Wolf in sheep's clothing: Skoda's Fabia VRS Estate

TAKE a look at the standard Skoda Fabia Estate and its hard to imagine that there is a sporty sinew in its mechanical make-up.

But nothing seems to be beyond the power of the Volkswagen Audi Group that owns the Slovakian marque and delving into its vast state-of-the-art parts bin it has been possible to create this, the Skoda Fabia VRS Estate.

It’s a unique proposition.

Equipped with a 180bhp, 1.4-litre engine which is both turbocharged and supercharged and the group’s fast-shifting, dual-clutch transmission, it is a car with the ability to blow away preconceptions about its rather sedate looks.

Set aside the 17-inch alloy wheels, red brake callipers, twin exhausts and faux rear diffuser and this is still a rather tall, goofy-looking small estate car.

In many ways that’s the beauty of the Fabia VRS Estate, and the added benefits of a huge boot and reasonable rear leg room add a decidedly usable side to what is an undiluted hot hatch formula under the skin.

At £16,495, £795 more than the hatchback, the Fabia VRS Estate is a lot of car for the money.

Fusing the low rev ability of a turbocharger and the rangy power of a supercharger that ingenious 1.4-litre TFSI engine creates a handy 180bhp and 184lb.ft. of torque.

The small engine and two different types of blower bestow the manic little estate with the ability to reach 62mph in 7.3 seconds and a 140mph top speed while returning an impressive 45mpg and CO2 emissions of 148g/km.

Inside, the auto box’s gearstick and paddle shifters, aggressively bolstered sports seats and VRS badging are the main clues to this Fabia’s potency.

Within yards of the wheels rolling the stiff suspension and fairly intrusive levels of road noise from those big alloys provide further clues.

Floor the throttle and the VRS is a hoot, especially if those around you haven’t spotted the VRS styling cues.

Gears change with hair-trigger speed and the pace mounts with flat blare of exhaust noise.

And although the Estate doesn’t react as nimbly as a Ibiza Cupra or Renaultsport Clio, its longer wheelbase adds stability at speed.

The real pleasure comes from knowing that you’re driving a damned hot Skoda, however, and that few people will realise the depths of its ability until youre already speeding off into the horizon.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. This small estate is one Very Racy Skoda.