Competent, confident all-rounder with lots of nice touches. The fourth generation Skoda Fabia supermini, the smallest and cheapest Skoda you can buy. Want proof cars of all types have grown in the last 20 years? The range lands in the UK without a lightly spiced Monte Carlo version a proper vRS is just a pipe dream, sadly , so anyone looking for a more spirited drive will have to wait until Or just buy something else.
Skoda has put much effort into formulating a classier family look of late, with a bit more uniformity across the range. To our eyes the rear has a generic look of Ford Focus about it, but the front end is unmistakably Skoda, with the vertical grille slats and bonnet creases. There are a few areas of suspect plastics around the cabin, although the company might say that these are intended to be durable for family wear and tear rather than trying to keep the relatives at Volkswagen and Audi happy.
On the other side are the cars aimed at the fellow young people, starting with the Colour Edition and completed in with the Monte Carlo version. These have wheels and glossy things.
Little things like a USB-C charger in the rear-view mirror to plug your dashcam in, and a cover that flips out of the boot to protect your paintwork, or a pen loop and car park ticket holder in the little storage ahead just in front of the gearstick. There are also tech features in the Fabia that have trickled down from bigger cars — heated steering wheel and windscreen, aircon vents for the rear passengers, plenty of safety gizmos.
This generation of Fabia is the last crack at wringing all the cash Skoda can out of a purely petrol line-up. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.
Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. The boot is a good size at litres — significantly ahead of rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, which have less than litres of space. The only minor quibble is a load lip to lift bulky objects over. The back row is perfectly respectable for a small car, with space for two adults to sit in a decent level of comfort. Access is good, since the Fabia is offered in five-door form only — so no scrambling through a tiny gap.
Children will be perfectly at home however old they are, thanks to ample headroom and the fitment of two Isofix mounts as standard. The touchscreen system is easy to understand and use, with a smart layout, plus it comes with some really nifty features including Mirror Link. This allows you to use the touch screen to interface with smartphone apps including music players and — more importantly — navigation systems.
As time goes on more apps will be available and more phones will be compatible. Basic cars do miss out on some key bits of equipment, though, including alloy wheels and air conditioning. It might be worth it, though, since upper models get some useful gadgets and gizmos. This will scan the road ahead and brake the car there is a stationary object ahead and the driver fails to react. As is the current trend, some customisation options are available for buyers who want to stand out from the crowd.
The Fabia feels like a big step forward versus the old model. It's more stylish, has a better cabin and feels grown-up and competent on the road. Yet, despite all of the improvements, it still represents excellent value for money thanks to reasonable prices, decent equipment levels and low running costs.
It faces a lot of competition, but it certainly has the right ingredients to be a success. Read more. Recently Asked Questions How can we get a good deal on a new car?
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