A SUPERMINI estate might, on first consideration, seem like something of a contradiction.

But as family budgets become ever tighter and environmental considerations are higher on people's agendas, providing valuable extra space in a cheap, small motor makes increasingly good sense.

When the supermini in question is the Skoda Fabia, already one of the bigger small cars on the road, it turns out to be a very practical proposition - especially with the incredibly frugal Greenline tech on board.

This is Skoda's suite of cost-cutting, kind-to-the-planet measures which includes an automatic stop/start function, energy recovery system, improved aerodynamics, lighter wheels with low rolling resistance tyres and an optimal gear change indicator.

All of that in tandem with the economical three-cylinder, 1.2-litre diesel power pack means that the Fabia Greenline Estate offers average fuel consumption of 83.1 miles per gallon, making it the most frugal Skoda ever, alongside incredibly low carbon emissions of just 89g/km.

Those are figures that even some of the smallest city cars can't match and mean that fuel and insurance bills will be low and there'll be no annual road tax to pay.

The extra length and weight of the added boot space obviously means the Fabia Estate is not as nimble as its hatchback sibling, which boasts some impressively sporty handling, but it still proves to be very well behaved on the road.

The expanded dimensions are well controlled on all but the tightest corners while the steering is light but accurate and grip assured. All of which makes this car an easy driving proposition in the city.

The extra 24 centimetres or so strapped onto the back end doesn't really hinder manoeuvrability so you can still nip in and out of the traffic and park up in some pretty tight spaces, while the ride is fairly comfortable and relaxed on the open road too.

That 75 horsepower engine also delivers surprising amounts of pull. Although acceleration off the mark is nothing to shout about, there's plenty of torque through the rev range and cruising at motorway speeds is not a problem.

The unit is not the most refined, however, and you will get some noise in the cabin. Road and wind noise are also evident as speed increases and necessitate an extra couple of notches on the stereo volume.

This, however, may be a small price to pay for such economical performance alongside the impressive space on offer.

Luggage capacity on the Fabia Estate is boosted from 315 litres on the hatchback to a more than useful 505 which rises to nearly 1,500 litres with the back seats down.

And in typical fashion Skoda make the space as user friendly as possible with the inclusion of load-securing loops and a removable plastic retainer that attaches to the side of the boot. Big enough to hold a carrier bag upright, it'll stop your eggs becoming an omelette on the way home after a trip to the shops.

In the passenger compartment too space is plentiful with good head and legroom front and rear and plenty of scope for the driver to get comfortable, with a height adjustable seat and steering wheel that adjusts for reach and rake. Again typically of Skoda, the centre console is simply laid out with all the controls easy to find and use.

And while Greenline spec means that, to keep weight and drag down, there is a reduced number of options available, the equipment included still covers all the basic needs and adds some nice touches for improved comfort.

Standard kit includes 15-inch alloy wheels, stability control, cruise control, front fog lights, tinted glass, hill hold assist, air conditioning, trip computer, mobile device interface, rear spoiler and roof rails.