Skoda Fabia Review 2021

Skoda Fabia Review 2021 : Young But Mature: Will attract you by its design and will convince you by its technology

Read the review by RCC Auto Transport team

After advancing it camouflaged a few months ago, Skoda has presented the new generation of the Fabia, its compact utility, which now has more interior space, more technology and more safety, in addition to a more modern, aerodynamic design (Cx of 0.28 instead of 0.32, with adjustable cooling slats, a priori the best data in its segment) and in line with the latest products of the brand, to rival two cars that use the same platform, called MQB-A0: the Volkswagen Polo, the SEAT Ibiza and the Audi A1, both recently updated, although they are not its only competitors. It is only available with gasoline engines with powers ranging from 65 to 150 hp.

The fourth edition of the Skoda Fabia remains the manufacturer's smallest car. However, its length has grown by 11 cm compared to the outgoing model, to 4.11 meters. Its front now has the characteristic Skoda grille, slightly larger than the previous one, and simple LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights in a somewhat higher position.

The front bumper has been redesigned and looks more sporty, while the rear is also new, wider and sharper, but nondescript. On the side, a waistline that passes a short distance from the windows (more stylized) connects the LED taillights (similar to those of the latest company vehicles) with the headlights. Here you can see an upward light collector on the doors and 15 to 18-inch diameter wheels. New are the metallic orange and graphite grey paints.

Inside the cabin, the Fabia looks more elegant, mature and digitized. It can be equipped with a 10.25 " fully digital instrument panel that complements a 9.2" multimedia screen, also as an option.

It has an ambient lighting system (standard from the Style finish), voice control, gesture recognition for the infotainment equipment, wireless connection through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, induction charging for mobile phones and the new two-wheel drive. Radios that is installed, for example, in the new Skoda Octavia and Skoda Kodiaq. Of course, the handbrake is manual and, at this point, for this type of car, a bit rudimentary.

The seats seem more ergonomic, and the trunk has a minimum volume of 380 litres with all available cores, then it is 50 litres more capable than before (2019 model).

Fabia's gasoline engines are two MPI (multi-point injection) and three TSI (direct injection).

The MPI, atmospheric, has 65 or 80 HP of power, starts from the same three-cylinder block, and is associated with a manual change of five relations. The turbocharged TSIs develop 95, 110 and 150 hp of power, respectively. In this case, the first two are three-cylinder: the 95 hp has a five-speed manual gearbox and the 110 hp one with six with DSG as an option.

The third has four cylinders and is mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. The traction is always front, and, except for the 1.5 TSI of 150 CV, a larger tank (50 litres instead of 40) can be chosen as an option. On the other hand, the combined consumption based on the WLTP cycle is approximately 5 l / 100 km for all performance levels. It is a normal figure for this category.

Since its launch on the market, three finishes have been available: Active, Ambition and Style, with new colours and interior materials that, in the words of Skoda, show better quality. Depending on which the customer selects, the Fabia can have up to nine airbags, ISOFIX anchors with top fixation even for the passenger seat, Travel Assist (which intelligently assists the longitudinal and lateral direction of the car through adaptive cruise control), Park Assist (which facilitates parking manoeuvres), recognition of traffic signs and the usual solutions for conditioning, habitability and connectivity from Skoda Simply Clever: a USB-C port in the interior rear-view mirror, passenger seat with folding backrest, multifunction storage pockets, the folding compartment in the trunk or card and coin slots in the glove compartment lid, among others.