fabia
What's the difference?