Skip advert
Advertisement

New Skoda Fabia Estate 2018 review

We find out if the updated Skoda Fabia wagon is loads better than before

Overall Auto Express rating

3.5

How we review cars
Find your Skoda Fabia
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The revised Fabia Estate is a (slightly) better car than the old one, with some pleasing spec upgrades. And it’s still a decent drive, if an anodyne one. But does it make a better case for small estates overall? We’re not sure – especially when the deals on equally capable regular family cars make them look every bit as affordable for rational, 
practicality-focused customers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Skoda Fabia’s recent updates have kept the Czech supermini respectable, without turning it into a world-beater. But the prospects could be better for the estate, which is pretty much in a class of one, now that SEAT and Renault no longer sell wagon versions of their Ibiza and Clio models.

Here is the facelifted Fabia Estate, driven in SE trim and with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine in its most powerful state of tune (109bhp) and with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The car gets many of the updates applied to the regular supermini, of course: a wider grille, therefore, along with slimmer lights and a few tweaks to the rear bumper.

Best estate cars to buy in 2018

The trademark Skoda fuel-filler-flap ice scraper now includes a magnifying glass and a tyre tread depth gauge, and the Estate’s boot light can be removed to be used as an LED torch. The floor mat is now reversible, too, with a wipe-clean side as well as regular carpet.

Inside, the updates are even more modest than before, and they don’t extend to soft-touch materials anywhere but on the seats and door armrests. The overall impression is one of neat design, durability and tight build quality – so if you want flair, look elsewhere.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE

2021 DS

DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE

51,438 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £9,660
View DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE
Golf

2024 Volkswagen

Golf

6,011 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £19,537
View Golf
Kuga

2022 Ford

Kuga

37,946 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £17,000
View Kuga
HS

2022 MG

HS

19,758 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £16,400
View HS

This safe conservatism also extends to the driving dynamics. The 1.0-litre unit is accomplished, with just about enough low-down shove for most situations (we’d worry about the lower-powered variants with heavy loads, mind you). Its thrum melts away at speed, when it’s easily drowned out by wind noise from the Fabia’s sharply angled side mirrors.

The dual-clutch box is keen, desperate, in fact, to keep the revs low (in the name, we presume, of efficiency and refinement), so it’s not uncommon to see seventh gear when you’ve barely broken through the 40mph mark. The box is at its best when you’re cruising along in relaxed mode; there’s still a little bit of dual-clutch jerkiness during low-speed manoeuvres.

The facelift can’t change the fact that the Fabia is based on one of the VW Group’s older platforms, and the chassis reflects this. There’s a little bit of patter from around the rear and sharp road imperfections do thunk through. 

Although in general, the overall set-up is pretty comfortable, and the steering is direct enough for you to be able to make your moves with confidence. Understeer will interfere long before you run out of ambition.

SE trim gets the basics you’ll need: air-conditioning, electric front windows, height-adjustable front seats and rear parking sensors. Our car also had an upgraded navigation system, but the standard SE spec doesn’t feature maps. 

Still, the ‘basic’ 6.5-inch display on SE versions supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so in a typically rational fashion for a Skoda, you can hook up your phone’s route instructions and save the £570 upgrade. That’s certainly what we would do. 

We’d do everything possible to keep the Fabia Estate’s list price down, in fact, because the higher the numbers get, the more the car looks a tricky sell compared with larger, conventional models such as a Vauxhall Astra.

Keep the figures down, though, and the new Skoda is a wagon with more premium appeal than a Dacia Logan MCV (the only other small estate on sale) and a better drive than the Honda Jazz CVT; a vehicle that comes close to the Fabia on practicality.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

New & used car deals

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,754 off RRP*Used from £14,000
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £5,330 off RRP*
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £7,837 off RRP*Used from £12,712
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £3,152 off RRP*Used from £14,700
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years
MG Cyber X design render - front

MG Cyber X will morph into a mini-Mercedes within two years

Boxy small SUV is gearing up for production, and our exclusive images show how the model might look
News
30 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Ford Puma Gen-E granted ultra-low £132 monthly lease
Ford Puma Gen-E - front action

Car Deal of the Day: Ford Puma Gen-E granted ultra-low £132 monthly lease

The EV grant has made the Ford Puma Gen-E a lot cheaper, and lease customers can cash-in with today’s Deal of the Day
News
29 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Racy and retro Renault 5 for only £188 a month

The Renault 5 is taking the market by storm – and at this price it’s easy to see why. It’s our Deal of the Day for August 30
News
30 Aug 2025