Taking styling inspiration from the Roomster, the Fabia shuns the conservative looks of the current model in favour of a more youthful appearance. The nose is virtually identical to the supermini-MPV’s, while in profile the car is similar to Suzuki’s Swift, with an upswept window line at the C-pillar.

Set to become one of the largest superminis on sale, the Fabia is 22mm longer and 47mm taller than the outgoing model. That gives 40 litres more boot space with the rear seats in place, taking the total to 300 litres.

Buyers get the choice of four petrol and three diesel engine options. Entry-level 1.2-litre petrol models now offer a choice of 60bhp and 70bhp, while 85bhp 1.4-litre and 105bhp 1.6 units are also available. Diesel options include 70bhp and 80bhp 1.4-litre TDI variants and a 105bhp 1.9 model. A new six-speed automatic gearbox is also added to the range, which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.