If going green sends you to sleep, the Skoda Fabia GreenLine models offer an easy way to do it without feeling as if you're missing out on too much. Admirably economical and low in emissions, these diesel models also feature all the qualities that have made the latest Fabia one of Britain's favourite superminis.

I need to get this off my chest. I'm getting a little bit hacked off with conspicuous non-consumption. You know the sort of thing; the smug little glance from the next door neighbour because his car is more economical than yours, the endless line up of celebrities looking to endorse the latest hybrid car, the guy down the road with his personal wind turbine who makes a face every time I drive by in a big 4x4 I have on test. To be honest, I'd rather do without it all which is why part of me sank when I heard that Skoda had hitched up to the environmental bandwagon. Seems I needn't have worried. If you prefer to keep your environmental exploits on the down-low, the Fabia GreenLine could be just the ticket. It doesn't shout its achievements, nor resort to weird styling, preferring solid engineering to get the job done. How very Skoda.

While we're at it, here's another personal bugbear: economy models of existing cars that use hard compound 'low rolling resistance' tyres to improve economy. Ask yourself how you'd feel if you aquaplaned off the road and caused injury or fatality as a result of saving a few quid on your annual fuel bill with such rubber. Thankfully Skoda hasn't resorted to this sort of false economy with the Fabia GreenLine. To drive, this model feels much the same as any other 1.4-litre 80PS TDI Fabia. The steering requires no great effort, the gearchange is slick and positive and the pedal weighting is all very good. Factor in excellent all round visibility and you have a car that's utterly unthreatening.

The second criterion buyers look for is ride quality. Just because you're not breaking the bank doesn't mean that the car should feel cheap when it's on the move. The Fabia scores again here, with a well-damped ride that feels as if it belongs to a car in the class above. Thirdly, customers look for liveliness. The 80PS 1.4-litre is no sluggard either, getting to 60 in 13 seconds and hitting 107mph.

"The GreenLine's 109g/km emissions figure and 69mpg combined fuel economy is going to be the clincher for many.."

It's easy to see where Skoda is going with their design language. If you've been paying attention to any of their show cars and concepts in the past few years, the shape of the Fabia will come as no great surprise. The economy benefits come courtesy of additional aerodynamic panels fitted to the underside of the chassis, the replacement of the spare tyre with a puncture repair kit and the raising of the front bumper by 35mm, further smoothing the airflow. Both the Fabia GreenLine hatchback and the estate are very assured pieces of styling.

The estate model offers passengers more comfort and also more space for the luggage then its predecessor. The boot has grown by 54 litres and its volume is 480 litres now. With the rear seats folded flat, the total size of the luggage compartment is 1,460 litres, 235 litres more than in the previous model. Skoda claim more rear knee and headroom than any rival, helped by the fact that the Fabia hatch is 22mm longer and 47mm taller than the model it replaces. Boot capacity for the GreenLine hatch stands at an impressive 300 litres with the seats in place or a massive 1,163 litres when they're folded.

The GreenLine is based on the Fabia2 trim level and is priced at £11,490 for the hatchback and £12,140 for the estate, figures that represent a premium of around £200 over the standard model. Despite the success of the Fabia, Skoda still recognise the limits of their badge equity - the upmarket Superb saloon taught them a key, and rather expensive, lesson here - and the Fabia is priced realistically while recognising the need to nudge the brand incrementally upmarket. Colours offered include Amazon Green, Magic Black, Brilliant Silver and Candy White, although I'd do without the latter colour's optional GreenLine decals.

Equipment levels were never the Fabia's strong point, relying instead on solid no-nonsense build quality. This time round there are items like electronically-controlled Climatronic air-conditioning and an MP3/iPod compatible stereo but if you go to your Skoda dealer expecting to be granted a view of the state-of-the-art in small car electronics, you're likely to be disappointed. Unimpeachable build quality, on the other hand, you can take for granted.

Normally at this juncture it would be germane to figure out whether the additional cost of the diesel-engined car made sense compared to a cheaper petrol-engined model in the Fabia range and were this a stock 1.4 TDI Fabia model, we'd now be undertaking just this mathematical poser. With the Fabia GreenLine, things are less cut and dried. For a start, there's the perceived value placed in its green credentials, which isn't easy to put a number to. What is a little easier to quantify is the economy figure of nearly 69mpg on the combined cycle which, if you're into comparisons, is a good deal better than the 61.4mpg showing of the non-GreenLine car with the same engine.

Where the GreenLine scores in real terms is in its carbon dioxide emissions. The hatchback model is rated at 109g/km which not only makes it exempt for the London congestion charge, but also means that it moves down a tax band when it comes to vehicle excise duty and showroom tax. Insurance group 3 also spells minuscule premiums.

If you're the sort who cares about the environment but doesn't feel the need to shout it from the rooftops, the Skoda Fabia GreenLine is going to appeal. It relies on sensible engineering to realise meaningful economy and emissions benefits, it's not showy, it's available in saloon and estate guises and it's keenly priced. That combination of attractions alone would be enough to seal it for most, but the Fabia has a lot of other assets to call upon. You probably wouldn't finger a 'green' car to offer much in the way of driving enjoyment, but the 80PS diesel engine offers punchy overtaking ability and surprising mid-range torque.

In the final assessment, the GreenLine's 109g/km emissions figure and 69mpg combined fuel economy is going to be the clincher for many. It's cheap to buy, cheap to run but anything but cheap in the way the concept is executed. Responsible motoring needn't rely on wacky solutions. Skoda, as ever, falls back on solid pragmatism to get the job done.

TOP 2 FABIA DEALS

The results below show the top FABIA deals on buyacar

	Skoda Fabia 1.4 TDI PD 80 GreenLine 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £184	Saving £1,000	Price £10,490
	Skoda Fabia 1.4 TDI PD 80 GreenLine 5dr Estate
	ETR	Mthly £199	Saving £1,089	Price £11,051

typical 12.61% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000