Skoda Fabia



Another thoroughly competent - and, crucially, likeable - car from the Volkswagen Group, the third generation Skoda Fabia is a grown-up machine that also has enough stylistic appeal about it to gain the Czech firm some younger clientele. The Fabia is very good in all areas, making it a strong B-segment contender.

Test Car Specifications

Model tested: Skoda Fabia SE 1.2 TSI 110hp DSG
Pricing: £15,040 standard; car as tested £16,425; Fabia range starts from £10,600
Engine: 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: front-wheel drive, optional seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission
Body style: five-door hatchback
CO₂ emissions: 109g/km (VED Band B, £0 first year, £20 annually thereafter)
Combined economy: 60.1mpg
Top speed: 122mph
0-62mph: 9.4 seconds
Power: 110hp at 4,400- to 5,400rpm
Torque: 175Nm at 1,400- to 4,000rpm

What's this?

Skoda's popular B-segment hatchback, the Fabia, now into its third-generation, with a new sharply-defined body influenced by the VisionC concept car. As five-door runabouts go, the Fabia looks suitably cool and modern, with the optional two-tone paint schemes (you can have the roof, A- and B-pillars and optional 16-inch Beam alloys in either white, silver or black, above the bright body hues) giving the Skoda a trendy air that should attract younger buyers - or those young at heart. Inside is another presentable Skoda cabin, functional and clear without possessing much in the way of design flair. However, there's more space within for passengers - although rear legroom remains modest if six-footers are installed up front - and the boot holds 330 litres, Skoda claiming it's the biggest in class; we've no qualms with that assertion, but even if it's not big enough for you, the Fabia Estate will be on the road by March. Skoda also says that the Fabia has more standard equipment across the board, with price increases over the old model lower than the value of the added kit.

There are three trim lines, three engines (with two power levels each) and two gearboxes making up the launch range. Entry specification is S, followed by SE and then SE L (Elegance trim has bit the dust) while two petrol engines and a 1.4-litre, three-cylinder diesel can be chosen for the Fabia. We tried the more powerful version of the four-cylinder turbocharged 1.2 with 110hp (a 90hp variant is available too) with the optional seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic - five- or six-speed manual gearboxes are fitted as standard (the 110hp 1.2 gets the six-speeder normally). The three-cylinder 1.0-litre MPI engine from the Citigo is the smaller petrol lump on offer, delivering either 60- or 75hp, while the 1.4 TDI can be specified with either 90- or 105hp.

How does it drive?

As the higher-power 1.2-litre model with the DSG gearbox, 'supremely well indeed' would be the answer. Like so many of its stablemates, it does nothing badly and a lot of things excellently, albeit it's not hugely exciting to drive. That's no issue, given the target market is made up of people who like getting from A to B with the minimum of fuss. Therefore, the steering is light and precise, the gearbox extremely smooth, wind and engine noise are well subdued and that 1.2 - the most powerful engine you can get in the Fabia launch range - is as sweet as ever; it's blessed with plenty of torque, you never have to thrash this unit and so the Fabia proves very pleasant to hustle about, even if it is set up more for ease-of-use rather than blasting along a B-road.



If there's one thing that does jar, it's the ride. Our vehicle was fitted with optional 16-inch alloy wheels, the largest available for the Fabia, and it seemed to upset the car's composure on rougher surfaces and at town speeds. The ride was by no means bad but it was more nervous than a 1.4-litre diesel we tried later in the day on the same alloys; maybe the heavier diesel powerplant calms the damping down. Fuel economy across our varied South Downs route averaged in the low 40s, although on a motorway or dual carriageway the Fabia 1.2 should get closer to its official 60.1mpg figure.

Verdict

During the launch we were shown images of the older Fabia models and the third-gen car already makes its immediate predecessor look dated. That's testament to the lean exterior design, which can carry off the contrasting roof/body colours that should make the Fabia a valid choice for the trendy urbanite. With a quality (if plain) interior, big boot and civilised driving manners, there's a hell of a lot to like about the new Fabia - even if, as evidenced by our test car, if you start ticking some desirable option boxes and higher trim lines, the price tag starts spiralling into the £16-17,000 ballpark.

Exterior Design

Interior Ambience

Passenger Space

Luggage Space

Safety

Comfort

Driving Dynamics

Powertrain