SKODA is technically the budget brand of the Volkswagen Group, however more so in Australia it offers niche products targeting buyers who purchase beyond mainstream segments.

Few models in the Skoda range encapsulate the essence of this positioning more than the Fabia Wagon. It is possible to count with one finger the vehicles that exist in the segment of light hatchback-derived wagon.

The Fabia Wagon is available in two model grades, the $17,440 (plus on-road costs) 66TSI five-speed manual or $21,440 (plus on-road costs) 81TSI six-speed dual-clutch automatic tested here. Each commands a premium of $1150 over the equivalent Fabia hatchback.

This places the Fabia Wagon firmly up against a herd of freshly minted small-SUV rivals such as the Mazda CX-3, the most popular vehicle in that segment starting from $21,990 (plus on-road costs) when equipped with an automatic transmission.

This Skoda is, however, well prepared to fly the flag for the small wagon bodystyle.

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