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Skoda Fabia 2.0

There's something missing from this new Fabia: a GTI badge. Underneath the car's meek-and-mild exterior beats the 115bhp 2.0-litre engine from a hot Volkswagen Golf. Does it turn the Skoda into the most subtle of Q-cars, with tyre-smoking performance and pipe-smoking looks?

By Tom Barnard

March 2002

  • Rating:
There's something missing from this new Fabia: a GTI badge. Underneath the car's meek-and-mild exterior beats the 115bhp 2.0-litre engine from a hot Volkswagen Golf. Does it turn the Skoda into the most subtle of Q-cars, with tyre-smoking performance and pipe-smoking looks?

Not quite. Skoda has decided that the 2.0 unit will only be available in the posh Elegance trim, and the model will become a luxury flagship for the range rather than a hot hatch. Consequently, the performance figures are a little disappointing for such a small car packing a big engine: 0-60mph takes a rather leisurely 9.9 seconds.

On the road, it feels more lively than hyperactive, but it has been geared for cruising and top speed is an impressive 121mph. Driving at urban pace is easy, too, thanks to a peak torque of 164Nm. However, the eight-valve powerplant isn't the most sophisticated in the world and reveals its shortcomings by becoming rough at high revs and running out of puff just at the engine speeds where the smaller 16-valve units in the range are on coming on song.

The chassis isn't terribly GTI-like, either. Reach the first corner and it's clear that the steering will feel excessively light to any enthusiast, while the handling doesn't show any of the sportiness you might expect from a company so committed to rallying.

And while the Fabia is impressively refined compared with other superminis, the handsome 15-inch wheels and low-profile tyres mean that it is more sensitive to road imperfections than lesser models in the range.

However, as you'd expect from the range-topper, there is plenty of equipment on board. The line-up includes ABS, remote central locking, electric windows, air-conditioning and driver and passenger airbags, all of which are included in the

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FIRST OPINION

    That's a lot of money for a baby Skoda, and there are some impressive competitors available for the same cost. The Fabia may be one of our favourite superminis, but the 2.0 Elegance is stretching the point too far.
    The 2.0 Fabia is a good-looking and satisfying car to own. But in the face of stiff competition, it is not sporting enough to attract enthusiasts nor sufficiently quick to warrant the price hike over the 1.4.
 

AT A GLANCE

    Fabia Elegance 2.0 on sale now, priced
 
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