Skoda Fabia

Capable and competent, the Skoda Fabia has gone from also ran to class leader, thanks to its comfortable cabin and brilliant build quality

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
Latest deal price: from £8,561 to £16,754
On the road price: £11,235 - £9,755
For : Class-leading space, comfortable, easy to drive, vRS versions offer impressive handling and pace
Against : Drab interior, motorway refinement no match for newer rivals

The first-generation Fabia was always noted for its excellent ride quality. With the latest car, things are no different. The supple suspension set-up copes well with rough surfaces. Compared to rivals like the SEAT Ibiza, there's more body roll in corners, but sharp steering means the Fabia feels agile. We also like the snappy gearchange, and spacious, comfortable seats. For young families on the move, the Fabia really is a great choice. There's plenty of choice when it comes to trim, S, SE, SE Plus and Elegance models offer ever increasing levels of luxury. We would avoid entry level S versions, they are just too basic. Greenline II badged cars offer the greatest fuel economy, while vRS models offer hot hatch performance.

Our choice: Skoda Fabia Elegance 1.6 TDI CR 90PS

Styling

The headlights and grille echo the Roomster supermini-MPV, while the black windscreen pillars and sloping roof edges are reminiscent of the Suzuki Swift. Yet the shape of the C-pillars and tailgate looks similar to that of the MkI Fabia, leaving you in no doubt it's Skoda's popular supermini. Inside, the cabin looks and feels a little drab. Even sporty vRS versions are a little boring to look at. Equipment levels too are a little sparse, even on top specification Elegance models.

Driving and Performance

The Fabia is a good car to drive, thanks to its proven Volkswagen Polo underpinnings. It's not quite as smooth and refined as the new VW, but the suspension copes reasonably well with nasty bumps. The steering feels accurate, and on winding roads the car is surprisingly good fun to drive. The 180bhp vRS version impresses most, and is a capable hot hatch, that's easier to live with than than focused models like the Vauxhall Corsa VXR.

MPG and running costs

Entry-level three-cylinder petrol engines are relatively economical, returning around 50mpg. On the open road they noisy but deliver reasonable performance. However, If fuel economy is a top priority, then aim for a diesel. The 1.6-litre oil burner is available in three outputs - ranging from 75bhp to 105bhp - delivering 67mpg. It's also worth considering the top specification Greenline II model, which exceeds 80mpg. The 180bhp vRS is fun, and very fast, and still promises some 45mpg.

Practicality

Despite its compact outside, the Skoda Fabia is actually quite large inside. Thanks to its tall roof and boxy proportions, four adults can sit in comfort. You could just about squeeze a fifth passenger in, though they will be perching on an uncomfortable middle rear seat. The hatchback boot is easy to access, and is deep enough to swallow a couple of suitcases. The car's double-deck glovebox gives plenty of oddment storage, and there are deep door pockets for front and rear passengers. A handy shopping holder can be added to the boot to carry small items securely.

Safety and reliability

Skoda owners tell us that the Fabia is a reliable car with low running costs, so it should come as no surprise to learn that the company dominates our Driver Power satisfaction survey. Safety is reasonable, all cars offer Front and side airbags, but you’ll have to pay more for electronic stability control in all but a handful of models.

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.

For an alternative review of the latest Skoda Fabia visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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2 Comments

"class leading space"?

I'm confused!

At 1642mm wide, this car is narrower than the Swift, or the Polo or the Fiesta, or the Corsa, so how can it be blessed with "class leading space"? Is it possible for 2 adult passengers to share the front seats without the driver elbowing the passenger with each gear change?

I'm really interested in the answer, because in other respects I like this car.

By gdp164 on 10 June, 2010, 5:44pm

Skoda Fabia

Ive got an 08 plate fabia and you dont need to worry about the room inside, its like a tardis. Im 6ft2 and my arms dont go anywhere near the front passenger when driving. There is acres of room inside, and the boot is big with 5 hooks to hang your shopping on, a neat touch. The brand new 10 plate fabias have been face lifted and come with the new Skoda made TSI engine ( which VW and Audio use also) Its a Turbo Supercharged Injection engine, which produces lots of power even at low revs and great fuel economy due to small engine size, the VW Scirroco has the 1.4 TSI which produces 154 bhp! The Fabia now comes with a 1.2 85 ot 105 HP TSI, far better than the 1.4 16v VW unit in my Skoda.

By Pedrospeedski on 21 June, 2010, 6:44pm

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Pictures

Skoda Fabia