MINI Hatch vs Skoda Fabia
Figures updated
The MINI Hatch and Skoda Fabia are two of the UK's most popular superminis. We compare the F66 (2024–) Hatch and the Mk4 (2021–) Fabia on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 856,239 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the MINI Hatch for the better MOT record and more performance, or the Skoda Fabia for the lower price, the bigger boot and lower fuel costs.
- The Skoda Fabia is the cheapest to buy new: from £21,070, £3,665 less than the MINI Hatch.
- The Skoda Fabia has the biggest boot: 380 litres, 170 more than the MINI Hatch.
- The MINI Hatch has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Skoda Fabia fails its MOT about 16% more often.
- The Skoda Fabia is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £238 a year less than the MINI Hatch at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the exhaust and emissions on a MINI Hatch: it fails on them 1.4 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the body and structure on a Skoda Fabia: it fails on them 1.3 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | MINI HatchF66 (2024–), 3-door hatchback | Skoda FabiaMk4 (2021–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | from £24,735May 2026 price list | £21,070 to £30,010April 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 3-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 4 | 5 (best) |
| BootSeats up / folded | 210 litres / 725 | 380 litres / 1,190 (best) |
| Length | 3,876mm | 4,108mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,744mm | 1,780mm |
| Height | 1,432mm | 1,459mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 121–231 PS (best) | 80–177 PS |
| 0–62mph | 6.1–9.3 sec (best) | 7.4–15.7 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2021) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Electric, Petrol | Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 41.5–46.3 mpg | 52.3–56.8 mpg |
| CO2 | 134–147 g/km | 112–122 g/km |
| Electric range | 180–239 miles | – |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.6p a litre, today's UK average | £1,306 (44.8 mpg) | £1,068 (54.8 mpg) (best) |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | £438 (5 mi/kWh) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £438 (electric) | £1,068 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 113Above average (best) | 97Below average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 24.7% (best) | 29.6% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 10.8% (best) | 13.6% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 12.7% (best) | 16.6% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 23.3% (best) | 27.8% |
| Most common MOT fault | Position lamp (3.9% of tests) | Pins and bushes (3.7% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Exhaust and emissions (1.4×) | Body and structure (1.3×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 630,667 | 225,572 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Supermini | Supermini |
| Owners' average miles a year | 6,500 | 6,900 |
| On sale | 2024 on | 2021 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the MINI Hatch or the Skoda Fabia more reliable?
The MINI Hatch. Like for like on age and mileage, the Skoda Fabia fails its MOT about 16% more often (reliability scores 113 and 97, where 100 is average). 24.7% of MINI Hatches and 29.6% of Skoda Fabias failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the MINI Hatch or the Skoda Fabia?
The Skoda Fabia is 232mm longer (4,108mm against 3,876mm). The Skoda Fabia has the bigger boot: 380 litres against 210.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the MINI Hatch or the Skoda Fabia?
The Skoda Fabia: new prices start at £21,070, £3,665 less than the MINI Hatch (from £24,735). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the MINI Hatch or the Skoda Fabia?
Comparing petrol versions, the Skoda Fabia costs about £238 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,068 against £1,306), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the MINI Hatch or the Skoda Fabia?
Euro NCAP gave the MINI Hatch 5 stars (2025) and the Skoda Fabia 5 stars (2021). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the MINI Hatch or the Skoda Fabia?
Pick the MINI Hatch for the better MOT record and more performance, or the Skoda Fabia for the lower price, the bigger boot and lower fuel costs. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.