| Preview | Frankfurt Motor Show | Skoda Fabia Estate |
Few manufacturers compete in the supermini-based estate class. That means it's a nice little earner for Czech firm Skoda. The latest Fabia-based estate has just been unveiled ahead of its debut at the
Frankfurt Motor Show, this new model replacing the outgoing car at the end of the year, which notched up an impressive 630,000 sales throughout its life.
Bigger inside and out the Fabia Estate offers 58 litres more boot space with the seats in position than the old model, while maximum carrying capacity (seats down) has increased by 235 litres to 1,460 litres. That's enough to rival some of the smaller cars in the category above, and is sure to appeal to motorists looking for an inexpensive, yet capacious estate.
Engine choices follow that of the
hatchback range. Five are offered, three petrol units in 1.2-, 1.4- and 1.6-litre capacities and two turbodiesels of 1.4- and 1.9-litres. The petrol choices offer 70, 85 and 105bhp and the diesels 80 and 105bhp. All are fitted with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, a six-speed Tiptronic automatic offered optionally on the 1.6-litre petrol.
Like the hatchback, the trim levels will simply be 1, 2 and 3. Expected to go on sale early next year there's no word on pricing yet, but a premium of around £700-1,000 for the extra space and practicality that larger boot brings is likely.
Kyle Fortune - 14 Aug 2007