It’s not the flashiest, the fastest, or the car with most finesse, but the Fabia is certainly a fine car…..and is a fabulous fit on the financial front.
The latest, third generation version is a perfect example of Skoda’s slogan of Simply Clever. It’s a straightforward practical car which offers everything you need for everyday driving and now comes with a wee bit of luxury thrown in to make the journey that little bit better.
As a result, prices have gone up a little but that’s reasonable for the extra level of standard equipment, especially on the SE spec of the test car. There’s everything from Bluetooth, surround sound and digital radio to electric heated door mirrors, rear parking sensors and leather finishes to the steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake lever. The test car came with almost £2,000 of extras including the £600 panoramic sunroof, metallic white paintwork (£535) and black roof and door mirror housings (£250).
So, the Fabia has grown up in many ways – it’s both larger and stronger, but 65kgs lighter, than the previous model – but if space is what you need, an estate version will be here soon along with a super-efficient Greenline model before long. Watch out for a Monte Carlo edition, but don’t get too excited. It’ll feature some sporty styling but won’t have anything like the performance of the remarkably successful range of rallying Fabias.
It comes as a five-door hatch based on the advanced MQB platform which is used throughout the VAG group range and there’s a good choice of cleaner EU6-compliant engines to make the new car up to 17% more efficient.
There are two three-cylinder 1.0-litre MPI units with 60ps and 75ps which is already in the smaller Skoda Citigo. With more power there’s the 1.2 four-cylinder TSI engine with 110PS and 90PS which was in the test car and likely to be the most popular choice. A five speed manual gearbox is standard with six speed and DSG auto on the bigger engines.
On the looks front, it is still clearly a Fabia but subtle changes around the bodywork give it what the designers call “more expressive” language. What that means is that it has more presence on the road with a large grille and headlamps which follow the style set in the larger Octavia and Rapid and emphasise the greater width of the car. The bonnet now has sharp contours and that’s repeated along the sides where sharp creases – what the designers call “tornado lines” – make the car less of a softie and more sporty.
For the first time, the new car offers more opportunity for individualisation where buyers can choose from 15 different body colours and three colour options for the wheels, roof and exterior mirrors. The roof colours contrasting with the body works really well and makes the car look more significant.
The interior is longer and larger than before and there’s more elbow and headroom too. The boot is the largest in the segment with a high rising tailgate and low sill for easier loading.
The layout is less utilitarian than before with what looks like softer plastics and finishes all round. What’s been kept is the clean and simple layout of controls and dials which is a common theme throughout the VAG range but was always a touch basic in the previous entry level Skodas.
Build quality is first class. Everything feels that it will last forever and will robustly withstand everything that a family will throw at it.
On the road, the 1.2 engine was remarkably perky and well up to the job around town and on the open road. Steering felt positive and secure and through the bends it was happy to enjoy some spirited driving.
So, along with the reduced running costs, advanced safety, comfort and technology, increased storage space and a stack of standard equipment and you’ve got an attractive package which has the edge over a lot of the competition.
Which is probably one of the reasons why, even before it appeared on the road, it was voted What Car’s Car of the Year for 2015…….repeating the achievement of the first-generation Fabia which won the same award in 2000.
CAR: Skoda Fabia SE 1.2 TSI 90PS
PRICE: £13,390 (£15,375 as tested)
POWER: 1197cc 4 cyl in line 90PS TORQUE: 160Nm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 115 mph 0-62 mph 10.9 secs
MPG: 60 mpg combined
CO2 EMISSIONS: 107 g/km
