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The Skoda Fabia supermini has been produced by the brand since 1999 and is currently in its fourth generation which was launched in 2021, and the newest version certainly makes a statement.
The facelift model brought the Skoda Fabia in line with other models in the range and modernised the design to make it much more appealing. It's always been known that the Fabia has offered more for it's money than competitors, hence why it's sold an estimated 4.5 million units in its lifetime.
Our Skoda Fabia review will guide you through the latest model and it's features to help you decide if it's the right car for you.
The new design for the fourth generation has clearly been influenced by others in the Skoda family, like the Skoda Kamiq, and it looks much better than previous Skoda Fabia models. Gone is the large, boxy feeling frame and it's been replaced with a much sleeker design that's more in line with other cars produced by the Volkswagen Group.
As a Skoda model it also comes with lots of "Simply Clever" ideas, such as an ice scraper built into the fuel flap and an umbrella located in the driver's door, making it incredibly practical and a great addition that sets the Fabia apart from rivals.
The design for the air conditioning system isn't the same as some of the larger Skoda models, which some users will be glad about, as it keeps the traditional physical dials and buttons which is much less distracting to use as you drive.
Just like the overall design, the Skoda Fabia interior has been refreshed too. The centre console has been updated and modernised, it's now in line with other Skoda models and rivals alike. This is finished off with a selection of soft plastic finishing in black which really pulls the interior together.
At entry level the Fabia gets a 6.5 inch touchscreen that upgrades to as large as 9.2 inches across the range and is paired with a virtual cockpit in the upper trims for an enhanced driving experience.
There are also a number of features added to make the car feel even more user friendly like an optional USB socket on the rear view mirror to accommodate, pockets for smartphones on the backs of the front seats, and a clip for holding parking tickets. Not essential or a deal breaker but definitely enough to set the new Skoda Fabia apart from a rival like the Ford Fiesta.
The newest iteration of the Skoda Fabia is bigger than previous models, 116mm longer which takes it over the four metre mark for the first time. As with other models in the Skoda range, it provides a lot of room for passengers and utilises all of the available space for maximum comfort.
There's plenty of room for tall passengers, with 1032mm of headroom in the front seats and 976mm in the back seats. Looking at competitors, such as the Ford Fiesta, it's much more spacious. The Fiesta has 992mm of headroom and the Renault Clio is similar at 991mm for the front and 955mm and 942mm respectively for rear passengers. Even its cousin, the Volkswagen Polo is a little behind it with 1019mm in the front and 964mm in the back.
Moving to look at the boot space, again the Skoda Fabia is one of the largest available for a small hatchback with 380 litres when all seats are in use or 1190 litres with the rear seats folded down. The Renault Clio is a little larger still at 391 litres, but when you fold the seats down actually works out as less room than the Fabia and ends up with 1069 litres in total.
Other models offer much less: the Volkswagen Polo has a capacity of 333 litres and the Ford Fiesta is even less at 292 litres. The Skoda Fabia is a great option with plenty of room for a small hatchback. There is also the option for a Skoda Fabia Estate if you require something with a little more room.
There are four engines available on the new Skoda Fabia, all petrol and with varying amounts of power.
The first is the 1.0 litre MPI which offers a modest 80PS with a five speed manual gearbox. It's fairly economical with up to 55.3mpg and only 116 g/km of CO2 emissions and available on the SE Comfort and Colour Edition models.
Next is the first turbocharged engine, the 1.0 litre TSI, which offers a little more power at 95PS. It's also a little bit more efficient, with up to 55.7mpg and 115 g/km of CO2 emissions, and available on the SE Comfort, the E L, and the Colour Edition.
There's another version of the 1.0 litre TSI that offers 110PS and is available with either a six speed manual or seven speed automatic gearbox. The manual option offers up to 55.6mpg compared to the automatic's 50.7mpg and a lower CO2 emission of 115 g/km compared to 126 g/km. This is the only engine option available on every trim level.
The final engine option available is for the Monte Carlo only and is the 1.5 litre TSI which gives you a more powerful 150PS. It's not as economical as the previous engines, offering 49.7mpg and 129 g/km of CO2, but is a great addition to the Monte Carlo trim.
Whilst there's no hybrid engine available on the Fabia Skoda does have a range of plug in hybrid and electric cars elsewhere in the family but the Fabia offerings are fairly economical with average emissions. You'll be able to drive in any low emission zone with it if you're not quite ready to switch to alternatives yet.
There are four trim levels available in the new Skoda Fabia range: the SE Comfort, the SE L, the Colour Edition, and the Monte Carlo.
The entry level SE Comfort gives you a good amount of features as standard. You get 15 inch alloys, LED headlights with daytime running lights, automatic headlights, front fog lights, a rear spoiler, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, Skoda lettering along the tailgate, and rear parking sensors. Inside there's also a two spoke multifunction leather steering wheel, height adjustable front seats with lumbar support and a 6.5 inch centre screen which has Smartlink.
Stepping up brings you to the SE L which upgrades the alloys to 16 inches, adds cruise control with a speed limiter, dual zone climate control, and keyless start/stop. It also upgrades the seats to comfort seats, adds an integrated sat nav with a 9.2 inch screen, and an ambient lighting package.
The Colour Edition is much more stylised with 16 inch black metallic alloys, a contrasting colour for the roof and door mirrors, and privacy glass all part for the exterior. It then adds black satin trims in the cabin and adds the 10.25 inch virtual cockpit for the driver.
The Monte Carlo tops off the new Skoda Fabia range with 17 inch black diamond cut alloys, sports bumpers with Monte Carlo badging, and Skoda lettering in Black along the tailgate. Inside, the pedals are upgraded to aluminium, the seats are a mixture of fabric and faux leather, the interior is finished with a carbon effect trim and red metallic upper trim, and the steering wheel is upgraded to 3 spoke from 2.
As with other cars in the Skoda family, the new Fabia has a five star Euro NCAP rating. It outperforms the new Vauxhall Astra, the Peugeot 308, and the Citroen C4, which all have a 4 star rating, and is then on par with models like the Audi A3 and the SEAT Leon.
This rating comes from a host of safety features which come as a standard with the Fabia. These include pedestrian protection, driver alert system, lane assist with road edge protection, a dimming rear view mirror, and electronic stability control which includes additional technology to assist with traction.
Having so many features on the entry level is one of Skoda's defining features and their commitment to safety and driver assistance is really one of their greatest assets.
Whilst driving these work with systems such as parking sensors and front assist to make your drive easier and to help you to spot potential dangers quicker. There's also 3 isofix points between the rear seats and front passenger seats so child seats can be fitted safely and securely.
The new Skoda Fabia is really well priced compared to other small family cars.
The entry level SE Comfort starts at £17,800 which is in line with the SEAT Ibiza at £17,755 and a little less than the Ford Fiesta at £18,655. The Colour Edition is next in terms of cost, even though it's one of the higher spec models. It starts at £18,500 whereas the SE L is more expensive at £19,985.
As expected, the Monte Carlo trim is the most expensive in the range and starts at £20,935 before any changes are made. In comparison, the highest spec Fiesta starts at £27,245 whilst the Ibiza is more comparable at £21,640.
Once you start making changes to the basic spec such as changing paint colours, choosing different engine options, or adding extra features and packs it will increase the price further. For example, adding in a rear view camera will cost a minimum of £665 and a panoramic sunroof is an additional £770.
Considering it uses the same build platform as many other cars in the Volkswagen Group's portfolio but has a lower price point, it definitely makes the Skoda Fabia an incredibly enviable purchase.
Overall, the latest Skoda Fabia is a great option as a family car. More space than many rivals with a modernised design and high safety rating which makes it incredibly desirable when paired with it's attractive price range, even at the highest trim levels.
Skoda consistently prove that their cars are reliable and incredibly safe whilst also keeping up to date with design trends and making the car make sense for drivers. The latest Fabia has firmly cemented itself as a competitor in the small family car class and is a great option for your next car.
