Skoda Fabia - Reliability and safety

It may be a supermini, but the Skoda Fabia comes with big-car safety kit. The entry-level SE Comfort model comes with the Front Assist system which helps avoid potential collisions by automatically applying the brakes if it detects an impending collision (using on-board radar technology). The base car also features Lane Assist which is able to identify an unintended lane departure and automatically correct the steering.

Adaptive cruise control is an option, along with a Park Assist system and a Safety Package which includes knee airbags for the driver and rear side airbags.

The fourth-generation Fabia achieved the full five-star rating when it was put through Euro NCAP's battery of crash safety tests in 2021, receiving an 85 per cent score for adult occupant protection and 81 per cent in the child occupant protection catagory.

The Fabia didn't feature in our 2023 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, although the Kodiaq SUV finished fourteenth place on a 75-car list. Skoda itself was voted into 20th position in the best brands poll – a repeat of 2022's performance.

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Warranty

Skoda offers a three-year/60,000-mile warranty with the Fabia, along with three years of European-wide roadside assistance. There is an option to extend the warranty cover for an extra two years at additional cost.

Servicing

Servicing your Fabia will depend on what type of driving you regularly undertake and how many miles you cover. There is either a fixed or flexible approach, with the former advising a service annually or every 10,000 miles. This is recommended if your vehicle covers mainly shorter journeys in towns or cities, or whether you regularly carry heavy loads and use frequent high revs/heavy braking.

The flexible service regime is more suited if your Fabia covers a higher mileage, with minimal loads and driven in a more constant, efficient manner. A service light will show between 9,000 and 20,000 miles to indicate that an inspection is required.

Skoda offers service plans to help with paying for scheduled maintenance. If you buy a new Fabia, or a model under a year old, you’ll be able to pay an upfront amount or by monthly installments to cover your first two services.