SKODA FABIA HATCHBACK

Background

The Skoda Fabia surprised most people when the first generation version arrived back in 2001. After all, it succeeded the wholly unlovely Felicia and so a rating of 'only slightly rubbish' would have been a soaring success. In fact it was a little gem, well built, economical and keenly priced. It helped kick-start the success of modern Skoda as we know it today. The second generation version launched in 2007 and brought additional sophistication, which meant that the bar was set a lot higher for this MK3 model which was announced late in 2014. It still exceeded expectations though, bigger and more sophisticated than before. One of its few weaker points was the 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine that accounted for the majority of sales, but Skoda has now sorted that issue by dispensing with that powerplant. In its place is an altogether more modern three cylinder 1.0-litre TSI unit, solely available 95PS.

Driving Experience

Because this is merely an update of an existing design, this revised MK3 Fabia doesn't get the Volkswagen Group's latest MQB A0 platform, as used by its cousins, latest versions of the Volkswagen Polo and the SEAT Ibiza. Its older MQB chassis is still quite sophisticated though and to it can be bolted the 95PS version of the 1.0 TSI turbo petrol engine you'd find in the two rival models just mentioned. This is the only powerplant you can now have in a Fabia and it can only be mated mated to manual transmission. 62mph from rest takes 10.7s en route to 115mph. On the move, Skoda has worked hard to endow the Fabia with a supple ride, decent body control and low-effort steering. Once you've made the right engine choice, you'll get yourself undemanding transport that on occasion can offer up a few driving rewards. Despite the addition of an XDS+ electronic differential system that aids corner turn-in, these benefits won't really manifest themselves if you're the kind of person who likes to drive on your doorhandles. But then if that's your preference, you probably wouldn't be looking at a Fabia in the first place.

Design and Build

The Fabia's changed - but certainly not beyond recognition. Front and rear design updates deliver a smarter appearance and there are more stylish wheel designs of up to 18-inches in size. Shaplier headlights and front fog lights with sleeker outlines and state-of-the-art lighting technology also freshen up the look, LED headlights and LED rear lights being offered for the first time. Inside, there's a redesigned instrument cluster, smarter trim strips for the dashboard and two-tone finishes for the seats to update the interior. As before, there's a five-door Hatch bodystyle, or an Estate with a class-leading 530-litre boot capacity. With the Hatch variant, the boot is also the largest within the car's segment at 330-litres and the loading area is 960mm wide. With the rear seats folded down in Hatch models, loading capacity increases up to 1,150-litres. To help make good use of the room on offer, there's are various load-securing nets offered as part of the optional 'Simply Clever' practicality package. Plus there's a two-position luggage compartment shelf that'll keep fragile items off the boot floor. And folding hooks to stop your shopping from spilling out of its bag on your way back from the supermarket. All passengers get impressive levels of headroom by supermini standards. Do rear seat folk have to pay for all that cargo capacity we mentioned? Not really. This was always one of the very few superminis in which three fully-sized adults could just about sit alongside each other - at least for short journeys. It still is. Try doing that in a Fiesta.

Market and Model

There's a choice of either five-door Hatch or estate bodystyles. There are five familiar trim levels; 'S', 'SE', 'Colour Edition', 'SE L' and 'Monte Carlo. Prices start at around the £14,000 mark, so though this Fabia is no longer a huge bargain amongst superminis, it's still very well priced. There's a £1,000 premium if you want the Estate. A key improvement made to this revised model is the addition of the brand's 'Swing' centre-dash infotainment monitor, a 6.5-inch display that also allows drivers to use the full range of mobile online services from 'Skoda Connect'. The 'Connect' package consists of two things; 'Infotainment Online' gives you online traffic information and can update you on things like fuel prices, parking spaces, current news and weather. Then there are the so-called 'CareConnect Services' which allow you to monitor your car from your smartphone, plus the set-up includes a breakdown call function and will automatically alert the emergency services if the airbags go off in an accident. Further up the Fabia range, buyers are offered the more sophisticated 'Amundsen' navigation system, which features an Online Traffic Information service with real-time information on traffic hold-ups. Meanwhile, innovative SmartLink+ technology makes it possible to enjoy all the benefits of the Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink and SmartGate standards. There have been some safety additions too, including Blind Spot Detection and a Rear Traffic Alert system that monitors what is going on behind the vehicle and warns of a risk of collision when reversing. Another newly available feature is Light Assist, which automatically switches to low beam as soon as the system detects oncoming traffic or vehicles ahead.

Cost of Ownership

The 1.0-litre engine turns in some excellent economy figures. In the old Fabia 1.2 TSI, you could count on around 61mpg from the 1.2-litre unit; now with the 95PS 1.0-litre TSI hatch variant, you're good for up to 46.3mpg (WLTP) with emissions rated at just 103g/km. Go for the Estate and the figures are the same. This means that in the real world, a 1.0-litre TSI petrol-powered Fabia could easier end up being more economic overall than some supermini diesel models. Fabias have always held very firm when it comes to residual values, used buyers valuing the Volkswagen Group input and resolute build quality. Insurance has also been very cheap, reflecting the mature owner profile. Will that change now that Skoda is aiming at a younger demographic? We'll have to wait on that one.

Summary

The Fabia has done very well for Skoda. Close to 4 million cars have sold to date, which is quite some success story given that the Fabia is not a vehicle of absolutes. It's not the cheapest, the most economical, the most stylish or the most fun to drive car in its class. Instead, it blends a mix of abilities and can probably be described as the car that offers the most quality for your pound in its sector. Appealing to subtlety in this way has seen many good cars sink without a trace. This improved third generation Fabia takes a risk in deviating from the script, looking to secure a new tranche of younger buyers thanks to its sharper styling and cleverer tech. Will it succeed? We wouldn't bet against it.